Surviving the pandemic season saw many people working from home which translated to a home office as a basic requirement rather than a style or luxury as some people thought pre-pandemic.
A comfortable chair and an office desk are not enough as you need proper lighting to illuminate your workspace.
We have gathered some modern home office lighting ideas that will help you in bringing that corporate ambiance right into your home.
Apart from being attractive, a well-lit office space reduces muscle strain, back pains, neck strain, eye strain, and migraine, and it improves your mental health making you more productive. Also, the risks of tripping, slipping, and falling are minimal.
What Kind of Lighting is Best for Home Office?
A home office is more than just a place of work. Apart from office work, you can unwind, meditate, read a book, watch TV, or do any other relaxing activity.
Therefore, you need several types of lighting that flow with the house design and that create mood and comfort in different atmospheres. Being a private office, you are free to use bold colors.
Modern Home Office Lighting Ideas
Home office lighting does not only create a conducive work environment but also defines your personality.
Whether you are working with an interior designer or you are creating the space all by yourself, these modern home office lighting ideas are ideal for a well-lit working space.
01. Layer Your Home Office Lighting
You can completely transform your home office by carefully matching multiple light fixtures and light sources to create the mood and the atmosphere you want in your office.
Layering remains the rule of thumb when lighting a home office.
Whether you are illuminating to make your reading easier or highlighting an art gallery, layering is the best way to a balanced glow in your office.
Lighting should be layered according to the distinct functions in your workspace.
Natural light should be combined with the ambient, accent, and task lighting harmoniously.
Ambient lighting such as ceiling-mounted fixtures can be used to establish the overall lighting in your office.
Task lights such as a floor lamp or a desk lamp can be used to illuminate your computer, reading, and writing area while accent lighting highlights artwork and any other object in your room.
You only must find your ideal match of floor lamps, ceiling pendant lights, wall fixtures, and task lights and you will be able to adjust to a particular light scene that suits your mood at a particular time during your working hours.
02. Utilize Natural Light
Working from home has a way of disconnecting us from nature. If you are lucky enough to access natural light in your home office either from a skylight, a window, or any other channel, utilize it maximumly.
Natural light is the best way to enjoy sunlight and fresh air as often as possible and remain focused on your work. Some health benefits and refreshments can only be obtained from natural light.
Therefore, position your workstation strategically to avoid distractive reflections on your computer and eyes.
But if the sunlight becomes harsh during the summer seasons, consider putting blinds on windows or roll-up curtains to manage the situation.
03. Make Use of Home Office Lighting with a Pop of color
Light sources come in different shades of color from dull to bright colors. Brightly colored sources of light add vibrancy to the home office creating a whole new level of energy.
You can have a source of light matching an element in your office such as furniture, ceiling, wall, or the floor.
Bearing in mind how the pandemic has affected everyone both mentally and emotionally, you can even consider a touch of dopamine colors as a therapy technique to keep you elevated.
04. Keep Your Office Light Indirect
Direct light is likely to hit your screen and reflect causing glare. Such conditions are likely to cause eye strain triggering headaches, dry eyes, and blurred vision which puts your health at risk.
Position your workstation against the source of light creating glare. Alternatively, if you have a flexible monitor or laptop, you can use monitor arms, or an adjustable laptop stand to get a perfect setup.
Whether the light sources are fixed on the walls and ceilings, or they are just seated on your desk, avoid direct glare at all costs.
05. Get rid of Glare and Shadows
In an office setup, the objective is to light up the entire place while avoiding casting shadows and creating glare.
Ensure you give clear instructions on how you want your office lights installed to avoid frustrations later.
Position your task lamp strategically to avoid shadows and glare of the lamp on the task on which you are working.
If you notice disturbing rays of sunlight near your workstation, you can change your position or use blind and roll-out curtains to block the harsh rays.
06. Add Decorative Office Lighting
Modern home office lighting ideas are not all about keeping your home office properly lit for tasks and health purposes alone. Decorative office lighting brings a luxury vibe giving you that corporate feel.
Accent lighting, mantel lighting, and picture lighting expose every element in your space in the most attractive way.
You can also create a dramatic focal point with a unique, bold fixture that becomes as much an art and a lighting source.
Home Office Light Fixture Ideas
Follow this video for practical ideas:
When layering lighting, fixtures should not be a distraction. Instead, they should highlight objects and features in your room to bring out elegance and a positive vibe.
The most significant thing it is the quality of light and how it blends with everything in the room. Here are some light fixture ideas that are worth consideration.
01. Create Task Lighting
Mostly, an office handles different tasks from computer work to paperwork, reading, and any other focus-intensive work and so you need a flexible light source.
A Desk or a floor lamp with a flexible arm is the best as you can adjust it according to where you need it.
Ensure that the task lamp you settle for has eye-friendly filter colors to keep your task area illuminated while keeping you focused and healthy.
02. Get Multitasking Pendant Lights
Pendant lighting not only illuminates your workspace but makes a decorative statement too.
When fitted with a shade that focuses the light on a specific area, it can light up the central working area without taking over the entire place.
03. Tackle the Overhead Lighting with Style
Overhead Lighting may not be the greatest source of light in your office, but it can illuminate places that are not covered by other sources of light.
Nowadays you can have a modern office ceiling fan fitted with lights with an option in design and style.
Overhead fixtures in a home office have never been this fascinating, serving you both overhead lighting and functional air circulation.
04. Go Extra with some Sconce Lighting
Sconce fixtures come in distinctive designs and styles. They provide diffuse, soft light on walkways, walls, and other spaces where direct illumination is not necessary.
Whether downlight, up-light, or a combination of the two, choose a highly designed cone to add an appealing virtual appearance and extra light to your home office.
05. Chandelier Lighting
Although pendant lighting and a flush mount fixture are both great options for any office space, consider some little more eye-catching fixtures.
Explore the head-turning world of chandelier lighting which offers you the overhead ambient lighting that you need while adding the design moment to your workstation.
06. Flush Mount Fixtures
In the world of home office lighting fixtures, the list may seem to be endless but there is still one category you need to consider and that’s flush mount fixtures.
They are a major source of ambient lighting and a stylish option for homeowners with low ceilings. They blend well with wall lights to give extra illumination.
How do You Light Up a Home Office Room?
Having a well-lit home office keeps you productive and you get to enjoy every minute you spend there. Lighting design is one of the most crucial elements in creating a comfortable home office.
You need very keen when sorting out sources of light otherwise, you will end up with a dimly lit office. Here are some of the things to consider ensuring your lighting design is spot-on:
- Identify the time of the day when the office will be in use. It can be during the day, night, or both.
- Identify those who will be using the office apart from you.
- Look at the amount of natural light that gets in the office and the channel used.
- Identify the areas in your room that you wish to highlight such as artwork and shelves.
- Have a list of activities to be carried out in that office such as computer work, reading, writing and many more.
- Harmonize your lighting design with the furniture, ceiling, walls, and any other element in the office.
These tips will help you have an idea of the type of lighting design you want for your home office.
What If You Have Limited Space?
Lighting design for a limited office requires a bit of creativity. In a small office setup, you need to prioritize functionality against anything else.
Here are some modern home office lighting ideas even when the space is limited:
- Get a task lighting that matches your furniture – Simply let your desk lamp complement your furniture.
- Go for Bold Overhead Fixtures – Consider the height of your ceiling to have an idea of the design and style you want for an overhead fixture.
- Add a lamp to Your Shelf – If you can access enough natural light during the day, you can place your task lamp on the bookshelf to maximize your desk space.
- Add Sconce Lighting – Some small sconces on your wall will illuminate areas not covered by your task lamp.
- Get a multifunctional Pendant Lighting – Instead of having so many lighting fixtures, you can have accent pendant lighting mounted on the ceiling pointing directly at your work desk. You will receive both overhead and task lighting.
Home Office Lighting for Video Conferencing
When working from home, you cannot escape virtual meetings with clients or colleagues and video conferencing is the only channel for this.
Even with a fast internet connection and great webcam, bad lighting can ruin your video call.
Placing bright light sources behind you can lead to a harsh image while having just one source of light in front or above you can cast shadows on your face.
Having multiple sources of light placed at different angles can help balance the lighting or an adjustable desk lamp. Here is a lighting source to keep your video conferencing well lit.
Video Conference Lighting
Video conference like never before without the fear of glare and shadows. Grab the freedom to adjust the light as it fits you using this video conference lighting.
Key Features
- Color Temperature and Brightness – Equipped with three color temperatures (natural light, warm light, and white light). Change to your ideal lighting using the switch.
- Clip-on, Stable, and Flexible – Very light and portable and ideal for computers and laptops also adjustable to different directions.
- USB Powered – The USB ports allow you to charge the video conference lighting from various sources such as monitors, computers, laptops, mobile power supplies, and many more.
- Soft Lighting – The ring light design and diffuser offer a soft light giving you a natural glow with no glare and shadows.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do Ring Lights Use a Lot of Electricity?
Both USB-powered and battery ring lights consume an average of 5 to 10 watts while studio-grade ring lights connected to power adapters consume up to 75 watts.
How can I Lighten a Dark Room Without Natural Light?
Make use of artificial lightings such as overhead fixtures, recessed lighting, accent lighting, and pendant fixtures.
Ensure that your walls are plastered with the right color that accents the light produced artificially.
What is the Best Lighting for Working on a Computer?
Well-distributed diffuse light is best when working with a computer. It reduces glare on surfaces and hot spots and creates soft contrasts of objects in the office.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the distinct functions of your office gives you clarity when choosing the sources of light that suit you.
All the modern home office lighting ideas we have discussed here are enough to guide you towards a properly lit workspace.