12 Home Office Lighting Ideas

Xavier Lorenzo/Getty Images

Shop on Spacejoy

Task Lamp

Shop on Spacejoy

This is one of the top lighting decisions you have to make for a home office: Choosing the light to view your important (and not-so-important) documents, drafts and to-do lists.

While overhead lights can create glare or shadows, task lamps reduce both, which is soothing to the eye and the spirit. Task lamps, like this one, often have metal shades that direct the light to a specific spot on your desk.

Many have adjustable arms, joints or shades, too. That way you can shine the light exactly where you need it, no matter what type of work you’re doing.

via merchant

Shop on Lamps Plus

Directional Floor Lamp

Shop on Lamps Plus

Floor lamps are a great way to add light to a home office, especially if the space is practically pocket-sized.

A single, slim directional floor lamp provides versatility. You can light your home office generally, as well as aim the separate fixtures up, down or wherever you want them to go. Looking for light that’s more diffuse? Choose a directional floor lamp with frosted globes. Don’t miss out on our top picks for floor lamps on Amazon, too.

Manu Vega/Getty Images

Shop on Amazon

Ring Light

Shop on Amazon

If you spend much of your day on video calls, a ring light may be your best friend. A ring light lamp can rest on your desk or act as a floor lamp.

Look for the Color Rendering Index (CRI), which tells you how closely it’s mimicking natural sunlight. You want something more than 90 at least and closer to 100. Dimmability and adjusting light temperature are key customizing features to getting the most flattering and comfortable light.

via merchant

Shop on Verilux

Sun Lamp

Shop on Verilux

If you don’t have enough natural light in your home office and/or you are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder, consider adding a flat panel sun lamp.

Get that Vitamin D with a full-spectrum, UV-free lamp. Thaese are said to boost your mood, well-being and productivity. As few as 20 minutes a day can help, depending on the lamp. They come in task and floor form, too.

via merchant

Shop on Amazon

Grow Light

Shop on Amazon

Offices often get tucked into nooks, closets and other alcoves, not known for their abundant light. Plant lovers of all levels know plants need at least some light to thrive. Switching on a grow light once in a while can make your plants, and you, thrive as well.

Techa Tungateja/Getty Images

Shop on Amazon

(Smart) Dimmer Switch

Shop on Amazon

Some home offices feature an overhead light, perhaps a single fixture centered in the ceiling or recessed lighting. Either way, installing a dimmer switch is a must, because it lets you adjust the brightness to exactly what you need. Smart dimmer switches have a gentle on or off so the light fades gradually.

imaginima/Getty Images

Shop on Amazon

White Fabric Drum Lamp Shade

Shop on Amazon

Task lighting often has a metal shade to direct light. But some floor lamps deliver warm, diffuse light that reduces eyestrain, especially if you’re staring at screens all day.

Consider a white fabric drum shade, which softens light, or paper lampshades, which create a welcoming glow. Swapping in a color or a new shape can also give an old lamp a fresh design while reviving office style, too.

via merchant

Shop on Wayfair

Sconces

Shop on Wayfair

Wall-mount lights add mood or task lighting wherever your office calls for it. They’re especially handy for tiny reading nooks, if your desk is narrow and when floor space is at a premium.

While hard-wiring sconces is ideal, it’s also not necessary. We love this corded option from Wayfair, which comes in multiple colors.

TG23/Getty Images

Shop on Wyze

Smart Bulbs

Shop on Wyze

If you haven’t already, switch to smart bulbs to help with home office light temperature, color, brightness and automation. You can set up on/off and other functionalities in an app.

Some, like Wyze, can mimic the sun’s changing light throughout the day as you work. Cost and features of smart bulbs vary greatly, so shop carefully for ones that fit your budget and needs. Look for bulbs with a CRI score nearest 100 for the most accurate colors.

via merchant

Shop on Amazon

Chrome-Tip Bulbs

Shop on Amazon

Chrome-tipped bulbs have a specific task: You screw them into pendants or fixtures where you don’t want direct light beaming down.

The colored bulb tip (most are golden or silver, but other colors are available) redirects light and makes it softer. This also means if you happen to glance in the direction of the bulb, you don’t see spots afterward. Indirect light is key to working with minimal eye strain, so this is one easy, affordable way to make your pendant light work for you.

phototropic/Getty Images

Shop on Amazon

LED Strip Lights

Shop on Amazon

They’re cheap, easy to install and create a fun office vibe, in multiple colors if you like. LED strip lights have improved in quality and can illuminate otherwise hard-to-light office spots like under a shelf or inside a supply closet, drawers or file cabinets. They’re also easy on your energy bill.

via merchant

Shop on Philips

Colored Lamp

Shop on Philips

The modern Philips Signe lamp blends various colors of light together for a distinctive office experience. Set the ambiance to make you feel relaxed and comfortable, whatever that means to you in the moment.

It can mimic the slowly changing, warming light of a sunrise to get you going at the start of your workday, or the flickering light of a fireplace to lend afternoon office coziness.

What to Look for in Home Office Lighting

There are numerous reasons to reconsider your home office lighting, especially if you work from home full-time. For starters, it helps ensure you can actually see everything in your office, even when there’s no natural light of which to speak. But it can also help prevent eye strain (and secondary effects, like headaches), decrease back and neck problems (by keeping you from craning over to see things) and even improve your overall productivity (good lighting ensures you can actually see the work you’re doing without effort).

But there are also some things you should keep in mind while you shop. We’ve outlined some of the largest factors to consider below:

Types of Lighting

• Ambient: Natural light could be called ambient in that it is bright and room-filling but not focused on a single point. Many lamps mimic this sort of lighting and provide room-wide illumination. The intention with ambient lighting should be to fill the entire room while ensuring that lighting is level across the room.
• Task: The best example of task lighting might be the classic desk lamp. This lighting style provides adequate, focused illumination where you need it most, like your immediate workspace. Task lighting probably won’t illuminate an entire room (and it shouldn’t), but it definitely should provide enough light to reduce eye strain while you work.
• Accent: Almost like a combination of the other two, accent lighting isn’t as general as ambient lighting nor as focused on you and your work as task lighting. Think of it in the same category as accent furniture: It’s not the focal point of the room, but it’s there to add a little splash of light where you need it, be that to illuminate artwork, architecture, awards, etc., or to just create more points of light in the room.

Lighting Placement

As you may ascertain from the different types of lighting outlined above, the placement of your fixtures and lamps is of the utmost importance. Ambient light should be placed in a neutral space (overhead lights are great for this very reason, but corners work as well), where they can reach every part of a room without causing glare or harsh shadows. Task lights should be put near workspaces where you need focused, bright lights and need to be free of obstruction. And accent lights, as the name suggests, can be put anywhere you want to highlight whatever things you’re trying to show off. That being said, the size and style of lamps may require you to more closely consider placement—a task light, for instance, may necessitate you clearing a corner of your desk to make space for it.

Room Size

The larger a room, the more powerful or numerous your lamps will need to be to suit. Similarly, a light fixture with a dozen bulbs probably won’t fit a tiny space. Remember that finding the right lighting for your home office is about balance. Too much light could cause you just as much frustration and discomfort as not enough light. This also plays into the kinds of bulbs you’ll be getting. Halogens, for instance, are typically very bright and harsh, whereas colored LEDs might be cooler and less bright. Make sure you consider all these factors (and more) when deciding.

Alternative Lighting Options

We live in an era of smart technology, and lamps are no exception. While numerous dedicated lights operate simply—with just an on and off switch—there are others that can be controlled to the nth degree. They might offer dimming, as well as color-changing. This will allow you to shift the mood of your lighting to suit more circumstances. That’s especially helpful if you use your home office as a gym or perhaps you have a small home theater. Be smart about your lights; you could find many more options than just a single bright bulb.

Efficiency/Effectiveness

While this is more about the bulbs themselves, your lighting fixtures will somewhat determine what kinds of bulbs you can use, so it still matters. The efficiency of your lights is twofold. First, it’s in how much energy they use. Halogens, for instance, are outdated these days because they suck up a lot of energy and aren’t particularly efficient. LEDs, by contrast, have seen a huge spike in popularity because they can offer similar (or even better lighting) while saving you money. Second, its in how well they illuminate your space. As mentioned, halogens are inefficient, but they’re remarkably bright. LEDs can also be bright but aren’t always. Make sure your lights are doing their job of illuminating your space. If they’re not, consider adding more or different lights.

How We Found the Best Home Office Lighting

Lighting is not and will never be a one-size-fits-all solution, so we did not approach it as such. We first considered the various options in the office lighting space, considering both trustworthy brands and some under-the-radar dark horse options. Then, we looked at individual options, paying close attention to their efficacy, style, reliability and numerous other factors. Finally, we consulted experts and looked at user reviews to narrow down a final selection that meets an array of styles and budgets while maintaining the overall quality of our final list.

Why You Should Trust Us

Katie Dohman is an award-winning freelance writer who has written about various lifestyle topics for over 15 years. She’s also intimately familiar with home improvement and DIY projects, as she’s currently in the middle of a complete gut remodel of her 1921 home. Her personal and professional expertise makes her the ideal candidate to speak on many home-focused subjects, including office lighting.

FAQ

What lighting is best for a home office?

All three lighting styles have their merits, but task lighting may be the most essential for a home office, as it illuminates your workspace specifically. If you had to choose just one style, that would be our recommendation.

What is the best lighting for office eyes?

Even indirect, ambient lighting is probably the best way to reduce eye strain. It prevents your eyes from adjusting frequently and is also not as harsh as more direct lighting options. However, this is also determined by the output of your bulbs. Bulbs that are either too dim or too bright may cause eye strain. The average user should seek out lights with an output of between 500 to 1,500 lux.

What kind of lighting is best for computer work?

As your computer screen is illuminated on its own, indirect or shielded lighting is best to accompany it. Using just the computer alone will cause eye strain, but having harsh directed light from a bright bulb will make it worse. As such, ambient lighting might be the best option, and it can even help reduce strain from the screen.

Is warm or cool light better for a home office?

While this somewhat concerns personal preference, studies show that cool lighting is better for focus and productivity, whereas warm lighting helps you wind down and relax more. If you’re trying to get a lot of work done, cool lighting might be better. However, you may prefer to have adjustable lighting to better shift as your mood and requirements shift.