If you work from home did you know that one of the ways of working more efficiently is by using the right lighting?

Your home office really needs three kinds of lighting,  not counting natural daylight (which at some times of the year is hard to come by).  First of all you need a directional light over the working surfaces, this can be a desk light, although if you can find one that has a clamp fitting so you can attach it to the desk it will free up work space (and if you are like me, desk space is valuable).  Secondly you need to light the whole work area in a more gentle light – this “mood lighting” helps to soften the contrasts between light and dark areas.  Thirdly you need to light the entire room in a fairly weak background light – often done by using an up-lighter or a ceiling light.

Strangely when looking at a desk light you need to remember that the brightest light is not always the best (although if you are older than about 40 you will find that your eyes need a brighter light to read than they did when you were younger),  if you work close to the light then a bright light may be too hot or even have the wrong colour balance – the author has a desk lamp that used a compact tube that is colour balanced to daylight (5500K for the technically inclined) and finds that this is the best for him.

If you work with computers (and many home offices do have a computer) it is important to make sure that there are no reflections on the screen.  The best way to do this is to turn the screen so that it is at 90° to the window and light the wall behind your seat so that there are no harsh shadows.  Also look at the shade on your desk lamp, an asymmetrical shade or reflector (one that is deeper on one side than the other) spreads light to one side so that the lamp lights the desk and keyboard but not the screen.

Another valuable tip is to place the desk lamp so that you are not putting yourself in the shade, this is very easy to do  if you are right handed put the lamp on the left (and vice-versa if you are left-handed).

Due to EU regulations it is very difficult to buy “normal” light bulbs now so you really have the choice between energy saving bulbs, fluorescent bulbs and halogen bulbs.  Each of these have their own benefits and drawbacks :-

• Energy saving and fluorescent bulbs use very little energy and last for a long time so if you have your lights on for several hours a day they can work out cheaper in running costs.  The new energy saving bulbs also come in an wide variety of sizes, fittings and wattage’s meaning that there is likely to be one to match your needs.  However you need to remember that all of these take a few seconds to fully light up and as they get older the light from them starts to dim.
• Halogen bulbs give out twice as much light as light from standard bulbs of the same wattage and reporduce colours very well.  However they can get very hot and are not recommended for fittings where there might be a risk of fire (if the holder falls over for example or something is draped across it). 

By the effective use of natural and artificial lighting you can make your room look functional, relaxed or warm and cozy, try experimenting with different bulbs and positions of the lights and you will be amazed the difference you will notice in your home office and once you find the right balance of light it will help you to work more effectively as well.