Lighting is one of the most important features in any room of the house. A true and dependable light source illuminates spaces without harsh brightness and creates a welcoming atmosphere.
Lighting for the home office is an essential component for a room that feels productive, efficient, and inviting. It’s a source that has as much emphasis on design and function in any space, but especially a working space. Lightning needs vary by homeowner, but all personalized offices need light sources that are functional, durable, and stylish. From traditional, modern, or classic fixtures to smart and tech functions, there is a wide selection on the market.
What kind of lighting options should you or your builder install in the home office? Read our comprehensive guide to explore each option.
What to Know Before you Flip the Switch
The light is going to stage and set the tone for the home office. While this seems like a majorly important undertaking—and it is!—it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Break down each step in the lighting selection process into bite-sized chunks, and any homeowner will have a glowing and productively harmonious space in a snap.
The first thing a homeowner should do is take measurements of the room, including all natural light sources sizes and shapes (i.e. window and skylights). Next, it’s important to note what kind of direct or indirect light fills the room, such as north or south facing light and how that impacts the space.
After size and natural lighting, homeowners should measure safe, available areas to place light sources and other spots like surface top lights or floor lamps. It’s also essential to note any cabinets, shelving, and closets that will benefit from additional light sources.
Ask yourself some key questions:
- What purpose does the office serve?
- How much use will the office get?
- Is this a multi-purpose room?
And finally, keep a list or a mood board of lighting trends, styles, finishes, and even colors that fit into your home’s style and aesthetic. These three points will help lock down a budget for materials and installation for new home office lighting.
Ideal Lighting Options for the Home Office
With so many choices available to buyers and homeowners, keep the list below handy when browsing fixtures and finishes.
Common fixtures are usually made of aluminum, steel, brass, and copper. These metals are strong, durable, and easy to maintain over the years. Plus, these finishes are versatile and mix and match nicely with up-and-coming trends.
Accent Lighting to Add a Splash of Style
Mostly used to highlight art and other décor, accent lighting sets mood and tone. This fixture will diffuse and disseminate lighting throughout the office. These fixtures include sconces, mantel lights, cabinet lighting, and under-the-shelf lighting.
Direct Lighting to Ease Eyestrain
Overhead lighting is essential in any room, but it’s also vital that it’s not harsh or overbearing. Direct lighting can spotlight a particular area of a room, such as a desk or conference area.
Below are clever direct lighting options for the office:
- Track: A chameleon-like fixture that can illuminate any room, track lighting can be both task-based and decorative, while brightening up dark corners.
- Recessed: A classic and common choice for overhead light sources. Recessed lights are fixtures directly installed to the ceiling.
- Directional recessed: Similar to recessed lighting, this light is installed directly into the ceiling with a directional casing to cast light on specific directed areas.
- Surface: Cap-shaped fixtures hold a single bulb and cast light over a large area while taking up minimal space.
- Pendants: Traditional pendant lights come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and like recessed lights, they provide direct focused light. This fixture can be displayed on its own or in clusters to yield larger pools of lights across countertops, islands, or a table.
- Chandelier: A well-known decorative statement, the classic chandelier is an ornamental fixture that adds ambience and style to any lounge or work area.
- Spotlight: For large swaths of light, opt for this fixture. The spotlight levels up the light intensity. These fixtures can also be grouped together as a multiple lamp fixture.
Indirect Lighting to Set the Mood
Creating pools of light that illuminate a space or make it glow is majorly important for the home office. The key attraction of indirect lighting is summoning light or casting it away at a moment’s notice.
How can you capture extra light in a switch? Mix in indirect lighting fixtures to the home office for ambience and additional light. Indirect light sources include tabletop and floor lamps.
Task Lighting to Help You Stay on Track
This lighting option may seem short and sweet, but it provides a strong and steady glow for immediate tasks. Small task lighting options include desk lamps and adjustable light sources.
Stephanie Valente is a Content Director and Editor in Brooklyn, NY. She’s previously held writing and social media positions at Barkbox, Men’s Journal, and currently works at a full-service advertising agency. She’s a self-confessed home and design enthusiast. Stephanie is an award-winning poet and fiction writer. When she’s offline, you can find her taking a yoga class, running, hanging out with her rescue dog Pepper. Find her on stephanievalente.com.
Top Master Planned Communities near Charlotte, NC
Anne Piccirilli
I thought the article was going to tell us what the best lighting was for working in a seated position or in a stand-up situation. I was expecting to hear what direction and placement of lights, should be staged in what proximity to the computer as well as to printed materials …and how much light…lumens and what color of light was best for our eyes.
Jamie Garcia
Thanks for the feedback – we will add these to this article.