Know Your Desk Lamp Lighting Options For Increased Efficiency

Task lighting is focused illumination, providing a beam of light onto a work surface. The presence of focused lighting on the area that you are working on helps to effectively and comfortably perform a particular task at hand. Task lighting is a very important aspect of any room, particularly a study or home office. A few examples of specific task lighting applications include writing, reading, using a computer, and craftwork.

It is not enough to use the same amount of light across an entire room, particularly in a work space. This is why task lighting, such as a desk lamp, is necessary. A good desk lamp is important in any work environment or home office, especially when working with a computer or laptop as viewing the monitor will require less light than reading paper materials.

When choosing a desk lamp, you need to consider both design compatibility with your room’s interior décor and the lamp’s ability to provide the amount of lighting you need. Familiarize yourself with the different options available for you in terms of light source and features so you are able to select the best desk lamp for your work space.

Light Sources

Incandescent Lamp

If you prefer a lamp that produces minimal glare and enhances color definition, go for one with an incandescent light bulb. Incandescent light bulbs provide a uniform level of illumination all throughout their short lifespan of about 200 to 1200 hours. These light bulbs are best for ambient lighting applications but not so much for most task lighting purposes because of their yellow glow and the heat they produce when they are used for long hours.

Halogen Lamp

Aside from general lighting, halogen lamps are also perfect for task lighting, with their bright, crisp light. Halogen light bulbs eliminate shadows and minimize glare and eyestrain. Compared to incandescent bulbs, halogens have a longer lifespan which ranges from 1000 to 2000 hours and are energy efficient.

Fluorescent Lamp

Fluorescent lights are brighter, more efficient, and operate in a cooler range of colors than incandescent lights. They are very useful for task lighting, lasting up to 10,000 hours. Fluorescent light bulbs are a bit more expensive than incandescent bulbs and most require some time to warm up before reaching their maximum light output. You’ll know that a fluorescent bulb is nearing the end of its lifespan when it begins to dim or flicker.

Full Spectrum Lamp

Full spectrum light produces the whitest and brightest light. This type of light source is designed to imitate natural sunlight as closely as possible and is well-suited for task lighting applications as it does not produce glare, preventing eye strain. Full spectrum light offers optimum energy efficiency, lasting up to 10,000 hours.

Desk Lamp Features

Adjustable Neck

There are adjustable desk lamps that have variable height settings and allow you to control the light to be sharper or more diffuse. Other desk lamps that are designed to have adjustable necks, enabling you to direct the beam exactly where you need it the most.

Adjustable Lighting

Your lighting needs will vary depending on the project you need to work on. A dimmer or 3-way switch will allow you to adjust the lighting, increasing the illumination when reading through documents and then dimming it when you perform other tasks.

Magnifier

Desk lamps that have attached magnifier are very useful when you are checking fine details, allowing you to zoom in on your work so that you do not miss any important details.

Clamp-On Lamp

If you have a small workspace which may not have room for a conventional lamp, a clamp-on lamp will be handy. This type of lamp is slim and versatile, and can be attached to whatever’s nearby.

Desk lamps are essential in ensuring efficiency when performing certain tasks. By learning what desk lamp options are available to you, you are able to examine which ones will fit into your lighting needs and benefit you the most.

Joan Silver is a known lighting expert from Capitol Lighting (1800lighting.com) and a fan of all things “lighting”. She currently provides customers and designers with robust information on their lighting needs.