A year ago, if someone asked me what would I do if I had to work from home for the rest of my life, I’d have jumped with joy. The freedom and joy of working from your own personal space or probably from a place far away can’t be expressed in words. It’s been close to a year since we’ve all been in lockdown. But, with restrictions easing out, many have begun venturing out, mostly working professionals looking for a change in environment. And frankly, we can’t blame them. Then there are others who would love to continue WFH enjoying their own space. So, here’s a quick question for our home-loving folk, “Does your workspace (at home) have the right amount of lighting?” You probably didn’t even think of that.
But here’s the thing, the quality of lighting in your workspace can impact your productivity. While poor lighting can cause fatigue, eyestrain and headaches, and ultimately impair your ability to work effectively, well-lit surroundings do the complete opposite. If you live in an apartment that does not receive enough natural light, artificial lights are the way to go. Here are five aspects to consider when setting up a well-lit WFH environment.
How To Create Better Home Office Lighting
Bid Adieu To Direct Lighting
Working in direct light isn’t good for your eyes. So, it’s time to do your eyes a favor. One should always look for ways to keep the light indirect and illuminate the workspace using ambient light. The goal here is to illuminate the entire space without creating undue glare and contrast while avoiding casting shadows. Here are some common fixtures that provide ambient light – chandeliers and other ceiling fixtures, light kits on ceiling fans, and recessed ceiling lights.
Desk Lamps For The Night Owl
For those of you who spend hours on end focusing on intensive tasks, filing papers, and glaring at computer screens, it’s best to choose a well-defined light source that’s dedicated to what you’re doing. So, what’s best for you is a desk lamp with dimmers. These enable you to control the intensity of the light while performing various activities such as reading, writing, or working on the computer. Task lighting makes the home office very relaxed as it increases focus and decreases strain on the eyes. If your desk is too small and there’s no space for a table lamp, you can opt for a floor lamp. But make sure that the lamp is placed on one side of the desk in order to avoid shadows or reflections.
It’s All About The Location
Considering the location and source of lighting before you begin work is very important. A light source placed behind a person can create unnecessary shadows on the screen. So, to avoid such unwelcomed hurdles while working, the location of the light source become vital. Choose a place that does not flash the light directly on you, but also gives you ample light to work efficiently.
Use Natural Light, Save Power
Strategically positioning your desk is very crucial if you’re going to be sticking to natural light. Make sure that the window is on one side of the desk and not placed behind the desk. This is because direct sunlight may cause a glare on the computer screen and also create unwanted shadows.
Additionally, you can try installing sheer curtains, Venetian blinds, and adjustable louvers on the windows in order to bring in limited natural light when the sunlight is at its peak. This technique works best, especially during the hot summer months. One of the major advantages of using natural light is that it lightens up the home office during the day and helps to save on electricity bills. Alongside this, natural light also ensures good health and well-being because sunlight is one of the best sources of vitamin D.
Your WFH office is your own space, so make it feel like you or something you’re comfortable with. And with people dedicating more time to work than ever, taking good care of your eyes is crucial. So, use these simple WFH lighting techniques to prevent eye strain and help you make your home office into a space you are ready to work in each day.
