LIGHTING OF THE STUDY
What kind of lamps should you use in your study and where shall you put them
Selecting the artificial lights for your home, which determine the style and atmosphere of the rooms, is not only a question of aesthetics; the light of the appropriately selected lamp has a positive effect on your mood and it can even enhance your performance!
Starting point: the conditions of the study
When planning the lighting of the study room, you have to consider its conditions: when and how it is reached by natural light and also during which part of the day you spend most of your time there. If the study is well lit by the sun, you mostly switch on the lamp early in the morning and in the evening or at night, whereas if there is only little natural, you will probably need an artificial light all day long. As a basic principle we must strive to achieve a result, which resembles natural light and avoid eye-straining, contrasting and reflecting solutions.
An important factor is the position of the desk, which basically determines the lighting system needed. Professionals suggest that there should always be a generic room light that provides an indirect, shadow-free light in the whole room. This can be achieved with indirect luminaires, which return light from the wall surface.
Creating the appropriate general lighting
Image: 2608 Carl
When creating general lighting, make sure that the light reaches the main parts of the room evenly, that the brightness is adequate, and that the lamps are placed so that no shadow is thrown on the table or on the computer on which you work. Apparently, reflection is particularly tiring and bad for our eyes. It is wise to use luminaires recessed in the ceiling – for example, LED spotlights – because they can be used to put the light, where you need the most, with additional table or floor lamps. It is practical to choose brightness-adjustable luminaires in this room.
Local light is needed everywhere!
Image: 4065 Action
Local light is needed in every room, where there is little central lighting and this statement is even more valid and relevant for the study. To provide targeted light, the wall or floor lamp with adjustable arm and table lamp – or a combination of the two – is the most suitable. We should always try to place the reading lamp on the desk, so that the light radiates in the opposite direction – right-handed users from the left, left-handed ones from the right side, thus avoiding throwing a shade on the work surface. Use light sources with the greatest possible angles of light, making sure that they are not blinding and that the light emitted by them is not reflected. The lamp should have a cold and bluish light to keep your eyes safe and it is even better if it is equipped with an energy-saving halogen or LED bulb. Table and floor lamps that have brightness control are practical.
Image: Dominic 4164
It might only seem to be a nuance, but it is important
When planning the location of table and floor lamps, try to install wires that run in the wall instead of using free running wires. If your desk is in the middle of the room, you should install a floor outlet. Hidden LED lights or strips built into the cabinet or shelves can be very useful and provide a decorative solution.