Lighting for home offices is something that most population don't spend much time contemplating. Just think back to the old movies where you would see a guy at a typewriter, his desk covered in scattered papers, a coat rack in the angle with a hat perched neatly at the top, and a singular bare light bulb hanging from the centre of the ceiling. Times have categorically changed.
How to arrival the lighting belief for your home office will depend on a few things. The first, and most important, is to conclude where light is needed, and how much light is required.
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In general, there are three types of lighting: general, task, and ambient/decorative. Ceiling-mount fixtures should be able to furnish normal light. If you don't have an overhead fixture, and don't intend to rewire for one, you'll have to opt for a combination of floor lamps, table lamps, and possibly wall-mount fixtures (commonly referred to as sconces). Recessed "pot" lights should not be relied upon for the only light in a home office -- instead, use them to accent exact items by angling them, if they are adjustable, much the same as you would in any other room.
Lighting is one domain where the old saying, "you get what you pay for," tends to ring very true. It is usually worth paying the extra join of dollars for ability light fixtures, and ability light bulbs too. The whole of pieces capable of breaking or malfunctioning on a fixture is astounding -- there is the mechanism that turns the light on and off; the internal wiring; the part that holds the bulb (the socket); the pieces that attach the shade; sometimes a transformer... Being electrical, the risks of a malfunctioning fixture are not worth taking chances with. Let's not forget the halogen floor lamps, favorite a few years back, which were prone to over-heating and catching fire, or setting around items ablaze because of the inordinate heat emitted. With that said, here are some pointers on selecting lighting.
Floor lamps are capable of providing a good source of normal light, but not all do. The best way to ensure a good normal light is to speak to a salesperson at a lighting store. Unfortunately, you cannot rely on the lighting guidance of the staff at a large hardware store or branch store; these population are ordinarily trained in sales, not in lighting. Someone with a knowledge of lighting and lighting products can help you pick based on the size of your home office and your exact needs and preferences. Make sure you have at least the approximate size of your home office with you when you go shopping for lighting; even great would be to have a floor plan, no matter how almost done.
Lighting has become very creative in up-to-date years. You can purchase a floor lamp with a built-on shelf, a side table with a built-on table lamp, lamps and fixtures in almost any size, shape, colour and more.
Next you have to adopt your task lighting. You have to conclude what, if any, task lighting you need. It categorically doesn't hurt to have a small lamp at your computer for those times when you will need some light, but the larger normal light is not necessary, like on a slightly cloudy morning when there is natural light still coming in, but not quite enough. If you have an area in your office where you will be performing a task provocative anything small, detailed, more difficult to see, you will also want a task light there. Task lights can be floor lamps, table lamps, wall-mounted, clip-on, or ceiling-mounted. If your work is dependent on colour accuracy, opt for a lamp that holds both an incandescent and fluorescent bulb, or purchase specialty lightbulbs that emulate natural light.
The final step, which is somewhat optional in a home office, is ambient, or decorative, lighting. This can be anything from a small table lamp that looks like a shell covered turtle, to a wall-mounted light that has changeable face-plates depicting separate things (such as a coffee cup, a smiley face, etc.), picture lights to accent things hung on your walls, or almost anything else. These are all miniature touches that allow you to add to the milieu of your home office while introducing a personal touch.
My favourite source of light is the window. But the light in case,granted from a window, and sometimes the view, has to be controllable. Some days you won't want to see your neighbour tossing a football around with his kids when you are stuck working. Other times the sun may hit at the wrong angle and be nearly blinding. And, of course, there will be times when both the sunlight and the view will be just perfect. When selecting window treatments, keep the following in mind:
> Vertical blinds can make quite a racket if you have your window open on a windy day. But you can pick to direct the light to the left or right, or open or close them completely.
> Horizontal, or mini-blinds, aside from being difficult to clean, can cast shadows in and around the room. The shadows can be controlled to some extent by angling the slats up or down. Mini-blinds tend to be the least costly of the window rehabilitation choices, and are ready in plastic, metal, and wood (or wood-look).
> Pleated shades do not offer the selection of angling the light that comes in; the can be opened, closed, or in any place in between. They are ready in opacities fluctuating from sheer to black-out though, which is nice.
> Roller shades, the original solid colour, plain ones, should not be used as the sole rehabilitation on your window. These wish a pelmet and usually side panels as well in order to look good. There are roller shades categorically ready now that are made of bamboo, textured material, or just funky colours, and these can be used on their own.
> Draperies and curtains (window treatments made of fabric) tend to be more expensive. They also wish mounting hardware, rods, tie-backs, and so on. The ready made curtain panels tend to be more reasonably priced, but are only ready in a join of "standard" sizes and the colour/pattern selections are usually quite restrictive.
> North-facing windows wish less belief to the function of the window treatments because you will not have much direct light coming in at all.
Window treatments that furnish you with options relating to both view and light are the best. This can be done in a few separate ways, but involves using combinations of window treatments. For instance, you can use a semi-opaque pleated shade with a fairly sheer curtain in front of it. There are also many other options available, such as shutters, and screens, to name just a couple.
The important thing when selecting lighting and window treatments is to reconsider function first, then aesthetics.
Lighting and Window Treatments for the Home Office (4 of 4)
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