Proper office lighting is key to setting the stage for a productive workday. Whether setting up the lighting for a home office or adding touches to a public office space, it is critical to ensure the lighting provides optimal working conditions.

General lighting should be bright enough to provide for a comfortable workspace, but not so bright as to create undue glare off of your papers or computer screen. If your desk is in the center of the room, consider using two large LED ceiling fixtures on each side of your desk or four 6" recessed fixtures evenly spaced in the room with two of the fixtures aligned with either side of your desk. For glare reduction, avoid placing the fixtures immediately in front of your desk. 

Adding layers to office lighting is also important. Especially in windowed offices, as the outdoor, natural light changes throughout the day, it can aid in productivity and eye comfort to be able to adjust lighting by turning on or off accent fixtures or dimming overhead fixtures. 

Learn more about office lighting at your local ALA-member showroom.

Photo by Tech Lighting.