How to light a home office with no window

How much light a desk needs

Lighting standards describe brightness on a work surface in lux. Singapore's office lighting standard SS 531, as summarized by Singapore's A*STAR research agency, recommends about 500 lux on the desk for writing, typing and reading, and 300 lux for simpler tasks such as filing. That figure is in line with common office lighting practice.

The same A*STAR article tested free smartphone light-meter apps against a calibrated meter and found errors of 26 to 76%. So use a phone app reading only as a rough guide, not a measurement.

In a windowless corner, a single ceiling light rarely gets the desk anywhere near 500 lux. You need light at three levels.

Layer 1: Task light on the work surface

This is the light that matters most for reading and typing. Options that take little or no desk space:

Our comparison of desk lamps for small desks covers specific models.

Layer 2: General light in the room

Working in a pool of bright light surrounded by darkness is tiring, because your eyes keep adjusting between the bright screen and the dark room. Add a second, softer source:

• An LED bulb of 800 lumens or more in the main ceiling fixture. ENERGY STAR's buying guide lists 800 lumens as the light output of an old 60-watt bulb and 1,600 lumens for a 100-watt bulb.
• A floor lamp that bounces light off the ceiling or a wall.
• A plug-in wall light if there is no ceiling fixture.

Layer 3: Light behind the screen (optional)

A soft light behind or around the monitor reduces the contrast between a bright screen and a dark wall. Some monitor light bars include a rear backlight for this. A small LED strip or a lamp aimed at the wall behind the screen does the same job.

Choosing color temperature

ENERGY STAR's purchasing checklist describes light color in kelvin (K):

Many desk lamps and light bars let you change color temperature. A practical approach is neutral to cool white during the working day and warmer light in the evening.

Reduce glare

• Aim task lights at the desk, not at the screen.
• Avoid a bare bulb directly behind your monitor in your line of sight.
• Matte surfaces on the desk reflect less glare than glossy ones.

The American Optometric Association recommends positioning screens to avoid glare from overhead lights. For screen height and distance, see how far your monitor should be.

Power without the clutter

Three light sources can mean three more cords. A monitor light bar powered from the monitor's USB port needs no extra outlet. For the rest, use one power strip and route cords under the desk, as described in how to hide desk cables without drilling.

Windowless corner checklist

• A task light aimed at the desk surface
• A second, softer light source in the room
• Bulbs of 800 lumens or more for general lighting
• Neutral or cool white light during working hours
• No light reflecting off the screen
• All lights on one tidy power strip

Turning a closet into your office? Our closet office setup walkthrough covers lighting a fully enclosed space.