Get your desk light just right

The festive season is officially over and most South Africans are back at the office or in school. This means more time spent at a desk for many of us, whether it be at work, in our homes, or at an educational institution.

A desk lamp is essential to any productive work or learning environment. It helps create an optimal workspace and decreases the risk of eye strain. But not just any old lamp will do. Here are 4 tips to ensure you choose a desk lamp that will give you the best results.

QUALITY IS KEY
Superior quality light is first and foremost. The two characteristics you need to consider are CRI and colour temperature. CRI stands for Colour Rendering Index and measures how true to life colours look beneath a given light source. This rating is important when selecting a desk lamp because the ability to see contrast when reading and writing is essential for good eye health. An LED with a CRI rating between 85 and 100 is best. The colour temperature of a light is usually described as warm or cool. An LED desk lamp with a temperature range of 2700K to 4500K will be most comfortable. 

ADJUSTABLE ANGLES
Adjustable desk lamps are not an absolute must but they do make life easier. Lamps with adjustable necks, swing arms, and swivel necks allow the user to direct the beam where it is needed most and minimises glare.

SIZE MATTERS
You don’t want your desk lamp to overwhelm your workspace by being too large. On the other hand, you don’t want it to be so small that it doesn’t really get the job done. If your desk is small and surface area is scarce then a lamp with a small base is going to be best. Alternatively, a clip-on desk lamp will free up even more desktop space. If your desk is large then it’s important that the light source reaches where you need it most and doesn’t create awkward pools of darkness. A lamp with a swing arm should ensure full coverage of your desktop.

PERFECT PLACEMENT
The position of your desk lamp makes a noticeable difference in the quality of illumination it offers. To avoid shadows, place the lamp on the left if you’re right-handed and to the right if you’re left-handed. If you have a laptop or computer on your desk, position the lamp so that it illuminates both the desk and the keyboard without causing glare.