Ease eye strain with the right lamp for your desk or work table

Desk lamps are not the same as table lamps although you can interchange some of these lighting designs. Table lamps are used mostly as a decorative feature in living rooms and family rooms, desk lamps are more like an accessory to a desk and have a special purpose.

Before you buy look at the room where it is going to be placed in and look at other the types of lighting fixtures you have.  its always better to buy the style that compliments any wall lamps and fixtures you already have.

A halogen lamp is usually not quite as bulky as standard table lamps. If you like to have a little bigger light for your desk then use a tall table lamp. A swing arm lamp or the brushed steel contemporary desk lamp is a great choice.

In time when you would like something a little different or to change the look and feel of your room, all you need to do is change the lamp shade for a totally new look.

If you work at your desk for long periods of time you want to be careful that your lamp is not too tall that you get a glare when you look up from time to time, this can cause headaches.

Attaching a dimmer switch can eliminate this problem. 

Matching the shape of your lamp to the style of your desk

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If you have a large wooden desk as a piece of home office furniture and would like to keep with this traditional look, choose the classic piano style desk lamp or the swing arm desk lamp to give your desk the classic old style look.

   For modern desks a spiral desk lamp or the halogen bubble desk lamp. As an alternative to a contemporary styles, one of the better modern designs in we've seen and a clever update on the traditional pharmacy lamp.

This halogen lamp is particularly useful in a den or study near a desk.

One problem that many people run into is buying a lamp for a teenagers bedroom desk, where they also have a computer screen.  It has to be placed so that it does not create shadows or a glare off the monitor.

 Normally the best position is forward and a little higher. Most computer desks have a small shelf above small storage compartments, this would be a good spot to place it. Adjust your monitor illumination to the same level of light as the rest of the room.

Proper lighting for your home office and  computer desk

To have a work space free of heavy shadows you need to combine diffused ambient lighting and adjustable task lighting that avoids contrasts with the rest of the room.

Light colored objects on dark finished desks and light colored walls and ceilings will reflect light back onto your work.

A wall that is painted too dark or dark objects on the desk will reflect back onto the computer screen. Halogen desk lamps are one of the better lights to have around your work area.

More information about lighting can be found on this page about contemporary lighting.