Shop premium brands including House of Troy, Hubbardton Forge, and Visual Comfort for office lighting that helps you work smarter and look professional on video calls.

Office Desk Lamps

Desk lamps provide essential task lighting for reading, writing, and computer work. The right desk lamp reduces eye strain and creates focused illumination exactly where you need it.

Desk and Bankers Lamps — Classic office essentials featuring traditional banker's lamps with iconic green glass shades, adjustable pharmacy lamps, and contemporary task lights. Banker's lamps have illuminated professional desks for over a century, casting warm, focused light across work surfaces without glare.

Table Lamps — Versatile options for office desks, credenzas, and side tables. Choose lamps with opaque shades to direct light downward onto work surfaces, or translucent shades for ambient office illumination.

Piano Lamps — Originally designed for sheet music, piano lamps excel as desk lights with their long, horizontal light distribution. Ideal for wide desks, drafting tables, and workstations requiring even illumination across broad surfaces.

Buffet and Accent Lamps — Slender profiles for narrow surfaces, bookshelves, and office credenzas. These accent lamps add ambient warmth to home offices without consuming valuable desk space.

Desk Lamp Placement Guide

Proper desk lamp placement prevents eye strain and eliminates shadows on your work surface.

For Right-Handed Users

Position your desk lamp on the left side of your desk. This prevents your writing hand from casting shadows across your work.

For Left-Handed Users

Position your desk lamp on the right side of your desk for shadow-free writing and drawing.

For Computer Work

Place task lighting beside your monitor, not behind it. This reduces contrast between bright screens and dark surroundings, minimizing eye fatigue during long work sessions.

Ideal Desk Lamp Height

Tip: The bottom of your lampshade should be at or slightly below eye level when seated to prevent direct glare.

Banker's Lamps: The Classic Office Choice

Banker's lamps remain office staples for good reason:

• Focused illumination: Green glass shades direct light downward onto work surfaces
• Reduced glare: Opaque shades prevent light scatter and screen reflections
• Eye comfort: Green glass provides soft, warm illumination that reduces eye fatigue
• Timeless style: Classic designs suit traditional offices, law firms, libraries, and studies
• Solid construction: Brass bases and quality materials ensure decades of reliable use

House of Troy banker's lamps feature Vermont craftsmanship with solid brass construction and hand-finished details that distinguish professional workspaces.

Office Floor Lamps

Floor Lamps supplement desk lighting and provide ambient illumination throughout your office space.

Floor Lamp Applications in Offices

Reading Corners — Position floor lamps beside office chairs and sofas for comfortable document review and reading sessions.

Behind Desks — Arc floor lamps extend over desk surfaces, providing overhead task lighting without ceiling fixtures.

Ambient Fill — Torchiere-style floor lamps bounce light off ceilings for soft, even office illumination that reduces harsh shadows.

Video Call Background — Strategic floor lamp placement illuminates your background for professional video conference appearances.

Floor Lamp Placement Tips

• Position 4-6 feet from seating for reading tasks
• Angle adjustable floor lamps toward work surfaces
• Use dimmable models for flexible light levels throughout the day

Office Ceiling Fixtures

Ceiling fixtures provide ambient illumination supporting your task lighting.

Flush Mount — Low-profile ceiling lights for home offices with standard 8-foot ceilings. Flush mount fixtures provide overall room illumination without interfering with bookshelves or tall furniture. Choose fixtures with diffused lenses to minimize glare on computer screens.

Semi-Flush — Fixtures dropping 4-8 inches from ceilings add visual interest while maintaining clearance. Ideal for offices with 9-foot ceilings and spaces where decorative overhead lighting enhances professional aesthetics.

Foyer and Hallway — Transitional fixtures for office entries, connecting hallways, and reception areas in professional settings.

Office Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans combine air circulation with lighting for comfortable, energy-efficient office spaces.

Indoor Ceiling Fans — Climate control for home offices and professional workspaces. Many models include integrated lights, eliminating the need for separate ceiling fixtures. Quiet operation is essential for focused work and video calls.

Outdoor Ceiling Fans — Damp-rated options for covered outdoor offices, screened porches used as workspaces, and sunroom offices.

Office Ceiling Fan Considerations

• Quiet operation: Choose DC motors rated below 50 decibels for undisturbed focus
• Light kits: Integrated lights reduce ceiling clutter in compact home offices
• Remote controls: Adjust settings without interrupting workflow

Layered Office Lighting

The best office lighting combines multiple layers for productivity and comfort:

Task Layer — Desk lamps and focused work lights illuminate specific work areas. This is your primary productivity lighting for reading, writing, and detailed tasks.

Ambient Layer — Ceiling fixtures or floor lamps provide overall room illumination, reducing contrast between bright task areas and dark surroundings.

Accent Layer — Bookshelf lamps, art lights, and decorative fixtures add visual interest and professional polish to your workspace.

Natural Light — Maximize daylight from windows. Position desks perpendicular to windows (not facing or backing) to reduce screen glare while benefiting from natural illumination.

Color Temperature for Office Productivity

Light color affects focus, alertness, and work performance.

Recommendation: 3500K-4000K provides optimal alertness for daytime office work. Consider warmer 3000K options for evening work sessions to support natural sleep rhythms.

Video Call Lighting Tips

Professional video presence requires intentional lighting:

Position light in front of you — Light sources behind your camera (facing you) eliminate unflattering shadows and prevent the dark silhouette effect.

Avoid overhead-only lighting — Ceiling fixtures alone cast harsh shadows under eyes and chin. Supplement with desk lamps or floor lamps at face level.

Use soft, diffused light — Harsh direct light creates unflattering contrast. Choose lamps with diffused shades or bounce light off walls.

Balance your background — Light your background evenly to appear professional without competing with your face for attention.

Ring lights alternative — Well-positioned desk lamps on either side of your monitor can achieve ring light effects without dedicated equipment.

Home Office Lighting Tips

Reduce eye strain:

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds
• Maintain ambient light levels similar to screen brightness
• Position monitors perpendicular to windows to reduce glare

Maximize productivity:

• Use cooler color temperatures (3500K-4000K) during focused work hours
• Add task lighting for paperwork even if screen work dominates
• Install dimmer controls to adjust light levels throughout the day

Create separation:

• Distinct lighting helps mentally separate work space from living space
• Use specific lamps only during work hours to create routine
• Different color temperatures can signal "work mode" vs. "relaxation mode"

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best desk lamp for computer work?

Choose adjustable desk lamps with dimmable controls and 3500K-4000K color temperature. Position beside your monitor to reduce eye strain without creating screen glare. Banker's lamps and pharmacy-style lamps work particularly well.

How do I reduce eye strain when working from home?

Combine task lighting with ambient lighting to reduce contrast between your screen and surroundings. Use appropriate color temperatures (3500K-4000K for daytime), position lights to avoid screen glare, and take regular breaks from focused screen work.

Should office lighting be warm or cool?

Neutral to cool lighting (3500K-4000K) promotes alertness and productivity for daytime work. Warmer lighting (2700K-3000K) suits evening work sessions and creative tasks. Adjustable color temperature bulbs let you switch throughout the day.

Where should I put a floor lamp in my home office?

Position floor lamps beside reading chairs, behind your desk for ambient fill, or angled to illuminate video call backgrounds. Avoid placing bright floor lamps directly behind your monitor where they create distracting reflections.

How much light does a home office need?

Home offices benefit from 2-4 light sources: one desk lamp for task lighting, one ceiling fixture for ambient light, and optional floor lamp or accent lighting. Layer these sources for flexible illumination throughout the workday.

Are banker's lamps good for offices?

Yes. Banker's lamps have illuminated professional workspaces for over a century. Their focused downward illumination, eye-friendly green glass, and classic aesthetics make them ideal for traditional offices, studies, and law practices.