5 questions before buying desk lamp

Choosing the perfect desk lamp for your office, library, or study can be a daunting task. Especially, if you really consider all the factors you should be looking for when you go to buy your next desk lamp.

The difference between a great desk lamp and just an ok one are what attributes you want the desk lamp to possess that will make your tasks easier.

Here are some questions you should consider helping you find your next desk lamp.

1，What is the purpose of your desk lamp?
Of course, the most basic purpose of a lamp is to provide light. The desk lamp holds a much more practical purpose. A Common name for desk lamp lighting is ‘task lighting’. You will be increasing your productivity because the right kind of task lighting can affect your mood in a positive way and reduce eye strain. 

2，How much light do you really need?
There is no evidence to support that bad lighting will affect your vision for long term. Although, there is substantial evidence that poor lighting will have uncomfortable short term affects like headaches and extreme eye strain.
This can be avoided by having the right amount of illumination evenly spread across your work area.

The measurement of illumination is the light distribution on a flat work area called foot-candles. The most acceptable range for most home and work office desk lamp lighting should be between 30 and 50 foot-candles.

Another type of measurement for light output is called a Lumen. A common range for task lighting is 1000 – 1400 lumens. Quite a few desk lamps come with dimmer switches and a high/low switch to help you find the right fit for your desk top.

3，Where will you put the desk lamp?
A desk lamp’s primary job, as mentioned before, is to provide a light on your work area that reduces eye strain. The position of your lamp is also a crucial element into making sure you’re getting the best output from your desk lamp.

A good rule is to place your light about 15 inches to 36 inches away from your work area depending on your needs. Many desk lamps today come with adjustable arms to ensure you find your desired height.

Something we discovered in our research that you should consider is which side to place your lamp on.

If you are a right-handed person place the desk lamp on your left side and vice versa if you are a left-handed person. This will tremendously reduce the amount of shadows that are cast across your workspace.

4， Is there a power source where you want to place the lamp?
I know some of you are thinking, “No Duh!”. But, I would like to bring up that you make sure your desk lamp cord can reach a wall plug; or maybe your power strip you are already using at your desk for other devices that require electricity to operate.

Nowadays there are a variety of different cordless versions for desk lamps. Some of these desk lamp types come with a USB plugin so the lamp can be recharged.  

5，What other features to look for in a desk lamp?
There is a few features you should consider before making a final decision on a desk lamp. The obvious is lighting, many desk lamps offer a variety of lighting options.

These options can be for task lighting, ambient lighting, or maybe even accent lighting.

There are some desk lamps that offer all three options. Which kind of lighting you need solely depends on what you’re looking to do at your desk?

Decor is another feature that you might consider. It is true most of the time desk lamps are chosen for their practical uses. If you can find one that is practical and also goes with the ambiance of the existing desk top, it would be aesthetically pleasing. In turn, it could bring a nice feng shui to your home or work office.

Height is another key feature that should go into your decision making before purchase. Many desk lamps today are adjustable to meet any one individual’s needs.

Brightness levels are also an important feature to consider. The amount of brightness a desk lamp possesses often has to do with the type of bulb that is being used. But there are many lamps today that have brightness control switches.