Lighting

Those who spend a large amount of time in front of a computer monitor will find that a low-level mix of natural and artificial light, with some bright spots for writing or other work requiring more light, is best.

In general, the ambient light level in you office should be similar to the light from your computer display. A foot-candle is a measurement of the illumination of one candle falling on an object one foot away, while wattage is the amount of light emanating from a source. The recommended illumination for writing and reading materials at your desk is 50 to 100 foot-candles. However, in a room that is dimmed for computer work, perhaps only 25 foot-candles of illumination are needed, but the level varies greatly by personal preference.

Before deciding on the type of lighting for your office, you should consider the reflective quality of your walls and ceiling, the amount of natural light in the room, and the distance which will stand between the lighting fixture and the work surface.

Remember that some lighting is easily moved as furniture and equipment configurations change, while other kinds of lighting such as built in track lighting, light decks, and wall-mounted lights will be expensive and time-consuming to move.

A final word to the wise: since you will have to change bulbs, make sure that all light fixtures are accessible.

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