Loft office lighting ideas...
Discussion
I have a loft office that I use increasingly often. And as I get older I'm getting less tolerant of poor lighting I think.
The room is about 3m square. Ceiling height at the "apex" about 2m, and is this height for just 1.5m across (but for the full length) when the "walls" (house roof) slope away at about 40degs. Where the "walls" meet the "apex" there are beams running the length that stick out about 10cm.
Right now there are 2x spotlights at opposite corners of the room (LED bulbs about 40W equivalents). Not much natural daylight comes in - only through the doorway which is then lit by a dormer window (I'd love to whack dormer into the office space, but think the cost and planning aggro would make it expensive). The throw of the spots isn't great unless the bulbs are pointing at the seating position, either situation not being great for extended time in the seat.
I'm currently thinking of running some LED strip around the rectangle of the "apex", but need some sort of channel to make it look neat. Am also thinking it might cause more headaches (literally) than the current set up if the LEDs are pointing down with the ceiling height being what it is.
Does anyone have any bright (sic) ideas or photos of their set ups while I'm Googling?
The room is about 3m square. Ceiling height at the "apex" about 2m, and is this height for just 1.5m across (but for the full length) when the "walls" (house roof) slope away at about 40degs. Where the "walls" meet the "apex" there are beams running the length that stick out about 10cm.
Right now there are 2x spotlights at opposite corners of the room (LED bulbs about 40W equivalents). Not much natural daylight comes in - only through the doorway which is then lit by a dormer window (I'd love to whack dormer into the office space, but think the cost and planning aggro would make it expensive). The throw of the spots isn't great unless the bulbs are pointing at the seating position, either situation not being great for extended time in the seat.
I'm currently thinking of running some LED strip around the rectangle of the "apex", but need some sort of channel to make it look neat. Am also thinking it might cause more headaches (literally) than the current set up if the LEDs are pointing down with the ceiling height being what it is.
Does anyone have any bright (sic) ideas or photos of their set ups while I'm Googling?
You can buy coving/picture rails with specific channels designed to take LED strip. They can throw light upwards (ambient) or down (ambient but a bit more direct).
I would think about proper task lighting for an office, too - wall mounted lamps etc, or simply proper desk lamps.
If your spotlights are old, you can replace with higher lumen LEDs, Like EcoLED 10W or similar. Directional ones will allow you to focus the lights on task areas.
I would think about proper task lighting for an office, too - wall mounted lamps etc, or simply proper desk lamps.
If your spotlights are old, you can replace with higher lumen LEDs, Like EcoLED 10W or similar. Directional ones will allow you to focus the lights on task areas.
When you say you getting less tolerant of poor lighting/working extended periods, what do you mean?
If you men eye issues, are they good quality monitors, many glare off them, and is the area behind the monitors well lit. As for solely working on the computer, overhead lighting to me isn't the key factor.
If you men eye issues, are they good quality monitors, many glare off them, and is the area behind the monitors well lit. As for solely working on the computer, overhead lighting to me isn't the key factor.
hyphen said:
When you say you getting less tolerant of poor lighting/working extended periods, what do you mean?
If you men eye issues, are they good quality monitors, many glare off them, and is the area behind the monitors well lit. As for solely working on the computer, overhead lighting to me isn't the key factor.
Starting to notice headaches more - have noticed this year that my eye sight is probably starting to decline so need to get them checked out, but I don't suffer the same at work. If you men eye issues, are they good quality monitors, many glare off them, and is the area behind the monitors well lit. As for solely working on the computer, overhead lighting to me isn't the key factor.
The monitor's a decent one (Dell). I think it's mainly different light levels around the small space.
Will try and get some photos. May just try some LED tape around the space, replacing the spotlights, and see if that helps. I suspect some degree of trial and error will be needed short of employing a lighting consultant.
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