Shine Bright: The Best Task Lamps for Every Activity

Task lighting plays both an aesthetic and functional role – utilizing a variety of task lights can add visual depth and intrigue to your space while also allowing you and your guests to engage comfortably in different activities. Because task lamps tend to be more flexible in movement and lighting than regular lamps, it’s easier to create a versatile space that’s able to accommodate various needs. Whatever your preferred activity – reading, writing, or cooking – having the right lighting is essential for your comfort and eye health. Task lamps help avoid distracting glares and eyestrain while providing targeted light for anything that needs closer inspection.

In general, it’s best to have a variety of task lamps in each room that can help replicate the passing of time and changing of light outdoors. During the daytime, using lamps with cooler light tones that range from white to blue can help your concentration and focus because they echo the cool brightness of the sky, which is naturally energizing. The Equo LED floor lamp has a bright white color temperature of 4,500K that’s perfect for the peak of the day, and a counterbalanced arm that makes it easy to direct light where you need it most.

In the afternoon and evening, warmer toned lamps, ranging from yellow to orange, help you wind down as the sun sets, increasing relaxation while also boosting creativity. With its warmer color temperature, the Circa floor lamp is a better choice later in the day; its shade also rotates 360 degrees, allowing it to function as a task lamp and provide ambient lighting.

If you’re short on space or would rather utilize one lamp as much as possible, then you’re in luck. Task lamps like Lady 7 and Mosso have built-in touch controls that allow you to adjust both the brightness and color temperature. These integrated features ensure you have everything you need in one unit to engage in a variety of activities throughout the day.

To incorporate effective task lighting, it’s important to consider the function of the room and the activity being performed. Below, we’ve compiled some helpful tips and product recommendations for each room and activity that could benefit from task lighting.

Living Room

• • Warmer task lamps with ambient abilities can set the tone for social interaction and entertainment, creating a relaxing, comfortable atmosphere.
  • Floor task lamps are best used in larger spaces like living rooms because they have a wider reach while also providing enough targeted light for reading or playing board games.
  • The LED Arc floor lamp has a height-adjustable structure that allows you to increase or decrease its reach, and an attached table for setting down a drink, remote, or book.

Bedroom

• • Warm-toned or dimmable task lamps work great on bedside tables; avoid brighter, cooler-toned lights, as they can keep you alert and prevent relaxation.
  • For reading in bed, consider a small, shorter task lamp that doesn’t illuminate too much around you like the Carissa. This helps keep the light low and on the page you’re reading, rather than shining in your eyes.
  • Battery-powered task lamps are also a good choice in the bedroom, as finding outlets behind your bed or other heavy furniture can be hard. The cordless Volta lamp has an included charger and features a warm color temperature and dimmable switch.

Office

• • Cooler task lamps keep you awake and focused and are best used in home offices or other workspaces.
  • For working at a desk, incorporate lamps that have charging ports and adjustable heights that allow you to change tasks easily without having to move. The Grover task lamp has three different color temperatures that you can adjust as your workday progresses, and a USB port.
  • For smaller work surfaces, a task lamp like Z-Bar is designed for maximum reach and flexibility, with a super-adjustable LED head and dimmable touchpad.

Task lighting can be a powerful tool for maximizing the comfort, functionality, and aesthetics of your living space. By using these strategic design tips, you can incorporate a variety of task lights in your home, creating a versatile environment that caters to a variety of activities and benefits your well-being. If you’re ready to illuminate your space, browse our website to explore the variety of task lamps available, from those that mimic natural daylight to those that offer adjustable brightness and color temperature.