Good home office lighting combines three layers: soft daylight from the side, even ambient light in the room and task light on your desk. Keep bright windows out of your screen and away from directly behind you, choose neutral white light for focused work and warmer light in the evening, and for video calls place a soft light in front of you, slightly above eye level.
Where should your desk be in relation to the window?
Place your desk so the window is to your side, at a right angle to your screen. Daylight then falls across the desk without reflecting in the screen or shining into your eyes. Avoid sitting with the window behind you: it causes glare on the screen and turns you into a silhouette on video. Facing the window works well for calls, but the bright background can be tiring to look past while you work.
Should you use warm or cool light for working?
Colour temperature is measured in Kelvin (K). As a rough guide:
- Warm white (about 2700 to 3000 K): cosy and relaxed, pleasant for evenings and winding down.
- Neutral white (about 3500 to 4500 K): clear and natural, suitable for most desk work.
- Cool white (5000 K and above): crisp and bright, close to daylight; some people like it for detailed tasks.
Many people like neutral light during the day and switch to warmer light after sunset. Lamps with adjustable colour temperature make that easy.
How do you light your desk without glare?
A monitor light bar can free up desk space. Check that it fits your screen and directs light onto the desk without visible reflections. A desk lamp also works: place it opposite your writing hand and keep the bulb out of your direct view.
How should you light yourself for video calls?
Light from the front makes you look natural and easy to read. Follow these steps:
- Face your main light source, whether that is a window or a lamp.
- Place a soft light slightly above eye level, just behind or beside your camera.
- Add a weaker light from one side to soften shadows.
- Check that nothing bright is behind you, such as a window or a ceiling lamp.
- Make a test call and adjust the brightness until your face looks even, not shiny.
A dedicated front light such as the Ergora Frame video call light gives you consistent light on your face, even on grey days or late in the afternoon.
How do you light a home office in the evening?
As daylight fades, switch on ambient light before the room gets dark, so your eyes do not have to keep adjusting between a bright screen and a dim room. Move towards warmer light later in the evening, lower the screen brightness to match, and use your desk lamp or light bar only where you need it. Calm, layered light at the end of the day makes the room feel softer as you wind down.
How do you avoid glare on your screen?
Glare comes from bright light reflecting off the screen or shining into your eyes. A few simple fixes:
- Keep windows at the side of the screen, not in front of it or behind it.
- Use blinds or sheer curtains to soften strong sunlight.
- Tilt the screen slightly to move reflections out of view.
- Choose a matte screen, or lower the brightness to match the room.
Frequently asked questions
What colour temperature suits a home office?
Neutral white light of around 3500 to 4500 K suits most desk work. Warmer light of around 2700 to 3000 K feels calmer in the evening.
Is a monitor light bar worth it?
If you often work in the evening or have little desk space, a light bar lights your desk from above the screen without taking up room and without reflecting off the screen.
Where should a light for video calls go?
In front of you, slightly above eye level and close to the camera, so your face is evenly lit without harsh shadows.
Why do I look dark on video calls?
Usually because there is a bright window or lamp behind you. Turn to face the light, or add a soft light in front of you.