Have you ever thought how important a desk lamp is in your life?
You may not have realised until now but trust me: it can change your life! (or at least the part of your life that you spend working, studying or reading, which, let's face it, is quote a lot...!)
Let me give you an example:
My parent's house is, in my opinion, 'over-lit'. My mother spends at least two hours each evening knitting or crocheting while she watches TV in the family room while my father reads in the meantime. They both like to use the computer either for gaming or the internet within "study-officially-known-as-guest-room" (as you can tell they are retired...:)). My cousin also currently lives with them while she goes to the university nearby and obviously she should be spending time studying (who knows if she really does it??). She is the official occupier of the Guest Room but I am not too sure who spends more time there: my parents or her.
Anyway, now that you have pictured my family, let me go back to my example. The other rooms of the house are fairly well lit whereas those rooms I have mentioned are the ones I consider most over-lit. For me they are so over-lit that I prefer to be in them with the lights off rather than having them on (they do not have dimmers). Each room only has one source of light (in the ceiling) which means that in order for them to be able to carry out all of their different activities with appropriate light levels, the output from this one light needs to be, and is, extremely high. This strong light diminishing any feeling of atmosphere or ambience in the room and regardless of which task is being carried out, there is only one option when it comes to lighting; on or off. As a lighting designer I do not advocate this, from neither a professional design nor environmentally friendly point of view!
On my last visit to them they asked me to reconsider the lighting. I proposed a scheme which they regarded as not bright enough and were scared of how they would manage with so much less light. The solution I presented was very simple: task lighting! After some convincing and a few "trust me, I'm a lighting designer" conversations, this was easily achievable with the use of desk and reading lamps.
So how did it change their lives?
- Now these rooms are much cosier as the light is more flexible and they can enjoy a relaxing moment with correct light levels!
- As desk and reading lamps can add to the design of a room, each space has been transformed with new points of interest.
- The individuality of task lighting means that reading in bed no longer disturbs a sleeping partner.
- They are saving a huge amount of electricity now!
All thanks to desk lights!
If you are still not so sure, cast your eye over this snazzy selection:
A design classic: designed in 1926 by Paul Henningsen the "PH 2/1" is an icon known by most designers. It provides soft lighting with the principle of reflection in this multi-shade system, producing glare-free even lighting. The shade design is based on a logarithmic spiral, with the light source placed in the spiral's centre, shading it from sight no matter from which angle it is viewed.
Traditional look with a contemporary touch: the "Deco" table lamp will give you great even spread of light for reading, whilst providing a modern take on a classic shape that will suit all manner of studies.
The flexible: "Tolomeo", other than a slender and great looking fitting that manages to fit with both traditional and contemporary interiors, is an inherently flexible lamp because of the simple mechanics within the arm that allow the light beam to be directed wherever it may be needed. The diffuser is fully rotational with an integral switch. The arm and the diffuser come in different dimensions, colours, finishes and shapes, giving you total flexibility of choice to blend seamlessly within your working space. The table base is ideal for desk areas, especially if a computer is being used as you can avoid glare by directing the light. As this product family also comprises floor standing, wall mounted and ceiling mounted options, you can use it in all manner of family rooms, bedrooms, studies and playrooms for hobbies on the sofa, computer work or bedtime reading. And don't ever dismiss the benefits of using task lighting in less obvious rooms such as Utility rooms. If you are still not convinced about its flexibility, have a look at the available colour range!
The portable: 2002 Design Plus light + building award winner, "Sui" is a rechargeable and portable desk lamp that works connected to mains or with a battery. The lamp's shape invites you to grasp it, both to adjust the direction of the light and to use the lamp as a torch. The base has an indicator of the battery life and can accommodate more than one battery for extended life. The unique: What if instead of having your desk lamp positioned on your desk, you positioned it among your books? "Oskar" comes with a book-shaped base that fits easily between books on a shelf. Very flexibly, the light can be orientated towards the books (to read their titles) or towards your desk, right below your bookshelf!
Cast away your previous images of dull desk lighting and push the boundaries to find unusual task lighting that not only adds interest but changes your working atmosphere for the better.
Rafaela.
