How to choose the best desk lamp - with advice from the experts

When it comes to your home office or hobby essentials, one thing is clear. Having a light that can make the task at hand easier is essential. But as with most things in life, it’s rare that one size fits all.

Careful crafters will likely need a more flexible desk lamp compared to screen surfers, for instance. And given that we all need to protect our vision as we get older, it’s vital to ensure any lamp helps reduce the need for extra eye effort.

While aesthetics will naturally play a part in your buying choice, getting the work/health balance is also key. Here’s what the experts suggest.

Start with size

“Besides loving the design, the size of your desk lamp is key when choosing a new lamp for your desk,” says managing director of Anglepoise, Adam Wade.

“Check the dimensions, in particular the height and the footprint, making sure you still have space for your laptop, materials or books.”

A tidy workspace generally leads to a more productive day, so over-cluttering is best avoided. Some brands also have smaller versions of classical lamp designs, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice style for size.

“Anglepoise offer a great solution in their iconic style, which is perfect if you want something space saving,” says Ellie Fennell, lighting buyer at John Lewis.

It can also be connected to a laptop for power if your workspace isn’t close enough to a socket, or you’ve used every socket that’s available. A lightweight lamp can also be helpful and avoid lifting injuries if you need to move it around your home.

Adjustability is advantageous

“It’s really helpful to have a light that can move easily so that you can direct the light to where you need it, which can change through the day,” says Wade. His key tips? Think about “the movement, the reach and the adjustability as well as the option to add a clamp or a desk insert”.

Fennell agrees, recommending you look for features such as hinges and an adjustable head so you can direct the light. 

There are also health benefits to using a light that is adjustable and can be moved to suit a variety of tasks, says Radhika Rampat, consultant ophthalmic surgeon and advisor for lighting brand Lumie.

“From a medical standpoint, it’s essential to evaluate whether a lamp is suitable for extended use, considering both ergonomic considerations for your posture and the quality of the lighting.

“If the desk lamp meets the following criteria, you will have all the elements in place for a secure and comfortable lighting solution,” says Rampat.

• It is positioned above to provide illumination from above
• It has an adjustable neck
• It offers adjustable lighting with a high Color Rendering Index (CRI) to mimic natural daylight

Your choice of bulb is key

“We would recommend 3,000–4,500k for a neutral white light, great for work and offices,” says Fennell – a statement that is backed up by Rampat.

“Sun-like LEDs featuring high CRI, balanced red and blue components, and a broad-spectrum like natural daylight, can indeed provide increased eye protection and comfort,” she says.

Jo Plant, head of design at lighting brand Pooky adds that it’s important to “pay attention to the lamp’s light quality, opting for models that offer flicker-free illumination and colour-temperature options suitable for your specific needs, whether it’s screen work, reading, or detailed tasks.

“Bulbs are as important as the lights themselves for creating the right light colour,” she adds. “Check the temperature of your bulb, this will be shown in kelvins. The higher the kelvin the cooler the light.

“High-kelvin bulbs work well as functional task lighting,” says Plant, “whereas lower-kelvin bulbs produce a warmer glow that can enhance natural light.”

Her top recommendation when it comes to lights of any kind? Dimmer switches.

“Installing dimmer switches gives you options to control the light levels and we highly recommend them for all your rooms to control the intensity and bring a more balanced glow into a space.”

Don’t dismiss a floor lamp

All our experts agree that avoiding glare is the key issue when it comes to choosing a desk lamp that suits screen use. 

Fennell suggests that although an adjustable desk lamp is a worthwhile ally in the battle, it’s also worth considering a floor lamp with a bulb that allows you to adjust the colour temperature and brightness.

If you opt for a desk-based lamp, Wade tells us how positioning is key, suggesting you place your light so it is next to or just behind the screen. Rampat adds how adjustability is again a key requirement.

“Having the flexibility to adjust the lamp’s neck allows you to easily angle the light towards your screen,” she says, “effectively reducing screen backlighting.”

There’s also an added benefit of adjustable lighting for those who spend their life looking at their face on video calls.

“It can serve as an illuminator,” says Rampat, “helping you present your best self.” 

Eyes still need extra care, even with the right light

Although choosing the right desk lamp is important, Rampat is keen to stress how there is more to the job.

“It is still important to practise healthy eye habits,” she says, “such as taking regular breaks, maintaining appropriate lighting levels, and ensuring proper screen ergonomics, to minimise eye strain and promote overall eye health.”

Perfect positioning

Picked the best desk lamp, unpacked your new purchase but still not sure where it should go on your desk? Our experts tell us it’s down to the ‘three Ps’ – projection, practicality and posture. Fennell tells us it depends on what you are working on, citing writing or working on a screen as examples.

“You either want your desk lamp shining on your paper or notebook or illuminating just beside or just behind the screen.”

For Wade, it’s also important to get it right based on your practical needs.

“Depending on whether you are left or right-handed,” he says, “we’d suggest positioning your desk lamp to the left or right of your focus area. It means you can easily reach to turn it on and off or move your lamp.”

Rampat is naturally keen to stress the medical importance of placing the lamp in the right place to avoid potential posture problems. For her, being able to place the lamp so it creates overhead illumination “minimises the risk of forward hunching or straining the neck by maintaining a more ergonomic posture.

“Placing the lamp in one corner of the desk and adjusting the tilt, according to the desk’s size,” she says, “allows you to evenly illuminate your workspace, optimising your working conditions.”