Advice

A complete guide to nook lights: choosing the right lamp for your workspace

By Dusk Lighting / February 21st, 2025 / There are currently 0 comments

Looking for a study light? Focused lighting in a space designated for work or study is often called ‘nook lighting’ and usually involves table lamps, study room wall lights or ‘task lights.’

One of the key features of a study light is its capacity to provide direct, focused light over a specific area of a desk, usually lighting the space where a laptop, book, or writing pad is placed. When positioned correctly, it should illuminate an area without creating glare on your screen or shadows across your notebook, providing a secluded, focused area with warm light that helps you work comfortably.

Despite the relatively simple task of a study light, creating the right mood whilst ensuring your workspace is lit effectively depends on using the right type of fixture, which is why we’ve written this blog.

To find out more about how to choose the right study light for your workspace read on: this blog will tell you everything you need to know.

Table of contents:

How do I light a small workspace effectively?
Are wall lights or lamps better for study nooks?
What features should I look for in a study lamp?
How do I choose the best wall lights for a small workspace?

How do I light a small workspace effectively?

Before choosing the right task lighting, it’s important the ambient lighting of the room you’re working in is fit for purpose. This entails maximising the room’s natural light and utilising other features, such as dimmer switches.

You should also consider the direction from which any overhead lighting is coming and whether or not this will interfere with the fixtures you choose. For example, if you have a table light or wall fixture that obstructs the direction of a room’s overhead lighting, it’s probably going to cast a distracting shadow over your workspace.

Avoiding pitfalls like this early on will prevent you from having to retrace your steps or re-think your lighting plan later on, ensuring you get the best out of your study light.

Are wall lights or lamps better for study nooks?

Whilst this can simply be a case of personal preference, many people think table lamps are a little more versatile than wall lights, which in many ways is key when it comes to workspace lighting.

In general, they provide more focused and adjustable task lighting because you can direct the light precisely where you need it on your work surface. This is crucial for reading and writing without casting shadows, giving you the option to re-arrange your workspace if needed.

Despite these advantages, study room wall lights provide a softer, more ambient light for your study nook, and can be particularly effective for a desk with limited space. They are often chosen for their decorative features as well as their practicality, with many types of fixtures available.

Much like table lamps, most wall lights have an adjustable head that allows you to focus them accurately, meaning they are still able to provide the focused, directional light needed for a workspace.

What features should I look for in a study lamp?

Because study lamps are primarily used as functional sources of light, it’s a good idea to look for one with adaptable features.

Regardless of whether you choose a wall light or table lamp, features such as a flexible arm or head, adjustable brightness, adaptable colour temperature, and a high-lumen output are essential aspects of a good lamp for your nook.

Features specific to your space should also be considered, including the size of the lamp and desk space compatibility, as well as the aforementioned decision as to whether or not a wall light or table lamp is more suitable.

Whether you choose a wall light or table lamp, energy efficiency is also key, so look for a fixture or lamp with LED bulbs. Rechargeable lights are also a good way to reduce electricity usage, so keep this in mind when browsing your options.

How do I choose the best wall light for a small workspace?

Choosing lights with a sconce or swing arm allows you to optimise your light’s position easily, providing you with a sleek, decorative feature that is also highly functional.

Designs with a light colour finish can make small spaces feel more open whilst minimising glare on your computer screen, with adaptable brightness and colour temperature giving you more control over both the ambient light and focused light in rooms of small sizes.