Home workspaces need a careful balance of overhead and task lighting, so you can work with a clear mind and unstrained eyes. Here's our guide to the designs that work best.

Desktop companions

A desk light's chief purpose is to cast a bright, focused pool of light on your workspace, but it should also be a flexible tool. "Adjustability and the right height allow the light's direction and intensity to be tailored for visual comfort," says James.

The Joel table lamp accomplishes this thanks to its adjustable arm and shade; for a smaller office, opt for the more compact but still adjustable Atelier Desk. If your desk is freestanding, or you need to free up valuable desktop space, there's the Atelier Clamp - it fixes to the edge of the tabletop, takes up little room and has a fully flexible arm and head.

The right colour temperature

Put simply, this affects how "warm" or "cool" lighting feels, which has a huge impact on mood and alertness. It's measured in Kelvins, marked on lamps with the letter "K". Lamps below 2700K appear yellower and warmer; those between 3000K and 7000K are bluish-white and cooler.

Research has found that the best colour temperature for work environments mimics natural daylight, which means using lamps at the whiter, cooler end of the spectrum, or above 3000K. These are known to increase mental clarity and energy levels, and help you work productively. Try to leave at least three hours between the end of your home-working day and bedtime, though, as blue light can lower levels of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep.