Students heading off to college need practical, glare-free task lighting for those long nights of reading and studying (or at least that’s what they tell Mom and Dad!)

Proper desk lighting is critical in preventing eye-strain and fatigue, especially in the first couple of months back at school as a student’s eyes readjust to the long hours of reading and computer work.

The solutions are many, and depend in large part to personal taste and style. Holtkoetter halogen desk lamps provide a contemporary twist, while the architect’s desk lamp, banker’s lamp and Mission styles provide more classic solutions.

Whatever desk lamp you choose, the lamp should be placed so that hand shadows don’t streak across your work. If you’re right-handed, this means placing a light source on the left hand side of your desk.

Other lights, such as clip-on lighting and floor standing accent lights, can be used to create more general room and mood lighting. And then there’s the enduring lava lamp, whose morphing blobs have been gracing college dorm rooms for decades. Personal desk fans can add a nice cooling breeze, especially around heat emitting laptops and PCs. For more information, check out our Lighting to Read By article. Until next time...

Happy lighting!

About Mark:
Director of Lighting Design for LAMPS PLUS, Mark Raissen has won numerous industry awards and is host of television’s “The Lighting Chef.” He is a member of the Illumination Engineering Society of North America and is an American Lighting Association certified lighting designer. Some of Mark's most notable projects include the Caesar's Casino Hotel and Forum Shops in South Africa, as well as Nelson Mandela's personal residence.