What Is Task Lighting, and Why Is It So Important?

In lighting design, there three principle layers of light:

Ambient light provides general illumination, making a room visible and easy to walk through, while also making the atmosphere more inviting.

Accent lighting highlights artwork, framed photography, and other points of visual interest, giving the room more texture and depth.

And then there’s task lighting, which provides focused light to areas dedicated to activities that require clarity and focus, from cooking and cleaning to reading, writing, sewing, jigsaw puzzles, laundry, and card games. Task lighting is key to productivity and wellbeing, so read on to learn which rooms need it, what fixtures are best, how to blend it with the other two lighting layers, and more.

The Benefits of Task Lighting

If you’ve ever tried to slice vegetables, sort socks, or read a thriller in bad light, you know the importance of task lighting.

When it’s designed well, it makes your activity safer and more efficient, while also reducing eye strain. It can also be centering and can improve concentration, creating a grounding area of light. It can also benefit aesthetics, working in concert with ambient light and accent light to give the room a well-lit, balanced, and welcoming

Task Lighting at a Glance

Given all those benefits, where and how should you implement task lighting in your home? Let’s start with a breakdown, room by room.

Room	Task Lighting Importance	Examples of Fixtures
Kitchen	For food preparation, cooking, cleaning and reading recipes.	Under-cabinet LED strips, pendant lights over islands, and recessed downlights.
Home Office	For reading, writing, computer work and other detailed task.	Adjustable desk lamps, floor lamps, and under-shelf lighting.
Bathroom	For grooming, shaving, applying makeup, and other personal care activities.	Vanity lights on either side of the mirror, overhead lights in the shower, and LED strips around the mirror.
Living Room	For reading, sewing, hobbies, and other focused activities.	Floor lamps next to seating areas, adjustable table lamps, and wall-mounted swing-arm lamps.
Bedroom	For reading in bed, dressing, and bedside tasks.	Bedside table lamps, wall-mounted reading lights, and desk lamps.
Laundry Room	For sorting, folding, and ironing clothes.	Overhead fluorescent lights, under-cabinet lights, and ceiling-mounted LED fixtures.
Garage/Workshop	For DIY projects, repairs, and other detailed work.	Adjustable workbench lamps, overhead fluorescent lights, and portable LED work lights.
Closet	For selecting clothes and accessories.	LED strip lights, recessed downlights, and motion-sensor lights.
Dining Room	For activities that require additional light, such as dining or studying at the table.	Buffet or sideboard lamps, chandelier or pendant lights over the table, adjustable wall-mounted lights.
Study Room	For focused studying, reading, and writing.	Desk lamps with adjustable arms, floor lamps, wall-mounted reading lights.

You can use the table above to start designing task lighting for your home. As you do, consider the following best practices.

Calibrate Light to Suit the Task

Lumens are a unit of measurement for the total amount of visible light emitted by a source, and the best lumen level for your task lighting will depend on the kind of tasks you’ll be performing in that space. Below are a few recommendations.

For reading: 500 lumens.
For kitchen countertops and stove areas: 500-1000 lumens.
For sewing: 1000-1500 lumens.
For puzzles and board games: 500-1000 lumens.
And for a light placed behind your computer monitor, which can reduce contrast and eye strain: 100-200 lumens.

Keep in mind these recommendations should be considered as starting points. Try them out and increase or decrease your lumen levels to suit your preference.

Calibrate Light to Suit the Task

Although you want enough illumination to see what you’re doing, adding light can also add shadows and glare, which can strain your eyes and even lead to headaches. To avoid all that:

Position your lights at an angle to the work surface and opposite your dominant hand, to prevent casting shadows from your hand or arm.
Use adjustable fixtures so you can direct light precisely where it’s needed.
Combine multiple fixtures to help distribute light evenly and reduce harsh shadows.
Consider using lamps with shades to soften the light.
Make sure task lights don’t reflect off of computer screens or other reflective surfaces.

Supplement Your Task Lighting

A balanced and pleasing lighting design is layered, including ambient and accent as well as task lighting. Layering also makes a space more versatile, allowing you to adjust your lighting layers to suit various modes and moods. Layered lighting is best achieved by combining light sources, from pendants and floor lamps to wall sconces and skylights.

Designer Tips for Task Lighting

Let One Design Choice to Inform the Next

If the decor of the room that needs task lighting is already in place, let those design elements guide you in choosing your task lighting fixtures. On the other hand, if you’re still designing the room and you find the task lights you want first, the design of those fixtures can help you set the aesthetic direction of that space. Either way, you want every element of the room to contribute to a united style.

Consider the Two Visual Factors of Each Fixture

Every light fixture will impact the look of your space through the light it casts (how directed or diffused it is, how warm or cool, etc.) and through the design of the fixture itself. Whether you choose something minimalist or ornate, subtle or striking, your fixtures will make a visual statement. Think of them as functional works of art.

Enhance Your Efficiency

Consider LED bulbs for your task lighting, not only because they consume less electricity and last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, but also because they can be paired with dimmer switches, allowing you to adjust the intensity of your lighting as needed.

Look for Inspiration

In person or online, look closely at other task areas that look good to you. Notice what kind of fixtures are providing task lighting, how they’re placed, and how they complement the decor of the space. Naturally you can also draw ample inspiration from spaces that definitely do not match your style. Watch for what you don’t want to do and for what you do, and feel free to steal ideas.

Test Your Task Lighting

As soon as you can, take your task area for a test drive. As you read, cook, or sew, pay attention to how your eyes feel, if shadows are getting in your way, and if the light is too bright or too dim. Make adjustments accordingly, until your task lighting is truly conducive to focus, productivity, and enjoyment.

Ready to Start?

Whether you’re lighting a reading nook, a kitchen island, a home office, sewing station, workshop, or bathroom vanity, Visual Comfort & Co. offers a wide range of fixtures to suit your needs and match your style. Start designing your ideal task lighting right here.