Photo: Icky Pic / Flickr

Having recently written a post on modern table lamps for the home, we saw it fitting to cater for the student masses and show them how to go about choosing a study lamp. One would think any lamp would be suitable but, in this instance, a little more thought should go into how to survive long hours at a desk. Below are the essential things to look for in a functional, solid study lamp.

Height is critical

Due to you wanting to illuminate a very specific area, the height of your study lamp is critical. Ideally you want the lamp to sit either directly in front of you or to either side of you. It needs to be level with your cheekbone so as to not cast a shadow with your body, nor be intrusive in your line of sight with regards to what you’re reading from. The best study lamps are height adjustable because, in different study situations, the way you sit relative to the desk changes, and you want to adjust the study lamp accordingly.

The light matters

Many study lamps use the energy efficient halogen lamps. While this is good from an environmental perspective, the light might be too harsh to work with. This then causes strained eyes, from trying to read work, over prolonged use. This, in turn, causes discomfort and fatigue – a recipe that destroys any desire to study. Buy a lamp that supports incandescent lights and see if that works for you. If you’re insistent on going green with halogen lamps, it’s always advisable to try find study lamps with adjustable brightness settings, whether that is a two-settings toggle or a slider, so that you can set the light intensity just right.

Light source and light type

While aesthetic considerations are important, as is size, what you need to worry about the most when buying a good study lamp is the location of the light source and the light type. These two factors have a major influence on the quality of illumination on your work, as well as how long you can study for.

In a world where many people cram, or have to study for prolonged periods to understand very difficult concepts, you need to give yourself the best chance of succeeding by buying a good studylamp .

Tags: lighting, study, studying