The Business Owner’s Guide to Choosing the Best Home Office Ceiling Lighting

Brighten up your office

Desks, computers, bookshelves, file cabinets—the checklist for creating the perfect home office is long and full of decisions. In your quest to choose the right equipment, don’t overlook one humble, but crucial element: lighting.

At Walmart Business, we understand how a well-lit home office can create a more enjoyable and productive environment. To help, we’ve crafted this guide to choosing home office ceiling lighting so you can create a bright, welcoming atmosphere and get the job done right.

Common lighting challenges 

Even with the near-infinite variety of layouts and lighting arrangements, many people will contend with the same handful of obstacles to create a well-lit home office. When choosing home office overhead lighting, keep the following challenges in mind while shopping so you can find the right fixture or bulbs to fit your unique needs.

A lack of natural light

Exposure to daylight throughout the workday does wonders for improving productivity, mood and overall wellness. One study even found that workers in offices with windows exposed to natural light had longer sleep duration and were more likely to enjoy physical activity than those in windowless offices. Plus, natural light is an excellent supplement to ceiling lighting, filling shadows and evenly distributing light to create an inviting and productive work environment.

However, if the only home office space available is a basement or side room without access to natural lighting, your ceiling light fixtures will be working overtime. And even if you have access to a window, you won’t be able to rely on natural light during a cloudy day or when burning the midnight oil. Without a considered approach, you may find yourself dreading to work in a drab, poorly-lit room.

A single light source doesn’t fill out the room

Many rooms are designed with a single ceiling light source to brighten up an area, which is usually good enough for general living or recreational spaces. But when you need to work, you must be sure that your light source covers the entire room so you can focus on the task at hand. Without the right ceiling fixture or bulb, your lighting may appear uneven, casting unwanted shadows into essential areas of your office.

Strong monitor glare

The computer is one of the most critical pieces of equipment in the modern home office, and you need to be able to work comfortably and reliably on it no matter the time of day. However, your choice of ceiling light may cause unwanted glare on your monitor, making it difficult to read text or perform essential tasks, especially over long periods of time. This is especially problematic on high-quality glossy monitors, which reflect light sources and make visibility even more difficult than matte displays. 

Bad video call lighting

With the increase in hybrid work and work-from-home initiatives, video conference calls are rapidly becoming a near-daily occurrence for many employees, and your available light source can significantly affect video quality. You don’t need to light your office like it’s a movie set, but you do need to consider the choice of primary light fixture, bulb type, location and accompanying light sources to avoid presenting a washed-out or overly dark picture.

How to pick home office ceiling lighting

Every home office layout is different, and your ability to make changes or install new fixtures may be limited by what your house or apartment currently allows. Even so, numerous solutions are available for any type of living arrangement or budget—and some are as simple as choosing the right light bulb. 

Consider these home office ceiling lighting ideas to give your workspace a much-needed boost in brightness.

Choose for style but prioritize light diffusion

The best overhead lighting for home office options look great while allowing you to get the job done. The beauty of home decor is that you have a wealth of options available to suit your mood and desired aesthetic. There are traditional flush-mount glass domes or bowls for a basic but effective look. You can bring a modern flair to your home with bold, angular designs and black or brushed silver frames. Or you can elevate your office with an elegant brass or gold fixture.

Whatever design you choose, consider a fixture that allows you to diffuse the light it puts out. Some fixtures have diffusers built into them, while others may require placing a special translucent material over the bulb. Either way, the goal is the same: to scatter the light source in multiple directions, including the ceiling and out onto the walls, rather than shine the light in a specific direction. This diffusion causes the light to spread out evenly throughout the room while reducing the appearance of harsh shadows, making for a more comfortable working environment.  

Track lighting & dimmer switches offer more control

Task lighting is designed to illuminate specific spots throughout the house. For example, a kitchen may have LED runners underneath the cabinets.

For home office ceiling lighting, you can install track lighting to accomplish a similar function while you work. These fixtures offer several discrete light sources and are adjustable, allowing you to aim them at those specific spots that need a bit of a boost.

Dimmer switches offer even more control by letting you adjust the brightness of each fixture, so you can have more light when you need to focus on and less when you want to start winding down.

Choose cold-temperature bulbs for a burst of energy

In addition to choosing the right fixture, you also need to pick the right bulb for the job. Your choice of lighting won’t just affect your ability to see—it can even affect your mood and productivity.

One key criterion is the bulb’s temperature, which determines the light source’s overall color and brightness. While bulbs come in a wide range of temperatures (usually measured in Kelvin), there are two main types to consider:

• Warm-temperature bulbs produce light with a yellow tint, enveloping rooms in a soft, gentle atmosphere. These bulbs are better suited for areas meant for rest and relaxation, such as living rooms or bedrooms. They are usually rated between 2000 and 3000 Kelvin.

• Cold-temperature bulbs produce brighter, neutral white lights, making them perfect for areas where you need to be alert and ready to work, like a home office. These bulbs are generally rated between 3100 and 4500 Kelvin.

While you’ll likely want to rely on cold-temperature bulbs for most of your time in the home office, you might want to supplement them with a few warm-temperature bulbs that you can activate separately. Having both lets you switch between moods depending on the task at hand.

Light up your home office with Walmart Business+

Need help finding the right light fixtures and bulbs for your home office? Walmart Business+ is here to save the day. We offer lighting equipment and other home office must-haves at prices to suit your budget. Plus, you’ll save even more money with free shipping with no order minimum¹—or if it’s in stock at your local Walmart, get free delivery from the store right to your home with a $35 minimum purchase.²

Join Walmart Business+ today and start saving over $500/year while enjoying exclusive rewards.³

¹Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

²Restrictions apply.

³Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).