The holidays are over, school is starting again soon! Regardless of whether it's a first grader or an older child, preparing for the new school year always brings a lot of excitement. It's also worth getting the right one just in time for the start of schoolDesign of the learning spaceto take care of the school child and to create the optimal atmosphere for better learning. Desk lighting is an important factor when doing homework. The wrong light can cause your child to become tired and unfocused and can even contribute to poor posture and poor eyesight. We have put together the most important tips to consider when choosing the optimal desk lighting for children.
1. Place the lamp correctly on the children's desk
When placing the lamp on your child's desk, remember that the desk lighting should be on the left side for right-handed people and on the right side for left-handed people. The distance between the lamp head and the illuminated surface should be a maximum of 35 cm. As far as the type of light is concerned, you can choose between:
- classicDesk lamps, which are placed on the table top
- the so-calledArchitect lights, which are attached to the desk with clamping screws. They are stable, take up little space and can be moved anywhere at any time.
- Clip-On Lamps– small, lightweight lamps that clip to the edge of a desk or shelf. It can also be put away to save space when not needed.
The most important design feature of a desk lamp is the ability to adjust the direction of light as needed. In stores you can find:
- Lamps with movable heads– It is possible to adjust the light angle by rotating the lamp head
- Lamps with flexible arm– These enable very good light direction by changing the height of the flex arm
2. Choose a desk lamp with an interesting design
Functionality is of course the most important thing, but you shouldn't forget the look either! After all, the desk lamp is supposed to help your child learn, so it's good if it's also pleasing to the eye. For younger children or first graders, choose a lamp with a colorful design. An interesting idea for desk lighting is also lamps in the shape of animals - dinosaurs, giraffes, cats or dogs.
Older children and teenagers prefer architect lamps or slightly futuristic lamps with minimalist shapes. If you choose lighting with your child, you should tootake the style into account, in which his room is set up.
3. Pay attention to the appropriate light intensity
When choosing a desk lamp for your child's room, pay attention to models with optimal brightness. A light with too little power makes the desk dark, causing the child to strain their eyes unnecessarily and bend over the books. Too strong a light will damage your eyes.
Energy-saving lamps and LED lamps are the most common today. When choosing, you should primarily pay attention to the value in lumens (lm), that is, the unit that determines the amount of light emitted. The more lumens, the brighter the lamp shines - to properly illuminate a children's desk, a lamp with a brightness of 400 to 1000 lm is required. This corresponds to around 5-10 W.
4. Choose the right light color
An equally important aspect is the color (temperature) of the light emitted by the lamp. In this case, the unit of measurement is Kelvin (K) - the more Kelvin, the cooler the light. When it comes to LED lamps, you can choose between:
- warm light (2200-3500 K)– yellow light that creates a cozy atmosphere and promotes relaxation
- neutral light (3500-4500 K)– neutral white light, which is considered universal
- Cold light (4600-11000 K)– white or slightly blue light with a stimulating effect
For good desk lighting, white light with a temperature of 4000-6000K is required. Lamps and light bulbs that emit yellow light below 4000K can affect concentration and cause drowsiness, while blue light around 10,000K can cause eye strain. Modern LED lamps often have the function of changing the light color so that they can be adapted to the situation and individual needs.
5. Pay attention to the color rendering index
While learning, your child will engage with textbooks with colorful illustrations. It's a small thing, but it can affect the enjoyment of learning. Correct perception of the colors of illuminated objects is especially important if the student is interested in art and enjoys drawing.
When choosing a desk lamp, pay attention to theCRI value, which ranges from 1 to 100. The higher the CRI value, the closer the color perception is to the actual appearance. The color rendering index should be at least 80.
6. Ensure high quality light, without flickering effect
Flickering light is a phenomenon caused by voltage fluctuations in the power grid. It has a negative effect on the human body and can cause dizziness, poor concentration and even epilepsy. Flickering occurs primarily with light bulbs, which have now been almost completely replaced by much more stable LED lighting.
However, LED lamps and bulbs are not completely immune to voltage fluctuations - especially if they are cheap or come from unreliable sources. That's why you should always choose desk lamps from well-known manufacturers with appropriate approvals and certificates.
We are confident that our guide has cleared up any doubts about what type of desk lighting would be optimal for your child. When choosing an LED lamp, pay attention to the parameters of brightness, color (temperature) and color rendering index. Choose lamps from well-known manufacturers that provide even light without a flickering effect. The shape and design of the lamp should be adapted to the available desk space and the child's preferences.
