For most students, studying is just a part of the learning process. However, studies have shown that using certain tactics in regard to lighting can actually make you more productive in your study sessions, as well as help with retaining more information. Here are a few tips on the best lighting for studying.

1. Use natural light.

It has been proven time and time again that natural light is the best solution for reading or studying. When it comes to the best lighting for studying, try to incorporate as much natural light as possible to get the best results.

2. Choose the right color temperature.

When natural light isn’t readily available, you will need to turn to artificial solutions. The key is to choose a color temperature that will mimic natural lighting as much as possible. While many people think of sunlight as yellow so it should be a warmer temperature lamp, natural sunlight is actually closer to the cool scale of white to bluish-white. A good choice would be to opt for a Kelvin scale of around 4000-4500K for a solution similar to natural sunlight.

3. Use layers of lighting.

While you may be tempted to simply use task lighting, such as a study lamp, as your main source of lighting, it is actually better for your eyes if you create layers of light at the same time. The use of overhead gentler lighting combined with more focused light of a lamp will make it easier for your eyes while reading than having one focused light source which may make it too harsh. In light, it is all about balance.

4. Choose the right lumen output.

When looking at a lighting solution, too many people are intimidated by the information on the packaging. The matter of lumens is often overlooked because people tend to focus more on wattage. While wattage is important in terms of the efficiency of the lamp, lumens are how bright it will be or the illumination it will create. When looking for a study lamp, you want a high enough lumen to give you the brightness you need for the task at hand. A general rule of thumb is that desk or task lighting should be around 50 lumens per square foot.

5. Minimize shadows.

When reading with a focused and bright task lighting solution, your eyes will have to then adjust to the other lighting levels in the room. If you have a lot of shadows in the space, your eyes will have a harsher contrast to adjust to when you look away from the task lighting. Make sure you remedy this by adding extra lamps as much as possible to avoid eye strain.

written by warehouselighting.com