Lighting Tips & Ideas | Lighting.co.za

Most reading lamp advice covers placement and type without ever tying either to a number. This is the bridge: 140–170cm height, 3000K rather than 2700K for crisper text over a longer session, and 400–600 lumens, lower than a fully dark desk setup needs, since a reading chair already has some ambient light to work with.

A floor lamp lights more of a room than a table lamp does, so the bulb needs to work harder. This guide covers the real numbers: 60–75W-equivalent (9–12W actual) for general ambient use, whether 800 lumens is actually enough (it depends on the job), and why 3000K isn't "too bright", brightness and colour temperature are two different questions entirely.