Practice Management

It is getting to be that time of year again.  It is getting darker earlier and for a longer period of time.  And, this makes me think of the lighting in most law offices, especially home law offices.

When establishing my home office, this was a major thing for me.  I did not care as much about the amount of space, but when scoping out my new home a couple years ago I was well aware that I wanted my space to be by a big window.

Now, I know there are a lot of people who swear that they cannot work by a window because it causes them to daydream or some such thing.  I have an attorney I work with who keeps all of his blinds closed while he is working.  To me, it makes an office seem almost tomb like.  I do not want that. It is depressing.  I am older now and I am well past my younger days of reading in the dark.  I do not want a big window in my office so as to gaze outside, although I like doing that.  It is fun watching the humming birds outside my office window.  Although, my desk is turned with my back to my window so that I am not always distracted.

I want the window for the natural light that flows in during the days.  It really sets the mood.  It keeps me happy, I do not have to burn electricity on lights most of the days, and I suffer, I think, from a little bit of a funk when I do not have natural light.  I am not a vampire, after all.  Natural light just make me feel better, more up, more motivated.  It is also easier to read with natural light, especially when you get a little older.

When I bought my home the room that is now my office had one of those combination ceiling fan and light.  I had enough experience when renovating to know that this type of home lighting does not work well for office work.  It his yellow, casts a lot of shadows and of course flickers when the fan operates.  I replaced the fan with one that does not have a light attached to it, and I installed four pot lights or recessed lights in the ceiling that put out a lot of white light.  You do not want diffused lighting in your home office.  That is a lot for a small room, but it offers me the clear lighting I need, without the buzz and ugly nature of fluorescence lighting.  And, it does not distract from the home-like nature of my house.  I short, I am not adding something that is not attractive, is business like, and will make it harder to market and sell my home in the future, should I decide to sell.

If it is ambiance you need, given the room, you could certainly add a dimmer switch to your new recessed lighting.

Because the room is brightened by either natural light or the nice white light fixtures, I do not find that I need task lighting. 

I hear a lot of complaints from people about their home offices.  I think a lot of it is due to the lighting issues.  My point is that with just a little planning and a little money you can adjust the lighting in a way that serves your professional purpose, while not destroying the homey-nature of your house.

I tend to think if your lighting combination is well thought out, and you can work in a clean, bright space, that is also attractive, you will not find as many problems with your workspace.  Natural lighting, and bright white lights when natural light is not available makes a home office a comfortable and enjoyable place to work.

(Pictured is one of the two desk in my home office.  The one showing the window).