Telecommuting is nothing new, as the computer and high-speed internet made it a relatively painless proposition over the past two decades. In the past ten years or so, the maturing of cloud application and communication platforms made it even easier to work from home, and many employers encouraged and supported it on a part-time basis.

Of course, we don't have to mention here how the COVID-19 crisis has pushed working from home into hyper-speed overdrive. After all, before this pandemic, when did you ever see Saturday Night Live skits about Zoom meetings? While working from home is not without its many challenges, many think that companies large and small will be seriously rethinking their workforces, with telecommuting becoming far more prevalent for many information workers.

So, what do you need to work from home effectively? Besides the things you might think about – a distraction-free space, comfortable and ergonomic furniture, and a good equipment setup – have you thought about the lighting? Good lighting makes for a pleasant space to work, while poor lighting can lead to fatigue and a lack of productivity, and you may not even know why. Here are three tips that residential lighting design experts recommend to ensure your Alpharetta, GA home office is a happy and productive workplace.

You may not think about lighting until there's something wrong with it. If your kitchen is dimly lit, it doesn't make it a great place for food preparation. If you struggle to read a magazine in your family room because either the nearby lamp isn't right or the overhead lights add too much glare, you'll notice that also. If your light color temperature is "cool" and reminds you of fluorescents, chances are you will be bothered by it.

All of these things are examples of lighting not being up for the task at hand, whether it’s working, relaxing, cooking, reading, or trying to find your way down a dark hallway. Good residential lighting design is part art and part science, and when done correctly, your Atlanta, GA home will shine – pardon the pun.

Keep reading below for four deadly sins of home lighting and how you can correct them.