Desk lamp setup in Exeter
Professional desk lamp setup services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
1 hr
Location
Exeter, Devon
Desk lamp installed and positioned properly. No screen glare, cables tidy, lighting that doesn't cause eye strain. Often done alongside monitor arms and cable management.
Working From Home in the Dark
Home office finally set up? Desk, chair, monitor, keyboard - all sorted. Except you're still working under a ceiling light that creates screen glare and makes afternoon video calls look like you're in a cave.
Proper desk lighting makes a massive difference to eye strain, video call appearance, and just not feeling grim when it's dark at 4pm. But "proper" means positioning, cable routing, and often mounting hardware that's more faff than expected.
💡 Pro tip: Task lighting should light your work surface, not your screen. Position lamp to the side or behind monitor, never directly behind you or in front creating glare.
Why It Matters
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Common Problems |
|---|---|
| Light on keyboard and desk | Glare on monitor makes it unusable |
| Clean cable routing | Wires everywhere, catching on things |
| Lamp reaches where needed | Can't position light where you want it |
| Looks professional on video calls | Face in shadow or weirdly lit |
| No eye strain after long day | Headaches from poor lighting |
What I sort out:
- Clamp or grommet mount installation
- Positioning for zero screen glare
- Cable management (no spaghetti)
- Desk layout for monitor + lamp + space to actually work
- Bulb choice (warm vs cool white for different tasks)
What's Included
💡 Complete Desk Lighting Setup
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Assess | Check desk, monitor position, cable routes, power access |
| Mount | Fit clamp/grommet/base securely and in right spot |
| Position | Test lamp angles for zero glare and proper coverage |
| Cables | Route and manage cables properly (clips, sleeves, hidden routes) |
| Advise | Bulb temperature, brightness settings, positioning tips |
📦 You're Left With
- Workspace lighting that actually works
- No cables draped across desk
- Zero screen glare
- Comfortable lighting for long work sessions
Pricing
| What You Need | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple clamp lamp positioning | 1 hr | £60 |
| Grommet mount (drilling required) | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Full desk setup (lamp + monitor arm + cables) | 1.5-2 hrs | £85-£110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Desk drilling counts as additional time.
Works Well With...
✅ Monitor arm installation - Do both together for complete desk setup
✅ Cable management - Tidy all desk cables in one session
✅ Webcam positioning - Video call lighting sorted at same time
✅ Ergonomic assessment - Full workspace setup for comfort
Why Choose Us for Desk lamp setup in Exeter?
Lamp positioned for best lighting (no screen glare)
Cables managed and tidy
Clamp or grommet mount fitted if needed
Advice on best bulb temperature for your work
What to Expect
Step 1: Plan Layout
I check your desk setup - where monitor sits, where you need task lighting, cable routes to power, drawer clearance. This determines mount position.
Step 2: Install Mount
Clamp gets fitted in the right spot (avoiding drawers, giving full lamp reach). If grommet mount, I drill the hole cleanly through desk. Base lamps just need positioning for cable routing.
Step 3: Position & Tidy
Lamp gets positioned for zero screen glare and proper work surface coverage. Cables routed neatly using clips, sleeves, or hidden routing. Test all movement and reach.
🔧 DIY Tips
Having a go yourself? Here's how:
🔧 Tools needed
- Nothing for base lamps
- Clamp mount comes with the lamp usually
- Grommet mount needs drill + right size hole saw (check lamp spec)
- Cable clips or sleeve for tidy routing
📐 Positioning rules
- Side placement: Put lamp to non-dominant hand side (left if right-handed)
- Height: Lamp should light keyboard and desk, not shine in eyes
- Screen glare: Move lamp around with screen on to find glare-free position
- Video calls: Light should be in front of you (off to side), never behind
🔌 Cable routing
- Power cable down desk leg or through grommet hole
- Use adhesive cable clips every 30cm along desk edge
- Cable sleeve for multiple wires running together
- Velcro ties for excess cable length
- Keep cables away from chair wheel area
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Clamping lamp where it interferes with desk drawers
- Positioning directly behind monitor (causes glare)
- Lamp too far away to reach keyboard area
- Cables just draped wherever they fall
- Wrong bulb temperature (cool white good for detail work, warm white better for evening)
💡 Pro trick: LED bulbs with adjustable temperature are worth it for desk lamps. Cooler white (5000K) for focused work daytime, warmer white (3000K) for evening or relaxed work. Saves eye strain.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Doing a full desk setup? Lamp, monitor arm, cable management, keyboard tray - makes sense to do it all together. I'm already there, desk is already clear, everything gets planned as one cohesive setup. Much better than doing bits over several visits.
Thick desks? Some clamp mounts max out at 5-6cm desk thickness. If you've got a chunky old desk, check the lamp specs or go for grommet mount instead (works on any thickness).
IKEA desks? Most IKEA desk tops are honeycomb cardboard inside. Clamps work fine, but don't drill grommet holes near edges (not much material to bite into). I'll show you safe spots if needed.
Renting? Clamp mounts are great because they're non-permanent. Grommet mounts mean drilling, so check with landlord first. Base lamps obviously fine but take up desk space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would I need help setting up a desk lamp?
Positioning matters more than you'd think. Wrong angle creates screen glare, wrong height causes eye strain, and desk clamp mounts can be surprisingly fiddly. Plus if you're adding a monitor arm at the same time, the whole desk setup needs thinking about properly.
Can you install one of those architect-style lamps with the clamp?
Yes - that's usually what people want. Clamp mounts are great but need fitting to the right spot (avoiding desk drawer interference, cable routing, reach to keyboard area). I position it, test the movement, and tidy cables.
What if my desk doesn't have space for a clamp mount?
Then we look at grommet mounts (through hole in desk) or weighted base lamps. I'll suggest what'll work best for your actual desk situation. Sometimes drilling a small cable management hole solves multiple problems at once.
Do you supply the lamp or do I buy it first?
You buy it - there's loads of choice on Amazon and you'll have preferences on style. Get it delivered, then call me to install and position it properly. I can advise on what to buy if you're not sure.
Can you sort out my whole desk setup while you're there?
Absolutely - most people doing desk lamps also want monitor arms, cable management, or keyboard/mouse positioning sorted. Makes sense to do it all in one visit. Just mention it when booking.
Desk lamp setup Also Available In:
Get a Free Quote in Exeter
Call us today for a free, no-obligation quote for your desk lamp setup job in Exeter.
01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
Why Trust Us
Need Desk lamp setup in Exeter?
Get a free quote for your desk lamp setup job in Exeter today.