Illuminating Ideas for Office Lighting

• Natural light is best, but it’s not always reliable.
• Low-energy lighting can save you money and is better for the environment.
• Smart lighting can be controlled remotely and can save you energy.
• White light is the standard office lighting, but it can be too cold and clinical.

 

How can I improve the light in my office?

The lighting in your office is crucial, not just for helping people see what they’re doing, but also to ensure they’re comfortable at work. The wrong type of lighting can cause a number of issues on an individual and collective basis, including wasted money and even health problems. In this article we’re going to look at how you can make the right choices when it comes to your office lighting whether you’re looking to brighten up a dark corner in the office or simply want to create a more inviting atmosphere for your staff and customers.

What type of lighting is best for an office?

The type of lighting in an office can have a big impact on the mood, productivity, and overall comfort of the space. There are a number of different factors to consider when choosing the right lighting for an office, including the size of the space, the type of work that is done there, and the personal preferences of the occupants.

How bright should office lighting be?

The brightness of office lighting is an important consideration for both productivity and comfort. Too much light can be distracting and uncomfortable, while too little light can make it difficult to see and work. The ideal brightness level will vary depending on the type of work being done, the size of the office, and the personal preferences of the occupants.

In general, office lighting should be bright enough to allow employees to see clearly without straining their eyes. There are a number of factors that can affect the brightness of office lighting, including the type of light bulbs used, the size and shape of the fixtures, and the amount of natural light that enters the office. When choosing office lighting, it is important to consider all of these factors to ensure that the brightness level is optimal for the specific needs of the space.

Here are some of the advantages of the different types of lights you might choose for your office.

Natural Office Lighting

Natural light has a number of beneficial properties, with the first one being the way it looks. When sunlight streams into a room, it brings a golden shine, as well as a bit of warmth – provided it’s not shining directly into your eyes, it’s a lovely thing to see. What’s more, natural light has a positive impact on our mood and our behaviour, which in turn benefits productivity and the workplace as a whole. In fact, studies have shown that healthy levels of natural light in an office can increase productivity by 40% and creativity by 15%.

One problem with natural light, though, is that it is somewhat unreliable, particularly in England. On particularly cloudy or grey days, your office won’t exactly be flooded with light.

Low-energy lighting

You can illuminate your office without paying through the nose for your energy bills. LED lighting can save you up to 90% on your energy expenditure, and you’ll have the added bonus of a low carbon footprint and the knowledge that you’re running a greener workspace. The savings you make on your energy bills can be invested back into the business to help your company grow.

If there is a disadvantage of LED lighting, it’s that it can initially be quite costly – although this expense will be offset over time.

Remote lighting control

Smart technology is transforming the way we interact with everyday objects in our homes and businesses, and lighting is one such aspect that can make use of modern technology. Smart lighting can be turned on, turned off, dimmed and brightened through a smartphone or tablet, or even a smartwatch – no need to leave your desk and plenty of options available to help you find just the right brightness.

Smart lighting can be costly to install, and it may require a bit of training/practice to get used to the controls. Be sure that it’s the right choice for your business before opting for it.

White Light

White light is the ‘standard’ office lighting – LED white light is designed to stimulate receptors in our eyes that match our bodily rhythms to sunrise and sunset, which theoretically should result in an energy increase. There are different ‘warmths’ of light, starting at 1000k, which has a more golden hue, going all the way up to 10,000k, which is the whitest of light. Common office lighting sits at around 6000k.

A potential downside of using white light though is that it can look a bit cold and clinical in certain environments. For a softer, more welcoming light, look for lighting around the 1000-3000k range.

Additional tips for improving the light in your office

• Use task lighting to provide focused light on specific areas.
• Add mirrors to reflect light and make your office feel brighter.
• Paint your walls and ceiling light colors to reflect light.
• Declutter your workspace to remove obstacles to light.
• Open the blinds or curtains during the day to let in natural light.
• Install dimmers so you can adjust the light level to your liking.

Ensuring you have the right lighting for your business is important, not only for the way your office looks but how it feels for your employees as well. Arc Business Interiors are experts in office lighting, delivering innovative and effective lighting solutions as part of our renowned office renovation services across Leicester, Loughborough, Derby, Nottingham, Northampton and throughout the UK. For more information, please get in touch with us today.