The lighting in your workplace is a vital aspect of its design, and you want to ensure you get it correct and there are many things you can do to achieve this. Sufficient lighting in your office can help improve employees’ well-being and productivity and create a more pleasant atmosphere. Whether you are refurbishing an existing office or designing a new one from scratch, there are various ways to help improve your office lighting. Below are some methods to help you get started and ensure your office space has plenty of light, making a more pleasant environment and boosting productivity.
Choose an Expert Design & Fit-Out Company
The best place to start is work with an experienced and reputable office design company that can also do the fitting out of your project. They can assess your current space and see how best to utilise it to maximise the natural light and make best use of the space. Companies like Gravity Office Interiors have learnt many tips and tricks to help enhance light levels in gloomy offices, and these are techniques anybody can use.
The Office Layout & Design
First, you must address the office layout and floor plan and look at ways to improve this. If your office space has internal walls, moving to an open-plan design could be worth considering. If you still need to partition off different sections of your office space, use glass partitions that can allow light to pass through rather than ones that will block and reduce the light. Other tips you can include other than an open plan office design is using reflective materials and surfaces and avoiding overcrowding and cluttering the space too much.
Enhance Natural Light
You want to allow as much natural light as possible into your office, which is much better than artificial lights. Position desks and workstations so they get the maximum benefit of the available windows, and if possible, consider installing bigger windows to let in more light. Using reflective materials and glass in your office design can also help maximise your workspace’s natural light, making a much more pleasant working environment. Depending on the direction your windows face, the light from the sun may get too harsh at times, then you will want blinds or curtains for the windows. However, ensure when they are in the open position that they do not obstruct any light from passing into the office to help keep it as bright as possible.
Use a Layered Approach for Lighting
Another way to ensure sufficient lighting in your workspace is by layering it and using different types of lighting. It can help achieve a well-balanced and lit office, no matter how dark it gets outside, and there are three primary lighting layers you can use: accent, ambient, and task lighting.
- Accent Lighting: Using accent lighting in your office can add a touch of elegance and allow you to highlight features and focal points in your office design. You can use accent lighting to highlight your corporate branding, artwork, architectural elements, or plants. The best options for this purpose are track lighting or wall-mounted fixtures, and using LED lights will ensure they are energy-efficient.
- Ambient Lighting: Ambient lighting is the overall illumination of your workspace, and it is best to use Smart LED lights to adjust the colour, hue, and brightness, giving you more control of your lights. Using overhead lighting fixtures like recessed or pendant lights is an excellent choice for the job.
- Task Lighting: Task lighting is used in individual workstations, desks, conference tables, or reading nooks to ensure the employee has sufficient light for their tasks. It is common to use desk lamps, adjustable floor lamps, or under-cabinet lights, and adjustable LED lights are an excellent option for this task.
The Correct Colour Temperature
Using the correct colour temperature for your workplace can also help make it brighter and maximise the available light. You can measure the value of colour using the Kelvin (K) scale, with colours having a low score of around 2500K producing a warm yellowish light, while hues with a high value of about 5000K make a cooler blueish light. Using the correct colour temperature in your office colour scheme can help improve the light levels, and different colours suit different work areas.
- Corridors & Hallways: Use colours measuring between 3500K and 4000K for corridors and hallways, which should help ensure there is ample light, and they are well-lit.
- Task Areas: In task areas, it is best to use colours within 4000K to 5000K to ensure sufficient light for reading or working on a computer.
- Break & Collaborative Spaces: You want a colour temperature within the 2700K to 3500K range for rest areas and collaborative spaces. It can create a warm and cosy atmosphere and allow employees to rest efficiently before returning to work or collaborate effectively with their coworkers.
Incorporate Smart Lighting Systems
Another excellent way to enhance the lighting in your workplace is by using Smart lighting systems that can control various aspects of the light. You can install different features, some of which can also save money, so they are worth the investment. Some of the various features you can get with Smart LED lighting technology include:
- Remote Controls: You can alter the lights in your office using a remote control; some can also be controlled using a computer or Smartphone. It allows you to turn lights on and off, change their brightness, and set schedules for your lights.
- Motion Sensors: You can also use motion sensors for your lights, which turn lights on when they detect motion and turn off a short time afterwards. They are common in toilets and corridors, and as the lights are not on continuously, they can save money on energy costs.
- Dimming Control: Being able to dim or brighten the lights is an excellent feature you want in your office lighting so that you can customise the lighting level to the current conditions. When you dim LED lights, they also use less electricity, so they can help reduce your energy bills.
- Daylight Harvesting: Daylight harvesting is where a sensor automatically controls and adjusts the electric lights to keep a consistent ambient light level in your office.
These are some techniques you can use to ensure your workplace has sufficient natural and electrical lighting, but there are other things you can do to achieve this. Take the lighting in your office space seriously; it can help you create an excellent working environment that benefits your employees and your business.
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