Are you having a bad day at work? Feeling demotivated and unproductive? The reason might simply be the inadequate lighting in your workspace. Research says there is a direct correlation between good lighting and increased levels of productivity in workplaces.
Good lighting allows for better productivity in the workplace, as it determines concentration levels and mood and aids in maintaining a cheerful ambience overall. While natural light is best suited for workspaces, it might not be abundantly available in all scenarios, so choosing the right colour temperature for artificial lighting is very important.
A holistic lighting design successfully integrates space design with innovative lighting solutions, enhancing the potential of the space by many folds. Lighter colours reflect more light, thus contributing to brighter and more productive environments.
Looking at the severe impact of lighting on productivity in workspaces, considering all the factors below while incorporating lighting in space-making becomes necessary to ensure a motivating and highly dynamic workspace - where individuals are driven, enthusiastic, and can bring out the best in themselves through their work.
Daylight harvesting
In a well-designed lighting scheme, natural light works in collaboration with artificial light to accentuate the aura and ambience of a space. In fact, artificial lighting should only be used as an additional layer to balance the colour temperature suitable for the work environment. Natural light not only provides ideal illumination that reinforces one’s productivity to generate better outputs in the workspace but also aids in reducing the overall cost of lighting, which accounts for a large expense in a commercial environment.
Avoid Shadows and Glares
Shadows and glares in a workplace can dull the energy of the space or can cause major distractions while working. Usually, shadows are cast by direct or overhead lighting, making ambient lighting important in a workspace. Similarly, a natural light source, like a glass window, door or skylight, can emit a harsh glare or shadows, making indirect lighting methods such as - louvres, glazing etc., essential in space design.
Circadian lighting
Biodynamic lighting is a concept by which light is adapted throughout the day to meet the requirements of a healthy circadian rhythm. To put it in simple terms of cool light vs warm light - it's brighter, whiter light in the morning and during the day, while a warmer, softer light is used in the evening to help stimulate the hormones that allow for healthy sleep cycles.
Use Task Lighting
Task lighting aids in providing focused lighting to carry out the work at your desk with ease and comfort, leading to increased efficiency. In addition, this type of lighting can layer the ambient lighting to provide a crystal clear vision for all the tasks at your desk, like reading, writing, or working on your laptop.
Choose the appropriate colour temperature
Colour temperature determines the tonality and hue of the light in a space. The ideal colour temperature for a workspace is between 5,000K and 7,000K, enabling a conducive workplace. Lighting with a colour temperature lower than 5,000K will create a relaxed atmosphere, leading to lower productivity levels and dullness.
Pick light colours for the walls and ceilings
A holistic lighting design successfully integrates space design with innovative lighting solutions, enhancing the potential of the space by many folds. For example, lighter colours reflect more light, thus contributing to brighter and more productive environments. Therefore, it is important to pick light colours for walls and ceilings so that maximum light is reflected from these surfaces so that the light within the space spreads evenly and illuminates the space to suit its function.
Looking at the severe impact of lighting on productivity in workspaces and considering all the factors above while incorporating lighting in space-making becomes necessary to ensure a motivating and highly dynamic workspace where individuals are driven, enthusiastic and can bring out the best in themselves through their work.
