Lighting Ideas for the modern office
About 40% of office workers are struggling to work in poor lighting every day. Bad office lighting can lead to negative effects on our productivity and health - headaches, exhaustion, strain on the eyes, and stress among other things. With the right lighting conditions, office workers would not just feel more energetic, but they would also perform their everyday tasks more efficiently. So the question stands: what can companies and organizations do about bad lighting?
Using lighting temperature to boost productivity
In general, warmer yellow or orange lights (2700-1500K) tend to be better for relaxing, whereas cooler blue and white lights (3000-4000K) are good for working, waking up, and concentrating.
If possible, the lighting temperature and color should vary based on the time of day. In the morning, using a combination of cooler natural lighting from the windows and artificial lighting, the workspaces could use colder lighting. In the midday, more neutral white lighting should be used, while in the afternoon, warm lighting and help wind down the work.
Desk lamps
Desk lighting is one of the most important types of lighting in an office. Table lamps illuminate one of the most important elements in our offices - the desk, where most of the work is done. It is a common myth that desk lamps are bulky and unpractical, but nowadays they come in all kinds of shapes and forms, both in larger and smaller formats. Because of the wide variety of options, table lamps can be easily mixed with other lamps, for example, one can combine a decorative pendant lamp and a functional table lamp, achieving both a playful aesthetic and a practical lighting solution. Some examples of more standard and practical table lamps could be Parachilna's Lightoread and the Cambridge table lamp from It's about RoMi.
Ideally, you should not have to choose between aesthetics and practicability in a lamp, finding a model that has both is important. A good example is the Jackie table lamp from Panzeri, as it is both functional and aesthetic in its form.
If the desk is shared by 2 employees, then installing a luminaire with two lamps is a great option, for example, Northern's Gear table lamp is available in such a configuration.
Floor lamps
Floor lamps (also known as free-standing lights) are an often overlooked piece of lighting. Despite that, they can be used as a very useful lighting element in our work environment. The floor lamp might not be the best solution to illuminate a desk's surface due to its bulky size and distance from the table, but it works great as a decorative element that creates warmth and brings light to a workspace. Floor lamps work effectively in larger, more relaxed environments, for example, the employee lounge or the lobby. Some of our favorite floor lamps for this setting are the Bowee floor lamp from B.lux and the Screen floor lamp by Market Set.
Ceiling and pendant lamps
Let's be honest, how often do you change the ceiling lamps? It doesn't matter if it's in the office or at home. If you are like me, chances are that the changes are made very rarely. Ceiling lamps are an essential part of illuminating a space since most artificial lighting is deployed this way. Therefore, the ceiling lamp must be carefully selected so that it can give the desired lighting result over several years.
If you are looking for a more subtle approach to office lighting, you can choose lamps that are inconspicuous, but sophisticated in their design, such as LZF's Oh Line! or the Tubs by LEDS C4.
However, for those who prefer to create a long-lasting unique atmosphere in the office, we recommend choosing luminaires, in which you will be able to find new details every time you gaze upon them. Some of these include the Attic collection from LEDS C4 and Nura 2 from Carpyen.
Single style sets
Styling the lamps together rather than individually is important for achieving a more orderly and aesthetic environment, thus allowing other objects to express themselves in detail - more plants, a colorful mouse pad, or a colorful carpet.
To achieve this, lamps can be sourced from a single collection and placed together in the office, creating a single, unified aesthetic, rather than a fragmented space of different styles of lighting. When choosing lighting for a workspace, make sure the color, size, shape, material, and light intensity work well together with other interior elements such as furniture and plants.
Conclusion
Employers should pay more attention to the well-being of their employees, not only in their corporate events and activities but also in their day-to-day work environment. That being said, employees also should try to express the necessity of good lighting to their managers, as sometimes leaders in organizations can also miss this.
Don't forget that natural light is also very important when it comes to illuminating the workspace. Planning an office with the movements of the sun in mind can help bring light into the space in the morning and later stages of the day while keeping out the hard and distracting sun rays that can be experienced during the peak of the day.
Article written by Kalisto Marketing Agency.