How Office Lighting Can Affect Your Productivity

How important is office lighting? Maybe more than you think. It's not just about the fixture and where to install it; you also need to consider the colour and the brightness, both of which have great influence on your productivity.

The human brain responds to light differently. The photosensitive retinal ganglion cells in our eyes detect the presence of different hues made up of different wavelengths. These are the cells which give information to our body and brain whether it is night or day and thus, keeping us awake.

The Journal of Environmental Psychology published a study in 2013, stating that bright lights can make workers feel more awake. However, dimmer lights inspire better creativity and fosters a "risky, explorative processing style." Alongside this, the Sleep journal published a study that white lights with blue shades are effective for pre-tasking and triggers better cognitive response than other colours.

Knowing these office lighting basics that either boost or wane employees’ productivity, you can now plan for different lighting designs that will create the right ambiance in your workplace. Here are some tips:

Natural light is your best friend. Working around natural light you are more likely to be healthier and happier, according to a 2014 study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. If your office is blessed with big, bold windows, open them up and let the sunshine in. Otherwise, you can alternatively get a desktop light to give you enough radiance.

Don't overblast it. Office lighting glare may be one of the biggest discomforts in the office. It distracts you and causes lapses in your focus when you readjust your eyes for a better perception. What you need to do: play with the angles. A flood of task lights is best for those who work in manual designing. Slap on some shades to tone down the daylight. Pendant lights come in a versatile range and you can find subtle and suitable designs for an office space. 

Soften the setting. Build up a cosy, comfortable working atmosphere with dimmable ambient lights. Set a balanced mood and moderate the brightness in the unused areas in your office. Use a variety of lighting fixtures, such as downlights and spotlights. These flexible lighting items can be easily incorporated in your design.

Play with the colours. Yellow-coloured lights may not be the best thing to use as your focal illumination at work, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it. Combine different hues of blues and yellows to create a perfect atmosphere that triggers employee productivity, and gives them a sense of warmth at the same time.

When choosing office lighting, we recommend selecting long-lasting and highly efficient lights that will last for a long time.

Which of these office lighting looks complement your workplace? Let us know by commenting below!

Images via Fat Shack Vintage Pinterest Board - and our Commercial Office Interior Design board.