1. Before picking lighting sources and finalizing on them, it is necessary for those in charge to study the office layout and plan carefully. Otherwise, it could lead to haphazard placement of lights which would then cause more disruption in office activities- poor positioning of lighting sources is as bad as poor lighting itself.

3. It is widely agreed that natural daylight is the best kind of lighting one can use for the most productive work environment. However, these days it is increasingly difficult for companies to find office spaces that are exposed to considerable daylight, so it follows that daylight-like lighting must be mimicked by closest available artificial lighting. Thus, the colour temperature of the lighting used in such offices, especially bigger and wider office spaces, should be between 5000K and 7000K, according to lighting experts. It has been observed that brighter and warm, but white based lighting correlates to energy and wakefulness for employees, boosting performance and productivity.

4.  Consider keeping table lamps as an option for those employees who would like some more light just at their desk. Many employees may be working late into the night and in that case, most of the overhead lights can be dimmed or switched off, keeping only task lights and the desk lamp on for the working members. This will also save electricity and will give employees more options to choose what kind of light they want to work in.

5. Consider choosing lighting that can be lowered or increased in intensity as the need arises. As evening sets in and the employees prepare to wind up their day, the lights can be lowered in intensity and set to a warmer tone to calm and relax the mind. For employees working at night, ensure that the lighting remains warm, since the computer screen already has a lot of blue light, which can disrupt the employees’ sleep schedule.

6. Office lighting is not just limited to overhead or desk lighting. Lighting is also used for visual appeal, particularly in corporate offices where companies would like people who visit to get a good first impression, much of which can be achieved by good lighting. Nowadays good quality LED lights are available in various shapes and forms. These can be used in visitor’s lounges and over display cases to provide stylish and beautiful lighting.

7. It is important to take employees’ feedback with regards to office facilities and factors such as seating and lighting. Lighting is particularly important to employees as they cannot perform well in very dim lighting where they cannot see well. Neither can they work comfortably in harsh lighting, particularly in case of employees suffering from headaches. Hence the company should be sure to ask the employees individually if they are comfortable with the lighting conditions and whether they are able to perform optimally in those conditions.

Extra. One thing to remember is that your office lighting, its forms and colours and the way it is all placed, should, like all other décor and components of your office space, represent the company’s brand and image as far as possible. Every company has a theme and based on that, it can have furniture, décor and lighting as well. The idea behind lighting is to use variety. A combination of direct and indirect lighting, task lights in some places and ambient lights in others, makes for adequate and conducive lighting in the office. You can experiment with simple lighting from table lamps to overheads, and with more sophisticated sources as well, such as spotlights and chandelier for the reception area. Lighting is not just about requirement; it is also about aesthetics and pleasing visuals.

Source: opensourcedworkplace.com