Lights!
Camera!
Action!
Cut! Cut!
Who put that horrible lamp here?
We’re not looking for office lights, people.
They’re not even good in offices, not to mention the movie set.
What do I mean by office lighting?
Alright, I’ll explain. It’s not like we’re shooting a movie here.
Everybody, take five.
Okay, listen to me now.
I’ll be direct. It depends on the time of day and what you want to achieve. Here’s the breakdown.
Always use natural light whenever possible. No lamp can compete with the sun.
However, if your office is not exposed to natural light or it’s only for a limited amount of time, here’s what you can do to optimize your experience and improve ergonomics.
Apart from natural light, the best office lighting scheme is to start the morning with bright and cool colors and gently shift to more yellow and mellow ones as the day advances.
Cool blue and white lights help you be more concentrated and active, while lights from the yellow specter relax you more.
Now, you might think lighting is not a crucial part of your working experience, but it is. In 2018, 80% of employees said having good lighting for office space is vital for them.
Furthermore, 84% of employees exposed to natural light reported a drop in headaches, eye strain, and blurred vision.
If you’re like me, then you prefer natural light lamps for the office, not those sinister bright lights. And it’s not just a matter of preference; they’re also harmful to your eyes and can cause stress.
But what is the best office lighting, then, you ask? Any color you like?
Sure, but not exactly.
There’s science to it.
When you’re working on your computer, it’s best to reduce intense office ceiling lights. Instead, replace those high-wattage bulbs with low-wattage ones. Not only will the latter feel better on your eyes, but it will also reduce energy consumption.
It’s extremely important to adjust your computer monitor properly. Take a look at the brightness display settings and modify the brightness, so it corresponds to the natural lighting of the office or home.
Pay attention that your screen is not so bright that it’s like a lamp, but also not so dark that you’re having problems seeing.
Proper screen tuning can reduce fatigue and eye strain. After all, adopting proper posture, being active at your desk, and using ergonomic furniture will mean nothing if your eyes are under constant pressure from the harmful white screen.
Additionally, you can use specialized software to keep your eyes safe from harmful bright screens. Consider trying a dark mode extension or software like flux, which converts the colors of your computer based on the time of day.
If you want more desk lighting ideas, look no further. Get an adjustable desk lamp that will allow you to shed more light on specific documents or other objects.
It’s essentially task lighting – use the lamp for a particular task, and then you can turn it off or redirect the light beam to a neutral position.
We’re not done yet. Let’s take a look at the different types of office lighting and assess their role and impact.
The office fluorescent light has a very long life (10,000 – 50,000 hours) and is very cost-effective. It’s also energy efficient. If we compare it with the incandescent bulb, the fluorescent one will use 20 watts of power, compared to 75 for the incandescent.
However, fluorescent tubes contain a small amount of mercury (around 4 mg), making them deadly for our lungs, kidneys, and nervous system. Even worse, any fluorescent light bulb can trigger migraines, tics, and seizures in more sensitive people.
Furthermore, when a fluorescent lamp breaks or burns out, you should handle it with great caution because mercury is a very poisonous substance. In fact, the EPA has strict guidelines on how to dispose of these lamps.
Incandescent light bulbs are the classic but outdated option that can mainly be found in older lighting fixtures. They produce warmer colors compared to fluorescent and led bulbs but are less energy efficient.
Light-emitting diodes, better known as LEDs, are the most energy-efficient bulbs. LED bulbs are around 90% more effective than incandescent ones.
LED office lighting creates a healthy and productive work environment. It mimics natural daylight, using bright white light.
You see, blue-enriched white light actually stimulates the brain, improves sleep quality, as well as alertness.
LED lights are the best office lighting for a number of reasons. They last longer than any other light and they use much less energy, making them a good investment. LED lights offer the coolest temperature and come in different shapes and sizes – bulbs, tubes, etc.
Office lighting is an important part of establishing a healthy and pleasant office environment. There’s nothing more disturbing than having to work under the sinister glare of bright lights.
You can pick your own home office lighting, though. Be careful to choose light that is both good for concentration and relaxation. If you can’t find one that does both, get a desk lamp to use in the darker hours.
Now get there and shine on!
A: First and foremost, base the lighting and colors on the time of the day. Yellow and orange lights are more appropriate to relax and to use in the afternoon. Blue and white lights are better for concentration and to start your workday in the morning.
A: The three main types of lights used in offices are: LED, fluorescent, and incandescent. Office light fixtures include suspended office lights, flat panels, troffer lights, recessed lighting, and flat-panel LED lights.
A: The best lighting for computer work is a balanced light that is sufficient to see the screen and text but not too strong to cause discomfort and glare.
A: A typical workstation requires 500 lumens per square meter, according to the US General Services Administration (GSA). Fluorescent ceiling fixtures and bulbs offer the best lighting, also according to the GSA.
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