Using the right type of lighting in your office is essential for several reasons. It is now well known that office lighting can have a significant impact on employees, from their productivity and mood to their overall health and wellbeing. From the colour to the harshness of the lighting and more, the choices you make when it comes to office lighting can make a big difference.

Inspiring Contemporary Office Lighting Ideas to Help Brighten Up Your Environment

The Importance of Office Lighting

Using the right type of lighting in your office is essential for several reasons.

It is now well known that office lighting can have a significant impact on employees, from their productivity and mood to their overall health and wellbeing. From the colour to the harshness of the lighting and more, the choices you make when it comes to office lighting can make a big difference. For example, warm lighting can help employees and clients alike feel comfortable and welcomed in your office, while dimmer lights can help employees relax in break rooms.

In addition, as your office should reflect your brand identity, it’s important to use the right type and style of lighting to complement this. Lighting makes up a big part of your office interior design, and the right lighting features can really tie a room or space together.

Types of Contemporary Office Lighting

Natural Light Integration

One of the easiest things to integrate into your office lighting plans is natural light.

Even the most North-facing offices will get light shining in at some point, and it’s essential to take advantage of this.

Natural light is known to boost employees’ moods and productivity, and it’s great if you have office plants and a more biophilic design.

You can even change your office’s layout to maximise natural light – for example, moving the desks towards the window that gets the most light ensures that employees can benefit from it.

LED Lighting

When it comes to more controllable lighting – instead of leaving it solely to the elements – LED lighting offers an adjustable and sustainable option.

LED lighting is generally more energy-efficient and sustainable than other types. It is also more durable and therefore a better option in terms of cost, as it’s unlikely you’ll be regularly replacing it. This also makes it more sustainable.

In addition, LED lighting offers more options and adjustability, from dimming to flexibility on installation and placement and more.

Therefore, when it comes to lighting which is cost and energy-efficient and versatile, LED lighting could be the way to go.

Task Lighting

Depending on the industry you work in and the needs of your employees, it might be worth adding task lighting to your workstations.

This category of lighting can include anything from desk lamps to under-cabinet lighting and more.

Task lighting is designed to make employees’ lives a lot easier by lighting up their stations individually. This can be helpful in lots of different workplaces, as generally, employees are likely to prefer different levels and types of lighting for different jobs during the day, and task lighting delivers this individual customisation which is sometimes needed.

Ambient Lighting

If you want to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in your office, ambient lighting is the way to go.

This type of lighting can help create a natural and relaxed feel in your office, helping your employees and clients feel calm and at home.

Accent Lighting

Accent lighting is the ideal choice for when you want to highlight certain areas or features in your office.

Whether you want to draw attention to a logo on your wall or your reception desk, for example, doing so means your customer or client knows where to look, so you can guide their journey in your office even more.

Innovative Lighting Ideas

Creative Lighting Solutions for Modern Offices

Here are some lighting ideas for your modern office:

• Pendant Lighting: A classic for any office, pendant lighting looks at home in all spaces, from meeting rooms to desk workstations and more. This style of lighting gives rooms a chic style, as well as being versatile to suit a wide range of colour schemes.
• Track Lighting: For offices with a more modern or pared-back look, track lighting is a great option. Giving the impression of an art studio or industrial space, track lighting can be set up across the ceiling is customisable and unobtrusive, making it an ideal option for the office.
• Recessed Lighting: As the name suggests, recessed lighting doesn’t extend out of the walls or ceiling. This type of lighting therefore distributes light around the room evenly, and gets rid of any shadows. Recessed lighting is the perfect option for a modern office.

Smart Lighting Systems

In any modern office, it’s essential to make sure your lighting systems are smart and match the contemporary nature of your workspace.

Circadian Rhythm Lighting

One smart office lighting system which has become increasingly popular right now is circadian rhythm lighting.

As the name suggests, this type of lighting follows the human circadian rhythm – which is essentially the body’s 24-hour clock.

By ensuring your lighting reflects this, you can keep employees, customers and clients in your office comfortable, as well as boosting concentration.

Motion-Activated Lighting

Another smart lighting system which more and more offices are installing is motion-activated lighting.

Many offices already have motion-activated lighting in toilets and similar areas, but there are several benefits of integrating them into more areas of the office.

As motion-activated lights remain off until switched on by someone moving below, they’re both environmentally-friendly and cost-effective – and therefore an ideal choice for most offices.

Practical Tips for Office Lighting Design

How to Assess and Improve Existing Lighting

When it comes to assessing and improving the lighting in your office, a lot of it comes down to regularly maintaining your lighting system. This way, if there are any issues, you can rectify them quickly before the costs begin to mount.

In addition, regular maintenance means you’ll be able to tell when it’s time to replace your lighting, from a practical perspective. You can also check how much your lighting is costing you currently, and work out if your system needs changing based on this.

Budget-Friendly Ways to Upgrade Office Lighting

There are a few different ways to keep your office lighting upgrade as budget-friendly as possible.

For example, choosing lighting systems which are easy to install can help cut the costs. Doing so means that either yourself or your employees could install the lighting, or – if you decide to get an expert to do the job – it’ll be quicker and less expensive overall.

It’s important to note that paying a little more upfront for a durable, long-lasting lighting system (such as LEDs) can help you save a lot of money in the long-run, so this could be the most budget-friendly method overall.

Lighting as Part of a Redesign or Renovation

When it comes to redesigning or renovating your office, lighting can make a pretty significant difference. It’s essential to ensure that your lighting and light features adhere to your colour scheme, as well as the overall aesthetic of your office and your brand identity.

Therefore, when you’re thinking about redecorating or overhauling your office, it’s important to consider lighting systems and options in your overall plan.

How you Can Brighten Up your Office Environment

As we’ve established above, there are a range of different ways you can brighten up your office environment.

From bringing more natural light in, to adding smart lighting systems to your workplace, there are so many different and customisable options out there to suit your office, style and brand identity.

The best lighting type and system for you will always depend on your needs and priorities in your office, whether that’s cost-effectiveness, durability or initial pricing. In addition, while some offices require brighter lighting – such as in architects’ offices and dentists, for example – others need warm lighting to provide a welcoming space for employees and clients.

There are also functionality questions to be asked, in terms of where the lights are and how they work.

All of this needs to be considered when it comes to choosing the best lights and lighting systems to brighten up your office.