Light, we simply can’t do without it, be it day or night. The world changed when Thomas Edison came up with the light bulb. Suddenly, man could now operate at any time at optimum levels without having to worry about darkness. The one place that has benefited the most from this is the office. Working in an office requires light, a lot of it, and this brings so many benefits.
However, there’s one type of light that a good number of working spaces never utilize as they should, natural light. It takes a unique style of building design to make use of natural light. We are going to explore the importance of natural light and how you can properly harness it. Stick to the end and learn a thing or two that may transform your office space.
It Increases the Value of the Space
There’s a world of difference between an office space that is well lit with natural light and one that makes use of conventional light bulbs. You will spend more to hire an office with more natural light that makes the office look more open and inviting, something that your workers and clients will truly appreciate.
Natural light makes the office look and feel less cramped and crowded. It makes spaces look bigger than they are, which has a calming effect on the mind, dispelling claustrophobia feelings, which will raise employee’s productivity. This is why office spaces with a good view of the outdoor world cost an arm and a leg to rent out.
It Reduces Utility Costs
A closed building cannot function with the lights being on constantly, and this can lead to some serious utility bills. Office spaces that are shrouded in natural light, on the other hand, tend to reduce the electricity bills significantly as you will have no business leaving the lights on when you get all the light you need from the sun. Utility bills can be a pain, eating into profits if nothing is done; therefore, having an office that can make use of natural light will spare you some extra cash that can be used to improve the condition of your workers and other aspects of the office space.
It Uplifts Employee Moods
Mental health is an underrated aspect of the human mind. A slight change in moods can affect productivity in ways that cannot be quantified. It is easy to dampen or uplift moods at the office using external factors; one of these is light. When the lighting is dull, that tends to have an equally dull atmosphere in the office, and this is transferred to the workers.
Good lighting, on the other hand, can do wonders when utilized in the right way. The bigger the windows, the more the light that comes in, and this can radiate the entire space, bringing out the colors in full. It is hard to be sad or depressed in such an environment.
Natural Light is Healthy
An actual study that the University of Oregon conducted in 2011 found a link between sick leaves that employees would take and their proximity to natural light as they work. According to the study, having a good view of the outside world from the desk and being hit by natural light saw people take 6.5% less sick leave than workers who were cramped in offices with limited access to natural light.
Another recent study by Cornell University also found a whopping 84% drop in eyestrain, headaches, and blurry vision for people who worked while experiencing natural light in their workstations. The role that natural light plays in the employees’ health is too significant to be brushed aside.
Improves Sleep
Nothing invigorates an employee more than a proper night’s sleep. It makes the body repair itself properly, preparing them for the next day of work. However, getting the recommended sleep every night is easier said than done, which has a lot to do with the mental state.
Depression is a leading contributor to insomnia, and when you work in cramped and dimly lit spaces, you may not be in the right state of mind to function as you should. However, working in an office that is properly lit by natural light will not just boost your moods but give you a bright outlook as you work. The peace of mind that this brings helps you get proper sleep every night.
It Reduces Fluorescent Lighting Risks
What many people may not be privy to about fluorescent bulbs and most of the other common bulb types used for lighting is that they emit unhealthy types of light that can be bad for the health of certain people. Some people are overly sensitive to flickering lights, which is common in faulty bulbs; this flickering can trigger episodes of epilepsy and severe migraines.
Broken CFL bulbs, another commonly used bulb in spacious offices, have been known to release dangerous amounts of mercury; coming into contact with these is risky as that is a highly toxic substance. All these are side effects that are not present in natural lighting. In fact, you get the opposite, a healthy dose of vitamin D as you type away at your desk.
It Boosts Creativity
For some people, having an uninterrupted view of the outside with the sun shining its golden rays on their faces can be a little distracting. However, for those in the creative industry, there’s nothing that makes you think creatively better than taking in that majestic glow as you sit behind your desk. It is a known fact that sunlight combined with some greenery boosts the creative juices by 15%, and this is enough reason to give your employees a good view of nature and access to natural light if you want to see their best.
How to Boost Access to Natural Light in the Office
Getting an office with an unlimited supply of natural light may be a tall order for small companies since they fetch premium rent. However, that should not stop you from making the most of the little of what you have. The following is how to design an office to take advantage of natural light.
Moving Towards the Window
Source: Flexispot
You can move your ergonomic workplace towards the window to gain unfiltered access to the natural light that streams in. This would be ideal in an office with windows that are not that big, and you would need a portable and adjustable desk for this to work. One ideal desk for this would be the Theodore Standing Desk. The sit-stand desk has the following features that will help you achieve what you want.
- Height Adjustable: You can adjust the height to be in line with the window so you can get the best angle of natural light streaming in.
- Lightweight: Moving it around the office is easy and can be handled without external help, and this makes it convenient.
- Wood finish: A beautiful finish that is not reflective, so you don’t have to worry about light bouncing off and causing you issues with vision.
Keeping Curtains Open
It may be a little challenging harnessing natural light if you are working from home as you will probably have repurposed a room into an office. Most homes don’t come with huge windows. Nevertheless, you can still make the most out of the situation by keeping the curtains open as you work. The more the windows, the merrier it will be. You just have to know when the sun is too bright and when it is dim enough to keep the curtains open. Make sure your computer faces away from the window to eliminate the screen glare.
Use Transparent Roof
If the office is housed in a low-lying building or on the highest floor, then the best way to increase natural light would be to use transparent and translucent roof materials. This will allow light to come in full, providing everyone with equal amounts without having to move next to a window. Setting this up shouldn’t be too hard as you only need to replace a section of the roof. However, caution has to be exercised with the angle to avoid having to deal with direct sunlight as that would create a new problem.
Use Bright Colors
To make the most of the little natural light streaming into your office space, consider painting the walls with a bright color that will bounce the light off the walls, spreading it around the office. Bright colors like white or yellow would work very well and, in fact, will add the much-needed aesthetic touch that will turn the space into a lively hive of activity. This is the most effective tip and will cost you much less since post office spaces come in bright colors to begin with.
Conclusion
The importance of natural light is as clear as day, and this is not just limited to the office only. Any establishment that people use requires ample lighting for work to be done properly. There are many other things that you can do to harness natural light in your workstation; feel free to check out other sources for more tips.