Indoor climate and well-being

7 Simple Steps to Maximise Natural Lighting in Office Space

March 15, 2022

Natural lighting in the workplace has various advantages for both employees and businesses.

Office using Rockfon Canva to draw in more natural light

Rockfon Blanka in office space, Port House in Fredericia, Denmark

More than a third of employees associate a lack of natural light in the office with bad feelings. Companies who incorporate natural light in their design, on the other hand, should expect a 40% rise in productivity and a 15% increase in creativity.  

When employees are exposed to more natural light, they are also happier. This has aided in better sleep regulation, which has the potential to increase job quality. 

Furthermore, the most common request for workplace design is more natural light. This isn't merely for the sake of the employees' benefit. More natural light can save up to 6.5% on lighting expenses and absenteeism. 

Learn more about the benefits of natural lighting in office space by downloading our free whitepaper. 

How to Maximise Natural Light in Office Design? 

As office architects and interior designers, we must aim to bring as much natural light into the workplace as possible. While this can be a difficult process, depending on the building and area in question, here are some simple and effective ways to create a happier, more productive space. 

Step 1: Opt for a Light Colour Scheme 

When designing your office interior, you need to keep your colour palette bright and glossy to reflect the light. This is because warm and matt colours will absorb it. 

Designing a white ceiling in your space can help make it look brighter. Materials that reflect and diffuse light can bring more light into your building. 

Enhance the light with Rockfon Blanka®

Rockfon Blanka® has a smooth, deep matt white surface providing high light reflection and light diffusion for better energy savings and visual indoor comfort.  

Rockfon Blanka® for the new headquarters of Bialmed Sp. Z.o.o Poland

PL, Bialmed Sp. z o.o., Pisz, 3XA, Office, Rockfon Blanka, Rockfon Mono Acoustic, X edge, 1800x600x22, White, Corridor

Step 2: Install a Skylight 

Skylights are a unique and effective method to provide brilliant, natural light to your space. When compared to regular windows, they are quick and easy to install and enable more light to stream into space throughout the day. 

Step 3: Adjust Your Artificial Lighting 

If your space doesn't have a lot of natural light, don't use the same artificial light for the entire space. Computers and digital screens, especially in workplaces, emit light directly into the eyes. So, it's important to have the right type of ceiling to give high-quality light for visual health. 

Having the right amount of light may help us focus and perform better. Combining different types of artificial light can make a space seem cosier by simulating natural light. 

Enhance the aesthetics with acoustic comfort

Rockfon Eclipse® is innovative and aesthetically pleasing frameless acoustic ceiling islands. It offers excellent sound absorption and deep-matt surface for high light reflection and light diffusion. 

Rockfon Eclipse® installed at Dyson Institute, The United Kingdom 

UK, Dyson Institute, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, Wilkinson Eyre, School, Rockfon Eclipse, White

Step 4: Get Rid of Bulky Furniture 

Replacing dark and heavy furniture with lighter office furniture can make your workspace seem brighter. This is because the bright colours and clean lines will reflect more light.  

Furthermore, you can effectively brighten up your space and enhance its natural character with a minimalist, modern design. 

Step 5: Install New or Enlarge Existing Windows 

Adding windows that face east, south, or west can bring more light into a space. It can also make the walls, furniture, and other details look better.  

Furthermore, cleaning the windows can make a big difference in how bright a room is. This is because dirt and dust can block out natural light. 

A monolithic surface reflects the daylight

Rockfon® Mono® Acoustics has a monolithic surface delivering outstanding acoustic comfort and reflects the daylight. 

Rockfon® Mono® Acoustic and Rockfon Multiflex Baffle at Lysgården, Trondheim, Norway 

NO, Lysgården, Trondheim, HUS Arkitekter, Office, Rockfon Multiflex Baffle, Rockfon Mono Acoustic, 30x1200, White

Step 6: Consider Light Wood Flooring 

Light-coloured floors give an area a more modern and fresh appearance. When a space wants more light, pale wood flooring is an ideal choice to lighten it up.  

Dark carpeting, on the other hand, might serve to make the area look larger. So, you need to keep in mind that the mix of shades on the ceiling, walls, and flooring can change how the space appears. 

Step 7: Benefit from Light Reflection 

These lighting strategies can improve your office building in a variety of ways: 

  • You may extend the usable workspace in your office by up to 11% by employing light reflection. 
  • Light reflection and diffusion increase the efficiency of natural light distribution while lowering energy expenses. 
  • Increasing the amount of natural light in your building improves comfort, performance, and total value. 

In this whitepaper, we look at how to utilise a matt-white acoustic ceiling to achieve light reflection and dispersion. 

Corridor in Dr. Knippenbergcollege in Helmond Netherlands with Rockfon Blanka A-Edge

Designing Natural Light into the Workplace 

There are a lot of things you can do to maximise natural light in your office, but these are an excellent place to start. 

Providing appropriate lighting in your office area does not necessitate a view of a glistening lake with swans for all employees to benefit. It also does not imply that every employee must sit within five inches of a window. By sharing a glimpse into how it can be designed in the workplace, we hope that you can introduce more natural light to benefit everyone.  

Contact us today if you'd like to learn more about how we can help you create a workplace that is filled with natural light.