Time to talk lighting

The luxury retail and hospitality industries have a lot to teach us when it comes to lighting. Hotels, bars and restaurants use lighting to set the tone; making people feel comfortable and relaxed; creating a certain ambience. Lighting is used to determine boundaries, indicating where lounge areas and reception spaces are set. It’s an active part of the design.

Workplaces have a different requirement from hospitality settings – although the need to create zones has been recognised in the contemporary office environment and is acknowledged as a key part of enabling activity-based, hybrid working. Current fit outs plan the space accordingly, creating a flow of movement between dedicated areas. However, there’s also opportunity to maximise the use of lighting further to address user wellbeing and comfort.

If you consider the length of time we spend in the work environment compared to the time we spend in retail and hospitality settings, the comfort factor, acknowledged by these other sectors, takes on a greater significance. The places we spend most of our time – home and work – should provide the most comfort and each contributing factor should be addressed.

If we want to use the office to attract and retain talent, we have to use lighting to better effect, recognising that it’s how a place feels that is most important, regardless of how it looks. Lighting should take into account the work the team is doing and where specific tasks are being done - it’s the effect the lighting has on the space rather than the fixtures you’re using that truly counts. If a zone has been created for a specific purpose then the lighting should be tailored accordingly.

And, finally, a tip for you. Those planning a fit out, who want to come out on top and really impress the team, take this opportunity and go for individual desk lighting. Remember, we want to invite people back into the office and make it as comfortable and comforting as possible. Personalising the ambience for each individual and allowing them to fine tune it to their specific comfort level is about as good as it gets.