If you are looking for new office space to house your workforce, put natural lighting high on your list of priorities. The positive commercial benefits of focusing on natural light in a workplace are becoming more widely known. Why not give your business an edge by jumping on this productivity pusher right away?

A happy, healthy workforce is something every company boss should strive for. Good morale is linked to higher productivity, greater employee engagement and lower rates of absenteeism, so ultimately it makes sense on both a human and economic level.

One of the simplest and most effective ways of improving staff morale and boosting productivity is introducing natural light in a workspace. On the surface it may seem that such a subtle change couldn’t possibly deliver results, but it is widely recognized that offices with good natural lighting resources have staff that are generally happier and more productive. Medical research related to natural light in a workplace has concluded that depressive symptoms and poor quality of sleep are increased in staff working in environments starved of natural light.

So what can be done to push up light levels in the office?

Start by checking simple stuff such as layout. Are there big filing cabinets or furnishings blocking light flow into the room? If so, adapt the layout to allow extra light in. Are offices along the windows blocking light from getting into the interior space? You might want to consider adding relights (interior windows) to allow light through.

Keep window treatments to a minimum and consider using streamlined options such as interior shutters to help control the amount of light that enters throughout the day. Sometimes strong sunlight on computer screens can be a nuisance, but when you install bespoke shutters this is no longer an issue. It is simple to measure and fit shutters suitable for all types and sizes of window, enabling you to actively manage light flow through the days and seasons.

Light shelves that direct natural lighting up toward the ceiling for it then to be reflected back down into the room, are another effective way offices can be illuminated. Alternatively, the installation of dimmer switches and sensors close to windows helps manage when electric lighting is used – shaving costs off power bills in the process.

If walls can’t be opened up for windows, consider fitting skylights or light tubes to harvest the light from overhead. Skylights spill more light into a room than a conventional window and can turn dark, uninspiring spaces into sun-filled dynamic offices. Light tubes can funnel natural light a considerable distance into awkward spaces.

Easy and simple decor tricks can be employed to give an office a lighter vibe. Paint walls with pale shades that reflect light. Keep furnishings scaled down so there is plenty of space to move around and the flow of the room is open and uncluttered. Consider using furniture made from Perspex or glass to maximize the sense of light and fluidity in the space. Mirrors installed in dark corners, corridors or alcoves can bounce light around, lifting the gloom and spreading an energized, upbeat ambiance.

Show your staff how much they are valued and appreciated by housing them in offices that press their feel-good buttons. Brighter, lighter conditions bring out the best in your staff so when you are scoping out new offices be sure to head towards the light…