Design Tips for Offices Without Windows or Natural Light

Design Tips for Offices Without Windows or Natural Light

The Best Ways to Improve & Illuminate Your Space

Does your office lack windows or have poor access to natural light? Although an office with floor to ceiling windows, views and an abundance of natural light is the ultimate dream for many workers, a lot of businesses can only work with what they’ve got, and in some cases, what they’ve got is a windowless space.

So, what do you do to improve a room devoid of natural light?

Not having a windowed and well-lit workspace can really put a downer on your mood and lead to eyestrain, but you CAN work with a windowless space and transform it into an illuminated productive hub.

You just need to find out how!

Benefits of Natural Light

It’s hard to deny the benefits of natural light, especially in the workplace. A number of reports by Human Spaces, the World Green Building Council and the International Well Building Institute highlight the importance of natural light and other natural elements for productivity, health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Adequate exposure to natural daylight is also crucial for the body’s circadian rhythm – our internal clock dictating our walking and sleeping patters. Other benefits of natural light include increased productivity and sales, improved mood, reduction of stress and increased vitamin D intake.

If you work in an office with little access to natural light, encourage your employees to stretch and walk around outside to get some natural light during their scheduled breaks.

Wherever possible, the space where your staff will be working the most should be the room with the most windows. If you have no other choice than a room with few or no windows, we have a few hacks, tips and tricks to help you make your work environment a pleasant one.

Lighting

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A well-lit room with just the right bulbs and the perfect positioning can create the impression of natural light and have a big impact on the space. For example, installing light fixtures at the top of cubicle separators is ideal for illuminating each individual workspace, creating a glow of ambient light that’s easy on the eye.

For an open plan designed office, overhead lights are a staple, providing a blanket of even light across the whole space. This is the best way to create a properly lit working atmosphere. But at times this lighting alone can be too dim or project shadows in parts of the room, so if the lighting in your office is poorly distributed, other forms of lighting should also be included such as desk and floor lamps.

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Light & Bright Wall Colours

There’s no better way to bring a fresh, light and bright feel into the office than to add white or light and bright colours to your interior walls. White walls are a common choice for many offices, but make sure to add some epic artwork so the space doesn’t look too bland.

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Artwork

It truly is remarkable the impact a simple painting on a wall can have on the overall look and mood of an office. But not only does it add personality, it brightens the space too. Art can turn a dark and boring space into a bright and vibrant one in an instant. The larger the artwork is, the more impact it will have on breaking up the blank walls.

Wallpaper

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You can create the illusion of being in nature by simply placing wallpaper of a natural setting on a key wall in the office. A wall of trees, a dazzling seascape or snow-covered mountains can conjure up a more tranquil and relaxing mood in the workplace and provide the illusion of being outdoors. Adding a wall of expansive nature can also make the space look bigger.

Mirrors

Adding a large mirror to your wall is one of the best ways to mimic the look of windows in an office. Mirrors add depth to a room and are great for breaking up the claustrophobic wall panels. If your office has low ceilings, a large mirror that extends close to the ceiling can also help distract from the ceiling line in a room.

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Internal Glass

Consider dividing up the rooms of your office with internal windows, glass doors or glass dividing panels rather than walls. This can really help open up a space and allow each room to share the light in the space. For moments when added privacy is needed in a room, a set of blinds or curtains can easily be pulled across the glass windows or doors.