Now that we all have to stay at home for a while to overcome the corona crisis, many employees have switched to working full-time from home. Sleeping, working, eating and relaxing in the same room is not always easy. The right lighting is therefore essential to get through this period of intensive working from home. After all, it largely determines our productivity and contributes to a pleasant and comfortable working environment. 

How much light should there be and what type of lighting is best used? Professional light specialists at kreon provide advice for the optimal workspace at home.

The right work lighting

Work lighting affects concentration, health, mood and motivation. Bad lighting is one of the most popular complaints in offices all over the world and that is no different when working from home. Too little or too much light can cause headaches, fatigue and watery or tired eyes. “The right lighting has a major impact on the perception of the spaces, both for the atmosphere and the ability to efficiently perform certain tasks. The living room is a place to relax and in the kitchen there’s enough light for cooking. The room in which we choose to work from also has certain requirements. With the right lighting when working from home, we feel healthier, happier and more focused, ”says Daan Van Den Branden, Light Consultant at kreon.

Combination of color temperature, illumination and type of light

The right lighting goes beyond the placement of a few lamps in the workspace. Also the color temperature, the desired brightness and the type of light must be taken into account to work in an efficient and pleasant way.

The temperature of light used indoors can range from 2000K to about 6500K. The higher the color temperature, the colder the light. “At 1200K we speak of warm light or the color temperature of a candle. At 5600K we speak of cold light, which is equivalent to daylight. Warm light around 2700K is usually placed at home and is cosy and soothing. However, not ideal to be productive because it creates too much contrast in the room and the eyes have to exert themselves enormously. In a workspace it’s better to place lighting with higher color temperatures (3000 - 4000K) or cold white light (more than 5000K). 

A second important factor is the illumination, which is expressed in lux and shows how much light reaches a certain surface. The minimum brightness for desk work is around 500. If the illumination is too low, it can strain the eyes and lead to less concentration and productivity. It’s also best to illuminate an office space with the most uniform type of light possible without too much light contrast, shadow or reflections, ”says Daan Van Den Branden.

As much natural light as possible is key 

Windows not only provide a great office view, they are also a source of natural light in your home. Several studies have proven that daylight contributes greatly to the productivity and satisfaction of employees in the office and at home. It regulates our biological clock and unconsciously controls various internal processes. “At home, choose a workspace with as much natural daylight as possible and a high-quality lighting system that supports this light,” says Daan Van Den Branden.