10 Essential Factors for Optimal Lighting Design in Meeting Spaces
09th October 2024 | Written By: Vinod Pottayil | Read Time: 3min | Last Updated: 09th October 2024
Meeting spaces are integral to work culture and productivity. These are places where teams, clients or investors connect. The look and feel of meeting rooms has a direct impact on the mood, creativity and productivity of people. Apart from well-planned interiors, lighting is another integral design element you should consider for meeting spaces.
While several lighting options are available these days, LED lights deliver optimal value for money. Let’s take a look at the ways you can integrate LED in meeting spaces for optimal lighting design.
Fixture and Positioning
Lighting design should be minimalistic and blend seamlessly with the aesthetics of the meeting rooms. LED lights should be positioned on ceilings, meeting boards and conference tables for easy visibility. LED fixtures can also be placed above paintings, plants, sculptures or any other artwork.
Versatile Layering
LED light layering adds depth, dimension and visual appeal to the meeting spaces. You can use mix and match ambient, task and accent lighting for versatile layering.
For example, ambient lighting can be one of the main sources of light for brightness. Task lighting provides direct light to the key areas in the room. Accent lighting highlights the statement features of the space.
Colour Temperature
Colour temperature determines whether the lights will provide a warm or cool appearance in the meeting space. It is measured in Kelvins (K) and falls within the range of 1500K to 8000K. The choice of colour temperature depends on general weather conditions around the year, daylight and sunlight hours and the atmosphere you want for the space.
You can choose LED light with colour temperatures such as cool white, warm white and daylight white. Warm white provides a yellowish hue to the room. If you are looking for a cooler effect, then cool white is a good choice. Daylight white is preferable when you want the meeting room light to mimic the natural daylight. You can also opt for tunable white LED lights that help you adjust the temperature as per your preferences.
Colour Rendering Index (CRI)
CRI measures a lighting fixture’s ability to show colours of objects as accurately as possible. LED lights with high CRI will show objects in their true and natural colours.
CRI is an important lighting consideration for meeting spaces where products are showcased during meetings.
Anti-Glare Lights
Lights can emit glare if it is too bright, falling on a reflective surface such as glass or poorly positioned. They can cause eye strain, headaches or lack of focus for people attending the meeting. Anti-glare lights can address this issue.
Choose LED lights with anti-glare diffusers or coating. They will minimise the glare effect in the meeting spaces.
Lux Level
Lux level measures the intensity of the lighting source to illuminate a specific surface. The higher the lux level, the more intense the illumination is. The LED lighting in the meeting spaces should have lux level between 300 and 500.
Smart Lighting
The lights in meeting rooms often need to be adjusted for presentations or video conferences. It can be a hassle to get up multiple times to manage the lights and affects the flow and productivity of the meeting.
Smart lighting allows you to control the lights and adjust brightness or dimming through a remote control. You can also customize the light settings for different tasks.
Energy Efficiency
Commercial spaces such as offices incur heavy expenditures on electricity every month. LED lights consume up to 60% less power and have a three times longer lifespan than fluorescent lights. Hence, installing LED lights makes wise business sense in the entire workspace, including meeting rooms.
Sustainability
More than 83% of office occupiers in India aim to achieve 100% green-certified portfolios by 2030. LED lights have a high electricity-to-light conversion efficiency, meaning that they lower the energy load. They need fewer replacements since they last longer, thereby reducing land and light pollution. They produce less heat, minimizing the chances of fire or burns.
If you are looking for an environment-friendly lighting design, LED lights fit the bill.
Natural Light
Incorporate LED lights in the design in a way that maximises the natural lights in the meeting rooms. Natural lights can improve employee productivity, employee experience, and overall health.
Conclusion
Lighting design should be a value enhancer and not a disruptor in the meeting spaces. LED lights are the best amalgamation of functionality and aesthetics. Hence, they are the right choice for optimal lighting design.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) :
Q1. Why is optimal lighting design necessary for meeting spaces?
Lighting design has a direct impact on the employee productivity and outcomes of meetings. Optimal lighting can create a comfortable work environment for participants.
Q2. Which are the best lights for meeting spaces – traditional, fluorescent or LED?
LED lights provide more benefits than conventional lights. They are energy-efficient, safe, and environment-friendly. They have a longer lifespan and are easy to maintain.
Q3. What are a few important considerations for LED lighting?
Colour temperature, CRI, lux level and anti-glare diffuser/coating are important considerations. However, you should not overlook other factors such as energy efficiency, placement, smart lighting and natural light.
Q4. How should be natural lighting and LED lighting balanced in the workspaces?
LED lighting should complement natural lighting and maximise its effect. Ideally, natural light should be the main source of light in the workspaces.
Q5. Is smart lighting worth the expenditure?
Smart LED lights are a cost-effective option. Moreover, their benefits outweigh the cost in the long run. Hence, smart lighting is a good investment.
