Office Lighting in the Dark Season: Simple Solutions When the Days Get Shorter

Office lighting usually gets noticed only when something is wrong: we arrive at work in the half-light of the morning and leave after dark. There is less and less daylight, and the same tasks start to feel more tiring than they did in summer.

The good news is that much can be improved without a major renovation. In this article we look at the simple questions office managers and employees ask in autumn and winter: do you need a desk lamp, where is the best place for a desk, and how do furniture and colours change the light in a space?

Often they are – if the lights are positioned to match the current desk layout and are bright enough. Ceiling lights illuminate a room evenly, but not always sufficiently at a particular workstation. This is especially true when desks have been moved but the lights have stayed in their old positions, or when someone sits between two fixtures.

The simplest test is to sit at the desk in the evening, when it is already dark outside. If the whole desk is evenly lit, your own shadow does not fall across it and you do not need to squint while reading, the ceiling light is enough. If you notice any of these signs – a shadow, a darker side of the desk or tired eyes – ceiling lights alone are not enough for that spot, and it is worth considering additional light.

It is also worth checking the condition of the lights. Old, flickering or dusty fixtures give less light than they seem to, and slight flicker that we do not consciously notice tires the eyes over time. Sometimes simply cleaning the fixtures or replacing the bulbs makes a noticeable difference.

In Lithuania, hygiene standards require at least 500 lux at workstations where people read and work on a computer, in line with the European standard EN 12464-1. But the number alone is not enough: it also matters how the light is distributed, whether it causes glare and whether people can adjust it to their needs.

It might seem that the closer to the window, the better. But direction matters as much as distance. If someone sits facing the window, their eyes constantly adjust to the bright background behind the screen. If they sit with their back to the window, reflections appear on the screen.

The most comfortable solution is to place the desk so that the window is to the side and the line of sight runs parallel to it. Daylight then falls on the workstation without causing glare or reflecting on the screen.

EU requirements for work with display screens say the same: workstations must be arranged so that windows and lights do not cause glare or distracting reflections on the screen.

When planning an open-plan space, it makes sense to place the workstations where people spend the whole day closer to the windows. Meeting rooms, the kitchen or printer areas can be moved deeper into the space, where there is less natural light.

Not every part of the office needs the same light. At workstations it should be even and sufficient, while in break areas, the kitchenette or an informal meeting corner it can be softer and warmer.

Warmer light, floor lamps or pendant lights hung lower above a coffee table help create a cosy atmosphere where it is easier to relax and take a short break from the screen. Soft furniture works well in such a zone – for example, sofas and poufs from the SABI modular soft seating collection.

A space like this is useful for more than just breaks. In winter, when it gets dark early, a welcoming corner of the office becomes a place where people want to spend time with colleagues, share ideas informally or simply catch their breath between meetings.

In a meeting room, light should fall on the table and on people’s faces, not from behind them. This is especially important for video calls: when light comes from the front or the sides, colleagues are clearly visible on screen without deep shadows. Being able to dim the light is useful during presentations.

Do you need a desk lamp if there are ceiling lights?

Not always, but it is often the simplest way to improve lighting at a particular workstation. If a shadow falls on the desk in the evening or you have to squint while reading, a desk lamp will help. It is especially useful at workstations further from the windows.

Is it best to put the desk right next to the window?

Being close to the window is good, but direction matters most. It is most comfortable when the window is to the side rather than in front of you or behind you. This way daylight does not cause glare or reflect on the screen.

Why are there reflections on the screen, and how can they be avoided?

Reflections are usually caused by a window behind you or a bright light above your head. It helps to turn the screen or desk so that the window is to the side, use a matt screen, and fit curtains or blinds.

Do light-coloured desktops help when an office lacks light?

Yes. Light surfaces reflect more light, so the space looks brighter. Matt surfaces are the best choice, as they do not reflect the lights as glaring highlights.

What kind of light suits a meeting room?

Light should fall on the table and on people’s faces, not from behind them. This is particularly important for video calls. Being able to dim the light during presentations is also useful.

How much light does a workstation need?

The European standard EN 12464-1 recommends at least 500 lux at workstations where people read and work on a computer. It also matters that the light is even and does not cause glare.