Selecting Ideal Lighting for Commercial Space

Selecting the ideal lighting design for a commercial space is more important than it may seem at first. Lighting can affect the atmosphere of the work place as well as the motivation and physical comfort of the employees.

Choosing the right lighting colors and overall lighting design should provide employees with a feeling of well-being and productivity. Different areas require different layers and levels of light – an umbrella approach to illumination isn’t going to do the job.

When developing a lighting plan for any commercial space, there are many factors to consideration, including lamp life, lumen maintenance, system efficiency, daylight integration, cost, and flexibility., with color being one of the most important. LED lighting provide sustainable energy solutions (See with a positive eco-friendly impact and enhanced visual environment (https://tinyurl.com/ycae7esq).  While two lights may emit the color white and from a distance look the same, they may actually render the color differently, making the space feel and look totally different.  When selecting the right color lighting for your space, two units of measure are used to define light source color properties: Correlated Color Temperature and Color Rendering Index. The space is sure to have a balance of color when you select lamps of the same Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) and very similar Color Rendering indices (CRI).

CCT: Describes the warmth or coolness of a light source. All lamps are given a color temperature based on the color of the light emitted. Confusingly, color temperature does not relate to a lamp’s actual heat, but color level. White light can fall into three color temperature categories: warm, neutral, and cool. Cool light produces a higher contrast than warm light and is considered favorable for more visual tasks. Warm is flattering to skin tones and clothing and works well in retail spaces and store fronts. Warm light makes a space feel smaller, more comfortable and familiar, where cooler light makes areas appear more spacious.
CRI: Measures how a light source renders the color of objects compared to how a reference light source renders the same color. In other words, it is a measure of a light source’s ability to show object colors “naturally.” It’s a comparative measure that ensures light is distributed equally throughout a space. CRI is rated on a scale from 1-100. The lower the CRI level, the less accurately colors will be reproduced. The higher the number, the better the color rendering ability will become. For commercial spaces to be presented in a more natural way, a CRI value of 80 – 100 is recommended.

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For professional solutions to your lighting needs, contact Design Point. Located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, DesignPoint works on both regional and national levels. DesignPoint, Inc. is a full service Interior Design & Procurement Firm with a focus on corporate, hospitality, senior living, medical offices and high-end residential interiors. When considering new interior construction or renovations, DesignPoint will provide a comprehensive package of interior architectural space planning, construction documents, and furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) procurement services for a successful project. For more information about the firm and the type of projects they manage, visit them online at www.designpoint-interiors.com.