Offices with windows are known to produce workers who exercise more, sleep more and have a greater sense of overall wellbeing, compared to those with no windows in their office. Studies have also found that natural lighting can directly and indirectly affect your mood, hormones and behaviour.
One of the best ways to boost natural lighting in your office, without going through the expense and hassle of adding more windows, is to use mirrors to reflect the natural light. Mirrors also add a sense of style, create a productive atmosphere and show off some character.
Add A Fake Window
Whether the whole office feels a little dark or you want to brighten up a dingy corner, a mirror can help. If there’s a natural light source, like a window, place a big mirror on the opposite side of the room to it to reflect as much light as possible. A window pane style mirror is a good way to create the illusion of an additional window. It will give the effect of a real window, especially when looking quickly at it and, most importantly, it will boost the lighting in the room. Bad lighting in an office can cause eye strain and lead to poor posture from bad body positioning when trying to read things, which can result in poor concentration and staff sick days.
Pick A Mirror That Shows What Your Office Is About
Mirrors come in all shapes, sizes and colours, so there’s always going to be something that will fit what you have in mind. You can brighten a room not only with the mirror reflecting the light, but also from a frame that suits the ambience you want your office to have. Some mirrors sole purpose is to be decorative and interesting. Round mirrors can soften the feel of a room, giving the wall a less one-dimensional feel, whereas rectangular mirrors often have thicker frames and are bigger, easily filling an empty wall. Mirror styles range from rustic and vintage to industrial and traditional, so you can always find one that suits what your office is all about and how much space you have.
Beat Work-Related Stress
Work-related stress is becoming more common as demands increase. Mental illness rates are also higher than ever, with illnesses like seasonal affective disorder being directly linked to a lack of daylight. A lot of time is spent in the office, so it should be somewhere that feels positive, especially when shorter, darker days or stressful times hit. Studies have shown that dim lighting in offices can be detrimental to productivity at work and can cause eye strain that leads to headaches and migraines. Poor lighting can also cause drowsiness and reduce motivation. This results in low job satisfaction and increased stress, which isn’t good for any office environment. Increasing light is vital, even if you don’t have many windows, choose light bulbs that mimic natural daylight and place mirrors near them to reflect this light.
Mirrors plays an important role in an office for boosting the natural light and adding some style. This can directly affect work productivity by improving staff moods and motivation, creating a happier workforce. Carefully selected mirrors can also take your office away from feeling corporate and add some personality, brightening up the space.