USING HUMAN-CENTRIC LIGHTING TO CREATE WELLNESS SPACES

Human-centric lighting, or HCL, is a bespoke lighting solution which meets human needs by combining both daylight – or natural – and electric lighting. Often found in a variety of spaces, including commercial offices, education institutions like schools and universities, residential homes and healthcare spaces, like hospitals and other wellbeing environments.

Human-centric lighting puts people at the heart of lighting design because it seeks to enhance our mood, wellbeing and productivity by aligning commercial lighting with how we operate as humans. This bespoke lighting solution has been changing the way lighting designers illuminate spaces because it focuses more on how humans respond and react compared to simply lighting a space.

At No Grey Area, we understand the importance of human-centric lighting on human productivity and mental health and wellbeing. By combining human comfort with the use of colour, task-specific lighting and biophilic design, we can create office and education environments for maximum productivity, but also wellness spaces which provide comfort and safety for those who need it.

What is Human-Centric Lighting?

As we continue to uncover how light doesn’t just help us see the space around us but it impacts how we feel and behave, human-centric lighting works by using the power of light to improve how we live and work.

Human-centric lighting is one of the lighting trends to watch for as you work on transforming any project which has the goal of meeting the visual, biological and emotional needs of human beings.

HCL supports and reinforces our circadian rhythm, which is the body’s natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats about every 24 hours. The circadian rhythm influences functions like hormone release, digestion and body temperature, and is primarily affected by light and darkness, so HCL systems are used to mimic natural daylight patterns by adjusting the intensity and colour temperature of light during the day.

Ultimately, HCL promotes alertness and performance during the day and relaxation and sleep at night, therefore is beneficial for office lighting basics, residential areas and dedicated wellness spaces.

Although typical wellness spaces may be considered healthcare environments, it is also important that workplaces and schools have appropriate lighting to ensure the positive mental health and wellbeing of employees and students. 

Benefits of Human-Centric Lighting

Mental health and lighting are closely linked, especially as a result of the ever-growing integration of human-centric lighting into productivity and wellbeing spaces.

As well as supporting our body’s circadian rhythm, there are several benefits of human-centric lighting, which has a positive impact on our mental health and wellbeing:

• Improved sleep: light intensity and colour temperature is adjusted through the day, meaning HCL can promote better sleep patterns and improve sleep quality
• Enhanced mood and wellbeing: HCL can positively impact our mood, mental health and overall wellbeing by reducing symptoms of depression and increasing calmness and relaxation
• Increased focus and productivity levels: light levels can be optimised for specific tasks and times of day, meaning HCL can improve concentration, focus and overall productivity levels

In healthcare environments, like hospitals or other wellness spaces, the impact of advanced lighting systems on patient wellbeing can reduce recovery times whilst also improving working conditions for healthcare professionals. Elsewhere, in education spaces, HCL is an important energy-efficient lighting solution for schools, because it improves the mental health and productivity of students, in turn increasing their overall wellness.

Combining Other Design Features with Human-Centric Lighting

HCL is a bespoke lighting solution which can be integrated with a range of other interior design features to increase practicality, enhance aesthetic and maximise wellness levels.

Colour is used in HCL in the form of colour temperature and intensity to mimic natural daylight This adapts and changes throughout the day to reflect with our circadian rhythm. In the morning, a cooler colour temperature, like blue, is used to replicate the sun and increase alertness and productivity. Warmer tones are used into the afternoon, before red and orange tones are implemented to prepare the body for sleep.

Biophilic design supports us with reconnecting with nature through incorporating natural elements into a space, as they are a versatile option to positively impact our wellbeing. The impact of biophilic walls on office spaces and wellness areas helps to lift our mood and enables us to be at our most productive, increasing levels of focus and creativity. Acoustic fixtures can also be combined with biophilic design, either through acoustic lighting in modern spaces to provide high-quality bespoke lighting or as a form of noise reduction to promote productivity and encourage concentration whilst creating a calming environment.

LED lighting can increase productivity and is commonly used in HCL fixtures. LED strips can be incorporated into lighting design for offices and wellness spaces to promote productivity and positive mental health and wellbeing. Since LED lighting can mimic natural light, it is an effective choice for human-centric lighting, offering benefits for aesthetic ambience, visual comfort and improved mood.

By incorporating natural light integration with adjustable colour temperatures and artificial lighting, each of these bespoke lighting solutions can contribute to creating suitable wellness spaces or appropriate work areas through human-centric lighting.

HCL can be incorporated into specific applications in wellness spaces, including relaxation areas, exercise areas, massage rooms, reception areas and multi-purpose spaces.

Choosing No Grey Area for Bespoke Lighting Solutions

At No Grey Area, we have extensive experience in creating bespoke lighting solutions for our clients, including the design, manufacture and installation of human-centric lighting to support wellness spaces.

Contact our team to see how we can support you in creating effective lighting for your project and bringing new life to any type of space.