20 April 2025
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17 March 2025
How the Right Lighting Can Create Commercial Spaces People Love to Be In
Introduction
There’s something visceral about walking into a well-lit space. You notice how the daylight floods through the windows, how the room seems to hum with energy, and how everything just feels… better. It’s not by chance. Light influences how we feel in a space long before we realise it intellectually. At Coverite Projects, we design spaces with this in mind. Lighting isn’t a finishing touch - it’s integral to how a space functions and people experience it. You get it wrong and end up with environments that drain energy and focus. Get it right, and you create spaces that work hard for people and businesses.
Research tells us this isn’t just a hunch. According to the World Green Building Council, employees in offices with better daylight exposure report an 18% increase in productivity and greater overall satisfaction with their work environment. Light affects everything from mood to energy to performance. Yet, it’s often the most under-considered element in many commercial spaces.
Lighting’s Role in Commercial Environments
In a commercial setting, lighting serves both a functional and an emotional role. On a practical level, it provides illumination for tasks, safety, and navigation. On an emotional level, it sets the mood, influences behaviour, and supports wellbeing.
For staff, the right lighting reduces fatigue, sharpens focus, and improves wellbeing. Exposure to natural light regulates circadian rhythms, enhancing energy levels and supporting better sleep. A study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that workers exposed to more natural daylight experienced less drowsiness, fewer headaches, and improved sleep quality.
For customers and clients, lighting becomes a subtle but powerful part of the brand experience. In retail environments, lighting draws people in and highlights key products. In hospitality venues, it shapes the atmosphere - whether that’s a cozy, intimate restaurant or a bright, energetic café. Thoughtful lighting makes people feel welcome, comfortable, and engaged.
The Layers of Light
Great lighting isn’t the result of a single fixture; it’s the result of an interplay of layers that work together to create a seamless environment.
Ambient lighting forms the base layer, providing general illumination that makes a space feel balanced and accessible. Task lighting supports focused activities, such as working at a desk or preparing food, by reducing eye strain and increasing visual clarity. Accent lighting adds drama and interest, guiding attention to artwork, architectural features, or products. Decorative lighting, meanwhile, brings personality and style - turning light sources into design statements that reinforce a brand’s identity.
When thoughtfully combined, these light layers make commercial spaces more functional, appealing, and comfortable.
The Power of Natural Light
Natural light is one of the most valuable resources in commercial design. It improves wellbeing, reduces reliance on artificial lighting, and enhances the way materials and colours are perceived.
Daylight exposure has significant health benefits, from boosting mood to increasing alertness. The World Green Building Council highlights reduced absenteeism and increased job satisfaction in workplaces that maximise access to daylight.
But successful daylighting isn’t just about adding windows. It’s about design strategies that distribute daylight effectively - using glass partitions, reflective surfaces, and open layouts to ensure natural light reaches deep into the interior of a building.
Lighting a Creative Workspace
In a recent commercial office fitout, lighting was used as a tool to enhance both productivity and experience. Natural light filled the space during the day, thanks to expansive glazing and open layouts. Workstations were positioned to avoid glare, while still maximising exposure to daylight.
Task lighting at each desk provided bright, focused illumination for design work. Adjustable fixtures allowed each team member to control their light levels according to personal preference. Accent lighting highlighted project displays, using Gallio spotlights to add dimension and draw attention to key areas. Integrated LED lighting within shelving provided a subtle, ambient glow, transforming storage into a design feature.
One standout element was the studio’s entry experience. Instead of a traditional reception desk, the designers used pendant lighting, installed off-centre, to create a visual path through the foyer. Visitors were intuitively guided through the space, demonstrating how lighting can shape movement and experience in a subtle but effective way.
The Future of Lighting in Commercial Spaces
Commercial lighting is evolving, with new technologies enabling smarter, healthier, and more responsive environments.
Tunable white lighting, for example, can shift colour temperature throughout the day, mimicking the natural progression of daylight to support circadian rhythms. This approach improves wellbeing and productivity, particularly in workplaces where access to natural light is limited.
Biophilic lighting design is also gaining momentum. By replicating the subtle shifts and patterns of light found in nature, biophilic lighting can reduce stress and enhance a sense of connection to the natural world - even in urban, indoor environments.
Emerging technologies like Li-Fi, which uses LED light to transmit high-speed internet data, are pushing the boundaries of what lighting can do. As these innovations become more accessible, they promise to make commercial spaces even more adaptable and efficient.
Conclusion: Lighting That Works for People
Lighting is one of the most powerful - and often underestimated - elements in commercial design. It influences how people feel in a space, how they work, and how they connect with your business. Thoughtfully designed lighting enhances productivity, supports wellbeing, and creates a lasting impression on clients and customers alike.
Whether you’re creating a new office, retail space, or hospitality venue, lighting should be a central part of your design strategy. By prioritising the human experience and understanding how light shapes behaviour, businesses can transform their spaces into environments where people thrive.
If you’re planning a commercial fit-out or redesign, working with experienced partners can make all the difference. At Coverite Projects, our in-house team of commercial builders collaborate directly with our architects and designers to deliver integrated lighting solutions that enhance functionality, wellbeing, and brand experience.
Ready to explore how smarter lighting can transform your space? Get in touch with the team at Coverite Projects and discover the difference purposeful lighting design can make.