Light versus Darkness: this comparison can refer to many different things. Light could represent something pure, while darkness could represent something evil; light could represent something bright and happy, while darkness could represent something sad and lonely; light could represent the day, while darkness could represent the night. But what about light and darkness in their most basic forms, where light refers to lighting in a room. This basic meaning is something important to keep in mind when designing a therapeutic space.
I recently read a great article by therapyden.com where they discussed how lighting can affect the feeling of an office space. For example, they stated that bright light tends to stimulate conversation. The article also discussed warmer lights versus cooler tones of light. They suggested that warmer lights, or darker lights, tend to increase a persons energy levels. In contrast, they suggested that cooler lights, or softer lighting, tends to evoke calmness. So how can you create these types of lighting within your office? Color changes bulbs is one suggestion - though this doesn’t sound like your typical thing to include in your office, there may actually be some benefits. When you can changes the color of your lighting, it can change the whole feel of the room. Each hour as a counselor we see different clients, each with their own sets of needs. One client may benefit from a brighter colored room with a lot of light, while others may benefit from a softer colored room with dimmed lighting. Obviously we can’t change the color of our walls or furniture for each client, but with color changing bulbs we can change the feeling of the room. Such a simple solution with vast benefits!
Another thing to keep in mind when choosing the lighting for your office is whether you prefer accent lighting or over-head lights. Personally, I love having natural lighting in the room with a few lamps on rather then turning on the over head lights, I feel it creates a more relaxed and home-like environment, which could ease a clients anxiety and increase their comfort level. Overall, it’s important to keep in mind the types of clients you will be seeing as well as your personal preference when it comes to office lighting.
If you want to read more on this topic, be sure to visit my Pinterest board entitled “Theraputic Designs” that includes links to therapyden.com articles.
