When you’re updating an office in Warrington, Manchester, or Liverpool, lighting is often the most underrated part of the budget. Yet, it’s the one change that can instantly modernise a space, slash your energy bills by up to 75%, and make your team feel significantly better by the end of the day. In 2026, “good lighting” has moved beyond just picking a bright bulb. Here are the best solutions to consider for your refurbishment.
1. High-Efficiency LED Panels (The Baseline)
If you still have old fluorescent “tubes” in your ceiling, replacing them with high-quality LED panels is the quickest win for any budget.
The Benefit: Modern LEDs convert about 90% of their energy into light (compared to older bulbs, which waste it as heat).
The “UK Standard” Tip: Look for panels that meet the Part L Building Regulations (minimum 95 lm/W). This ensures you aren’t just getting “bright” lights, but truly energy-efficient ones that will pay for themselves in reduced electricity costs within a few years.
2. Human-Centric (Circadian) Lighting
This is the biggest trend for 2026. Human-centric lighting mimics the natural cycle of the sun.
How it works: In the morning, the lights are cooler and brighter to help your team feel alert. In the afternoon, they transition to warmer, softer tones to reduce eye strain and help the body prepare for the evening.
Why it matters: It’s proven to boost productivity and improve sleep quality for staff, making it a huge selling point for employee wellbeing and retention.
3. Smart Controls & “Daylight Harvesting”
Why pay to light a room that’s already full of sunshine? Smart sensors are now a “must-have” for a modern refurbishment:
Occupancy Sensors: Lights turn off automatically in meeting rooms or canteens when no one is there.
Daylight Harvesting: Sensors detect how much natural light is coming through the windows and dim the artificial lights accordingly. It’s a seamless way to save money without anyone noticing the change.
4. Low-Glare Solutions (UGR < 19)
If your team spends all day looking at screens, glare is the enemy. It leads to headaches and “afternoon slump” fatigue.
The Solution: Choose luminaires with a Unified Glare Rating (UGR) of less than 19. These are designed to direct light downward onto the desk rather than bounce it off screens or into your employees’ eyes.
How to Get the Right Mix
The best lighting designs don’t use the same “big light” everywhere. A smart refurbishment uses Zonal Lighting:
Workstations: Bright, focused light (approx. 500 lux) with low glare.
Corridors: Softer, lower-level lighting (approx. 100 lux) to save energy.
Breakout Areas: Warm, “homely” lighting to encourage relaxation.
The First Step: A Lighting Audit
Every building in the North West has its own personality and technical challenges. A high-ceilinged Victorian building in Liverpool will have completely different lighting needs than a sleek, glass-fronted office in MediaCity Manchester or a modern, open-plan commercial unit in Warrington. At Excel, we can include a lighting assessment as part of our office fit-out planning. We don’t just look at where the wires are; we look at how the natural light hits your space and where you can save the most on your energy bills. Contact our team today to book a no-obligation audit.
