How lighting design can directly impact focus, learning outcomes, and well-being in the classroom
When we think of what makes a great school, we often point to teachers, curricula, and technology. But what if one of the most overlooked factors is as simple (and powerful) as light?
🧠Light Boosts Focus in the Classroom
A study conducted across three Dutch schools found that dynamic lighting systems—with adjustable color temperatures and brightness levels—had a significant positive effect on the concentration of elementary school children. The flexible lighting setups ranged from warm (3000K) to cool (12,000K) light and brightness levels between 350 and 1000 lux.
These weren’t just lab settings. Two of the studies took place in real classrooms with nearly 130 children. A third, more controlled experiment simulated a windowless classroom. The result across all three? Better focus, more engagement.
“The findings underline the importance of lighting for learning.”
→ Full Study (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7795157/)
🌤️ Daylight = Higher Test Scores
In a broader European study, researchers linked classroom daylighting characteristics to better performance in math and logic tests. Factors like larger window-to-floor area ratios and intelligent shading were found to account for up to 20% of performance variation between students. That’s a huge difference, caused by something often left out of the conversation.
“Scores are higher for tests taken during summer and winter months, likely due to increased natural light.”
→ Full Study (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7795157/)
💡 What This Means for Schools—and Beyond
Good lighting isn’t just a comfort feature. It’s a performance multiplier. These findings show how both natural daylight and biologically aligned artificial lighting can dramatically improve not only student focus and behavior, but also measurable academic outcomes.
For schools, this means rethinking design choices. For companies, it confirms what we already believe at OPAL: lighting should be a core part of any environment where humans are expected to thrive.