When people think of office lighting, they often think of standards and numbers, mainly lux. But brightness alone is not the whole story. Good lighting means much more than meeting minimum values, it shapes how people see, perceive, and feel. Designing office lighting means finding balance between technical standards, comfort, and visual quality. The goal is to create environments that are functional, healthy, and inspiring.

The question of proper lighting accompanies almost every office, workshop, and laboratory. Time and again, the term lux at the workplace appears. Official reference values can be useful, but in real life, the gap between theory and practice becomes clear very quickly.

As lighting designers based in Berlin and Antwerp, we experience every day that the question of the right illuminance cannot be answered with a simple number. What truly matters is the interplay of function, atmosphere, and sustainability, only then do workplaces emerge that promote both efficiency and wellbeing. The question “how many lux at the workplace?” may sound simple, but the answer is far more complex than the often-quoted 500 lux. People don’t see in lux. What we actually see is reflected light. Lighting is not just about brightness, but about the task, the environment, the materials, and the colors, in short, about perception.

As lighting designers based in Berlin and Antwerp, we create concepts that go far beyond meeting standards. Our mission is to design workplaces that enhance productivity, support health, and make a company’s identity visible.

Light is no side issue. It determines whether we can concentrate in the office, work safely in the workshop, or achieve precise results in the lab. And it is not just a matter of well-being, it is clearly regulated by workplace lighting regulations. As lighting designers in Berlin and Antwerp, we combine these legal frameworks with atmospheric design, turning compliance into identity and quality.

There are spaces that work. And there are spaces that move you. The difference rarely lies in furniture or colors alone – it lies in light. Good lighting fulfills function. Great lighting creates atmosphere, guides perception, and makes architecture tangible. As lighting designers in Berlin and Antwerp, we show how light goes beyond function and becomes a defining part of spatial identity.

Light is far more than mere function. It is atmosphere, identity, and a decisive factor for well-being and health. Anyone who wants to work with focus and comfort in an office, workshop, or laboratory often asks the question: how many lux are actually needed? In this article, we provide an overview of the official reference values, place them in a planning context, and show why tailored lighting concepts go far beyond rigid numbers.

When we talk about workplaces, many people immediately think of ergonomic chairs, flexible working hours, or digital tools. But one thing is often underestimated: lighting. It's no coincidence that the Workplace Ordinance sets such clear guidelines for lighting. After all, light determines how we perceive spaces, how focused we are at work—and how comfortable we feel.

The night is not an empty black. It is a habitat, a guide, and a shelter for countless species, including bats. But where artificial light dominates the darkness, their behavior changes. Hunting routes disappear, roosts are abandoned, and entire populations come under pressure.

At Studio De Schutter, we see office lighting as a journey that starts with the first sketch, not the last step. From floor plan analysis and daylight assessment to zoning, concept development, and final scene programming, each stage is carefully aligned with architecture, workflows, and atmosphere. The result is lighting that not only meets technical standards but creates identity, inspires people, and transforms workplaces into environments where culture and creativity thrive.

Resources are finite, which is why we see circular economy as the only way forward. At Studio De Schutter, we focus on reuse, longevity, and modularity instead of linear “replace and discard.” From Impact Hub Berlin to Full Node 2.0 and Pro Veg, our projects show how daylight analysis, adaptive luminaires, and flexible scenarios turn lighting into a cultural code. Technically smart, aesthetically consistent, and uncompromisingly sustainable.

An office today is much more than just a workplace. It is a place of encounter, creativity, and identity. A well-thought-out lighting concept in the office does more than provide function: it shapes atmosphere, supports concentration, and translates corporate culture into light. At Studio De Schutter, we create tailor-made concepts that balance technology and emotion. From analyzing workflows and zoning different areas, to planning flexible lighting scenes and ensuring sustainability, every step contributes to an office that not only works but inspires.

How is atmosphere created in the office – and why does indirect light play the leading role? At Studio De Schutter in Berlin, we see light not just as function but as the silent designer of identity and well-being. Indirect lighting lets spaces breathe, enhances focus, and makes even open offices feel truly comfortable.

How does light become art – and why does it shape the way we see a city? At Berlin Art Week, light is more than illumination. It transforms spaces, awakens emotions, and invites us to discover Berlin from a new perspective. For Studio De Schutter, light art is not only an artistic medium but also a cultural language that connects people and creates identity.

Wie wird Atmosphäre eigentlich sichtbar – und warum ist Licht dabei der unsichtbare Gestalter? Für Studio De Schutter in Berlin ist Lichtplanung mehr als Technik. Sie entscheidet darüber, wie wir uns fühlen, arbeiten und mit Räumen verbinden. Ob bewusst gesetzte Dunkelzonen, flexible Szenen oder nachhaltige Systeme – gute Lichtgestaltung schafft Identität und macht Räume spürbar.

Wie wird das Büro zum Raum, der Menschen nachhaltig verbindet – und welche Rolle spielt Licht dabei? Für Studio De Schutter in Berlin und Antwerpen ist Bürobeleuchtung weit mehr als Technik. Sie beeinflusst Stimmung, Kommunikation und Leistungsfähigkeit und macht Unternehmenskultur sichtbar. Unsere Lichtplanung kombiniert Tageslicht mit gezielter Kunstbeleuchtung, schafft differenzierte Zonen für Arbeit, Meetings und Erholung und setzt auf nachhaltige Systeme. So entstehen Räume, die funktional, atmosphärisch und identitätsstiftend zugleich sind.

Wie wird der Bildschirmarbeitsplatz zum Ort von Fokus und Wohlbefinden – und wie unterstützt Licht dabei? Für Studio De Schutter in Berlin und Antwerpen ist Beleuchtung am Arbeitsplatz weit mehr als Ergonomie. Sie schont die Augen, steigert Konzentration und transportiert Identität. Unsere Lichtplanung setzt auf blendfreies, dynamisches und nachhaltiges Licht, das sich flexibel an Menschen und Räume anpasst. So entstehen Arbeitswelten, die nicht nur effizient, sondern auch inspirierend und atmosphärisch einzigartig sind.

Wie wird der Außenraum zur Bühne und wie unterstützt Licht dabei? Für Studio De Schutter in Berlin ist Gartenbeleuchtung weit mehr als Funktion. Sie schafft Atmosphäre, verbindet Natur und Architektur und prägt Identität. Unsere Lichtplanung in Berlin setzt auf warmes, dimmbares und nachhaltiges Licht, das Fassaden, Wege und Pflanzen in Szene setzt. So entstehen Außenräume, die nicht nur sicher, sondern auch erlebbar und atmosphärisch einzigartig sind.

Wie beeinflusst Licht unsere Wahrnehmung – und welchen Beitrag kann es zur nachhaltigen Architektur leisten?

In der aktuellen Folge des JUNG Architecture Talks Podcasts spricht Sabine De Schutter, Gründerin von Studio De Schutter in Berlin, über die Bedeutung von Licht in der Raumgestaltung. Für sie ist Lichtplanung kein rein technischer Akt, sondern ein Zusammenspiel von Atmosphäre, Funktion und Verantwortung.

Studio De Schutter ist ein von Frauen gegründetes und geführtes Lichtplanungsstudio. Als deutsche Botschafterin der globalen Initiative Women in Lighting ist es Sabine De Schutter ein Anliegen, ein Netzwerk für Frauen in der Lichtplanung, Lichtkunst und im gesamten Bauwesen zu schaffen und deren Sichtbarkeit zu stärken.

Studio De Schutter is a women-founded and led lighting design studio. As the official German ambassador of the global Women in Lighting initiative, Sabine De Schutter is committed to building a strong and visible network of women working in lighting design, light art, and throughout the building sector.