Offices are changing, and so is the way employers and employees work in those spaces. Gone are the days of isolated offices and cubicle farms – today’s office environment is comfortable, flexible and puts employees and their productivity at the centre.
This causes many business owners to want to change the layout and interiors of their existing spaces. As a designer, your job is to help them achieve their goals in a way that is functional and lasting, avoiding many of the trends that will make the space look outdated in just a few years.
There are many ways to design a space, but not all of them will meet today’s standards for your work environment. If you’re looking for inspiration for your office, take a look at these 11 modern office interior design ideas.
Modern Office Interior Design Ideas
1. Natural ingredients
There have been plenty of studies done on the effect of using natural materials in interior spaces. Materials like wood are believed to reduce stress in people looking at them , and in a fast-paced office environment, this can be beneficial. By using natural wood wall paneling, a natural element is at eye level of anyone entering the building, which can make a beautiful statement, and also ensures that the material is seen.
2. Colour Blocking Modern Office Interior Design
Using large blocks of bold color is a popular office trend for 2020. This is especially true when you limit the colors to only a few areas and use a mix of other materials and more muted colors. This setting uses boldly colored walls and cabinets, but keeps the flooring and furnishings neutral so the colors really pop.
3. Fluid work station
Rather than forcing employees to stay in the same cubicle or at the same desk, offices are starting to set up workstations that employees can visit as needed. These workstations need to be a cross between an impersonal table and a big boss’s desk. This wooden slab table with pipe legs makes a great pairing with the brick wall behind it to create an industrial vibe. For more people working at home, learn how to set up an office at home here .
4. A mix of old and new
When choosing materials for the office, consider mixing styles of old and recyclable materials with new and contemporary materials. This reclaimed wood door still shows some signs of its original use and wear, and it’s paired with a sleek, contemporary handle. Together they create some dynamic interest to the doorway, and help create a transitional design that can work with lots of different styles in the room.
5. Wide open spaces
Rather than dividing offices into small cubicles, workspaces and offices are becoming more spacious in design. This means larger rooms with community-style work settings in some areas. For example, both of these rooms have large, conference-style tables, separated by a glass wall that still makes the overall space feel very large, open, and airy.
6. Multiple seating options
Contemporary offices are all about flexibility, so you need to make sure employees and guests have plenty of options for where and how to spend their day. This office has a small lounge area right next to the reception area. Employees can greet guests here or hold quick informal meetings, while the rest of the office is clearly visible just down the hall.
7. Conference area ready for wiring
Smart technology is becoming more common in offices every day, which means areas like conference rooms need to be prepared. This conference table harmonizes beautifully with the brick wall at the end of the space, but it also has multiple compartments to integrate smart technology into its use. The placement is subtle enough that the table can be used for multiple purposes without looking like a nuisance.
8. Sliding Doors Modern Office Interior Design
It can be difficult to find a balance between privacy and open spaces in a contemporary office. This space solves that problem beautifully with offices featuring sliding doors and frosted glass windows. The offices let in plenty of light, yet feel accessible to those working inside and outside, yet can be easily closed for privacy by simply pulling up the door.
9. Employee lounge area
Employee happiness and engagement is extremely important to many companies, so expanding employee kitchens and lounge areas has become a vital component of office design. This includes options for employees to work, relax, hold meetings, socialise or simply unwind between tasks. The variety of seating options and the breadth of space means people can easily choose where they feel comfortable working.
10. Glass offices and conference rooms
People generally need at least some degree of privacy or a way to hold a meeting separate from the rest of the office. Plus, creating a completely closed room will disrupt the flow of the open space. By using glass walls to create offices and conference rooms, you can solve both problems at once; it helps define the space and brings in some sound control, but doesn’t obstruct the room visually.
11. Multi-layered design
Not every space or environment is suitable for being an open space. Sometimes you need to combine different components together to achieve the ideal space. This office has glass-enclosed conference rooms, multi-purpose workspaces, and openness to the staircase so people can see who is coming and going. Employees can choose to move around as they please, and nothing feels restricted.
design a better office
The demands of the modern office are changing for everyone from employers to employees and the designers and architects who create the spaces. Flexibility is in demand and that means designers must continue to innovate designs. Use these ideas to help you incorporate the latest trends into your work and help make the offices you design ones that benefit everyone involved.