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The office is a place where many people spend most of their waking hours. It is also a place that needs to be functional, as well as a place where you can feel comfortable. As more and more companies are beginning to realize this, and as more and more people are beginning to work from their homes and other places where they feel more comfortable, the needs and design of offices are beginning to change. Gone are the days of power offices and executives sitting in the corner; today’s workplaces are much more open, user-friendly, and designed for a variety of uses.
These 20 office design trends help show where the work environment is headed.
Modern Commercial Office Design Ideas
1. Urban space planning
According to Buttonwood Toronto Commercial Property Management , many offices are starting to take cues from urban space planning when designing their layouts. In urban space planning, it’s not just about making sure spaces meet a need, but also that spaces meet specific needs at specific times. This means that your workplace should have more than a simple desk area and meeting room. There should also be areas for eating, relaxing, interacting, and meeting in a variety of ways. For those who like to work in a more quiet environment, this could mean comfortable seating areas, nooks, and libraries, while for those who prefer a more fast-paced environment, this could mean using furniture that is designed to bring a group of people together through its use.
2. Lounge area
Offices are all about work and productivity, but most people find that they can’t be productive if they don’t get some time to relax. For this reason, it’s becoming more common for many offices to incorporate lounge areas into their design. Lounges allow employees to socialise, work in comfort and take breaks that take them away from their desks, but don’t require leaving the building. These short breaks mean that teams can get back on track quickly without having to leave their desks.
3. Hidden cables and well-organized space
First everyone went paperless, then they went wireless. And while many companies are starting to use wireless technology for many things, the truth is that cables and wires are still a reality for many work environments. Unfortunately, being tied down by those wires often means that the desk area can become cluttered, wires can become trip hazards, and the aesthetics of the room can be lost. That’s why one of the latest trends in office design involves hiding cables and wires beneath floors, ceilings, wall panels, and furniture to create a more streamlined, uncluttered space.
4. Multipurpose Workplace
In a fast-paced environment, every second counts throughout the day. So if an employee has to get up and move from one workstation to another frequently to get work done, a lot of precious minutes can be wasted in setting up. This is why multipurpose workstations and workstations are starting to gain popularity.Today’s Homeowner Tip
When a person has everything they need at their fingertips in a workspace, they are more likely to focus on the task at hand, rather than having to constantly get up and wander around looking for it.
5. Incorporate nature
Aesthetically, several studies have shown that office workers are more productive when exposed to nature. This is probably why more and more offices are starting to incorporate more natural materials and nature motifs into their designs. This includes rustic wood, natural stone, and lots of texture and variety in the design of the rooms. This keeps the decor from becoming boring, which in turn can help keep your focus sharp.
6. Splash of colours
Colour has a huge impact on the way a person works in a particular environment. Unfortunately, many people in office environments don’t like to walk around with a big pile of colours, preferring to be more conservative in their approach. This is probably why small pops of colour are becoming more popular in the workplace. There are benefits to using bold colours a little at a time, without the fear of overpowering the space or ruining the corporate atmosphere.
7. Community Tables
For a long time, employees were separated from one another, either by offices or cubicles. However, times are changing, and so are the ways of working. For many offices, this means using communal tables instead of individual desks or offices. At communal tables, several people may share the same workspace, but this encourages collaboration, the exchange of ideas, and increased interest in coming to work.
8. Lots of texture
Nobody likes a flat, boring, soulless and aesthetically pleasing corporate office. That’s why more and more offices are moving toward designs that have a lot of depth and interest.Today’s Homeowner Tip
One way to achieve this is to introduce lots of textures throughout the space, such as acoustic paneling in geometric shapes and designs , reclaimed wood, concrete and innovative plastics.
9. Flexible Layout
The atmosphere in workplaces is changing, becoming much more relaxed, informal and reliant on collaboration. To this end, workplaces are also changing with them, including becoming more flexible in terms of layout. Community tables, lounge areas and workspaces that can be moved around make it easier for employees to relax and work. If a layout isn’t working, the ability to easily change it to one that does can’t be overlooked.
10. Inclusive workplace
Universal design is one of the most important phrases in any type of building or interior designing. This means that the space should work for the greatest number of people possible, regardless of size or ability. This means things like furniture that can accommodate people of varying heights, flexible layouts that can accommodate people with mobility issues, and a variety of workstations so that people of all abilities can do their best work in one setting.
11. Playful Space
Many new companies like to have a bit of fun with their environment and the people who work there. This means that many new companies that hire younger people are embracing more fun places to work. From hammocks and nets to climbing walls and yoga balls as chairs, more fun workplaces make it more fun for people to work. This in turn helps to increase productivity as people will be more likely to be there than anywhere else.
12. Promote communication
Communication is important in every industry, no matter the layout of the office or the age of your employees. That’s why many offices these days are paying more attention to communication in the workplace, arranging things in a way that makes it easier for employees to collaborate with each other and with clients. This could mean more meeting spaces and communal work spaces, as well as better acoustics throughout the building so it’s easier for people to hear what’s going on.
13. Task-oriented design
When you need to keep people focused on their work, you may find yourself leaning more toward a task-oriented design for your office. Task-oriented design means equipping specific workstations for just one task. Instead of employees working at an individual station, employees work based on whatever needs to be done that minute. This more informal work environment works best in situations where employees may have to play multiple roles.
14. Transparent, interconnected design
Gone are the days of cube farms and closed-door offices. Many workplaces and offices are beginning to see a need for transparency and interconnected workspaces. To this end, you’ll find more glass walls that muffle sound but provide a full view of the work inside, as well as open floor plans and rooms that open onto one another so people can stay more connected rather than being in their own worlds.
15. Adjustable accessories
People come in all shapes and sizes, and therefore, their furniture should be different too. This doesn’t mean you should buy new desks and chairs every time a new person joins your team. Instead, consider investing in adjustable office furniture. Chairs and desks that can adjust the height, support, and backrest for each person using them can reduce stress and fatigue caused by repetitive injuries, and help keep office workers happy.
16. Green Workplace
Green buildings and eco-friendly design are two of the most important things to people today. It’s not enough for a company to just go paperless; the entire design and flow of the space must also be sustainable. This means using green building materials such as recycled and reclaimed flooring, paints and furnishings with low VOCs, and equipment that uses less energy for a healthier work environment for everyone.
17. Zen Principles
Zen design has been moving west for some time now, taking over spas and bathrooms and now office spaces. The principles behind Zen design include creating a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere where people can work more efficiently. Smooth lines, calming sounds, natural light and muted colors are all gaining popularity in office spaces as people turn to more peaceful work environments.
18. Anti-Office
There was a time when the goal was to create your own corner office, complete with a door and four walls. However, times have changed and the corner office is now outdated. Instead, completely open workplaces where everyone is visible to everyone else, and there are no walls or places to close yourself off, are gaining popularity. By creating this kind of open environment, it puts people on a more equal playing field, promotes better communication, and helps develop better working relationships between everyone involved.
19. Casual Meeting Place
For some companies, meetings are a way of life, with many employees spending most of their time in the same meeting. So a stiff, formal meeting room can be a place that many people may find intimidating. This is why many companies are switching to more informal meeting spaces, including conference rooms that more closely resemble lounges or break rooms than the typical board room. With couches, more comfortable seating, snack tables and bookshelves, the meeting room becomes a place where people want to be, not feel compelled to be.
20. Outdoor Work Area
During the nice weather months, most people prefer to be outside rather than cooped up at their desks indoors. That’s probably why so many companies are starting to offer outdoor work areas for nice weather parts of the year. Outdoor seating, Wi-Fi and tables let employees work at their own pace in a more natural setting.Today’s Homeowner Tip
This helps encourage employees to come in, even on those beautiful spring days when they might otherwise be inclined to leave.
Renovate your office
Offices are changing, and in some cases they barely resemble workplaces of the past. As more companies begin to think about the way they interact with their employees and their spaces, more fun workplaces and office designs are emerging. Adopt one of these 20 office design trends for your workplace and make the most of your work environment.