2023 bought a drastic shift in design. We’re seeing a significant rise in hybrid working spaces where many opt to have the flexibility of working from home and in the office.
Current trends aim to prioritise safety and comfort while focusing on creating a collaborative workspace. Thus, many corporate offices concentrate on colour, light, textures, and sustainability. From design aesthetics to sustainability, trends are shifting to a more open and inviting workspace, focusing on benefiting the workers’ senses and boosting productivity.
So what do 2023 design trends have in store for the workplace? Here is the full scoop from our designers:
Collaborative Office Design
Collaborative offices avoid including multiple private office spaces and closed-off conference rooms. Instead, a centralised meeting planning spot puts brainstorming sessions amid work areas. For those of us who spend more time in our offices than at home, our workspace must provide elements of the same comfort we tend to experience in our home to inspire productivity.
Recent studies show that collaborative workspaces aid in employee happiness, giving them physical comfort and feelings of warmth and familiarity with the workplace. Several offices are now tweaking their spaces to provide a sense of a home-away-from-home feel. Here are a few tips;
Get comfy with couches
Team members might find themselves brainstorming ideas over a coffee break or using it as a more relaxed setting to get some work done.
Coffee table & books
From a design point of view, table books add colour and style to any setting. It also provides:
- A dedicated space for waiting for guests.
- Employee breaks.
- Phone calls.
- An overall different area to work.
Making Work Look More Homelike
Post covid and with the rise of hybrid working, many workers want a more homelike atmosphere. This year’s trends in office interior design will include softening the atmosphere with elements that feel like home, such as:
- Open shelving
- Framed artwork
- Mirrors
- Rugs
- Curtains
- Floor lamps
Open and flexible layouts
Over the years, there has been a high demand for flexible, more open spaces where employees have better options in work settings. People often seek private spots or enclaves for phone calls or one-to-one meetings. These open-office environments also include smaller, remote areas and “pod areas” with enough workspace, seating, and outlet access so employees can attend client meetings, participate in video conferences or work on research.
This is especially useful for employees in the office three to four days a week or travelling between multiple branches.
A Design for all the senses!
Sound – Soundproof rooms to work in quiet settings, while others want a social setting for group meetings. Designers are looking to incorporate a mix of both. Other factors include background music playing to boost the mood. In addition, interior designers and architects may also look at the perceived merits of high ceilings.
Smell – People use different scents in different spaces for sensory stimulation. Scented candles or adding flowers & plants gives employees a positive workplace atmosphere.
Sight – We’re immensely influenced by colour, so getting the right hues in your office is an essential building block. Yellow and orange stimulate creativity and joy, while blue and green create a calming atmosphere. If you can’t paint walls, displaying art that contains these colours is a quick and easy way to tap into the power of colours and boost productivity.
Natural lighting and light wall colours
Exposure to natural daylight directly impacts our mood and sleep quality. It improves health, as confirmed by a recent study by Dr. Alan Hedge of Cornell University’s Department of Design and Environmental Analysis.
Natural light can also improve creativity and reduce stress. This translates into improved productivity and creativity, with businesses reporting anywhere from 3% to 40% increases in productivity. More office spaces add floor-to-ceiling windows, diffused lights, and artificial lighting to mimic natural light in their workspaces. Not to mention the workplace looks a lot more aesthetically pleasing!
Sustainable workspaces
More than a trend, sustainable design is a modern principle, focusing on using materials from renewable and recycled sources and non-toxic/non-polluting products.
Back by popular demand is wood flooring, which adds a sense of warmth and nature to a space. Timber, in particular, provides natural beauty. Other design aspects look at upcycled furniture and a focus on natural light to reduce energy waste.
And everyone’s personal favourite at the moment; is the living walls (green walls), adding plants and fresh flowers to transform an ordinary area into a lush setting. And for a smaller office, embracing more plants around the office desks, receptions, and other common areas.
Incorporating greenery helps to add a bit of nature and bring the outdoors in! Numerous studies have shown countless other benefits:
- A 15% jump in employee productivity ( 2014 research by the University of Exeter )
- Significant reduction in stress, tension, and anxiety (2010 study by the new University of Technology, Sydney)
- a 15% higher well-being score and a 6% higher productivity (2015 Human Spaces report )
- Employees feel more relaxed and can concentrate better when around nature (Attention restoration theory)
A Smart Office
Enhancing emerging technologies means that all offices compete to have the smart office technology that gives employees the edge and control over their schedules, communication and environments.
This, in turn, not only improves hygiene and reduces energy costs but also helps retain staff and create an organised workspace where employees can efficiently work. Innovative technology is ever-changing, and designers and offices must adapt quickly.
These design trends are not a must for the ultimate office fit-out, but they will make your employees love coming to work pumped up. To get your journey started, contact us today on info@soadevelopments.com