Office Design Trends 2020

Over the past few years, office design trends have evolved tremendously. Because of the challenges that businesses face today, exciting transformations have resulted in how employees perform, interact with, and operate within built environments. Old office designs that didn't make employees comfortable and didn't encourage creativity are no longer the norm.

Employees and prospective employees no longer work in one-size-fits-all spaces. Workspaces are now designed for unique business needs, improve performance and productivity, attract more talented employees, enhance employee wellness, and inspire them to develop new ideas for every project.

Any full-time employee spends at least 8 hours a day at work; thus, the workplace should be a space that offers them a pleasant, nurturing experience rather than one that is depressing and burns them out. Today, designing office spaces is never easy.

Companies, in terms of their functions and operations, are now becoming increasingly complex. That's why modern office design trends are now slowly taking over to help keep employees happy, energized, and more productive than ever. If you're looking for modern office design trends that will suit your place, you've just stumbled upon the right post.

We're giving you a list of winning office design trends that will surely make your employees content at work while also boosting their efficiency.

1. Dynamic and Flexible Office

A few years ago, a trend of active offices began to emerge. It introduced people to the idea of multifunctional workspaces. Such spaces included indoor-outdoor access via garage doors, television and video equipment, movable green dividers, and step-style seating. They also designed it to meet the needs and applications of today's increasingly multidisciplinary business world. Because of this, multipurpose spaces have become the new norm.

However, in 2020, the trend's new phase is the dynamic and flexible office. It introduces an entirely new batch of multifunctional, movable, lightweight, and ergonomic elements designed to suit any purpose and space. A flexible office's distinguishing feature is its non-restrictive nature.

You can adjust the desks, move furniture around, and even small meeting areas are easily accessible. Employees can say goodbye to being stuck at their desks or cubicles all day, as they are now allowed to work in other office areas. Offering employees the freedom to move around helps them maintain good health and motivates them to work more efficiently.

2. Woodsy Feels

Let's welcome the comeback of wood in office spaces. Nowadays, most office environments are built using traditional whiteboard drywall construction and filled with metal cubicles. As more brands focus on sustainability, facilities have begun adopting a more environmentally conscious approach to align with the labor force's pro-environment and sustainability ideologies today.

Wood is used not only for walls, floors, countertops, and accents but also to give spaces an undeniable character, adding biophilic texture, lines, and warmth to traditional, dull office environments. Some popular additions to the new office space design include prefabricated wood-and-glass offices, elaborately constructed wood-and-moss walls, preserved tree stumps turned into coffee tables, and refined, reclaimed lumber.

The use of linear wood paneling and slatted wood patterning to create the illusion of depth is another critical feature of this design trend.

3. Collaborative Furniture

If there is one office design trend that is quickly catching on, it is probably collaborative workspace furniture. As we all know, collaboration is an integral part of any office, and it makes sense that furniture that encourages and facilitates it should be part of it.

You can choose from many collaborative furniture items, such as freestanding media units, where employees can meet quickly and project their work or report on a screen. You can also select acoustic pods where employees can hold consecutive meetings, as well as large meeting desks equipped with power outlets, adjustable-height options, task lighting, and data sockets.

4. Biophilic Design

This design trend focuses on the natural world. If you want to create a calming, stress-free environment, bringing the outside world into your office is a great way to do so. Natural decor is now making its way into modern offices, and many office designers are incorporating natural elements into their designs.

This trend includes large windows that let natural light pour in, plants around the office to filter the air, and organic colors, patterns, and materials that create a relaxed ambiance, helping reduce employees' stress levels and increase their focus and energy.

5. Increasing Community

Companies today need to reimagine and redesign their office spaces to meet the employees' ever-changing needs. Nowadays, the trend is to create more inviting, comfortable rooms that foster a sense of community, comfort, and shared values. New office environments already include features you find in hospitality settings, such as restaurants, bars, and beer fridges, comfortable furniture, fireplaces, rock walls, game rooms, and fitness areas.

Now you might ask why companies are improving employee satisfaction. It is because facilitating these upgrades benefits the business in ways that telecommuting or flexible working can't do. We can expect commercial spaces to become even more refreshing and vibrant in the years to come.

6. Integration of Technology

Technology has a huge impact almost everywhere, and modern offices are not an exception. You can practically do everything electronically-- this means that offices need the proper equipment to keep up with technological advancements. An office that is well set up will help employees work smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

Many offices now opt for laptops instead of desktops to give employees the freedom to work from anywhere. Power outlets are now becoming more readily available around the office, along with video conferencing technology, presentation screens, wireless charging stations, smartboards, data ports, and anything else necessary to facilitate smart work.

7. Domesticated Workspaces

You see flowerpots, woven baskets, furnished kitchens, throw pillows, and area rugs-- we're sorry to tell you, but it isn't your home. It is your office's new accent design. The home working environment is becoming a trend to create a more comfortable work setup. This style creates a more welcoming and relaxed atmosphere for employees who frequent the office.

The Takeaway

As times change, the nature of trends changes as well. Some have lasting power. However, even the most popular trends fizzle out entirely over time. These 2020 trends remain consistent in that they reflect our modern-day business culture. So, when you choose a design for your office, make sure it's progressive and will last a long time.

For comprehensive insights on enhancing your office space, visit our Best Access Doors Blog page. Explore the latest trends and gain valuable knowledge about construction projects to transform your workplace.