Experience rooms
With long working days and busy schedules, it’s no surprise that employers are looking for ways to increase employee satisfaction in the workplace. After all, a happy workforce is a productive workforce! For this reason, we’re set to see a rise in ‘experience’ rooms in offices and other professional environments to give team members the opportunity to wind down and relax during business hours.
Many of the world’s largest businesses have been showing off such rooms for years (think Google’s basketball room and YouTube’s indoor golf course), but 2019 is predicted to be the year that small to medium-size enterprises do the same. Although sports and gaming rooms will still be commonplace, recent discussions regarding employee wellness may see yoga and meditation rooms make an appearance, too.
Go green
As we become more and more aware of our environmental impact and look to lead more sustainable lifestyles, it’s no surprise that businesses everywhere are taking steps to become greener. However, going green isn’t just about establishing walk-to-work schemes and heightening your company’s recycling efforts – as important as these initiatives are!
Biophilia in the workplace has been a consistent trend in recent years, but it isn’t likely to go anywhere any time soon. In fact, this year we’re likely to see an even bigger push towards eco-decor, with plants and greenery taking the centre stage in interior design. Great ways to incorporate greenery into your office design are by:
- Introducing a moss wall – A moss wall is, just like the same suggests, a whole wall of foliage. A statement wall such as this is a fantastic way to add a burst of greenery in an office.
- Arrange potted plants on the office floor – Why don’t you brighten up your office with beautiful potted plants on shelves, desks and unused corners? Leafy ferns, peace lilies and even cacti are all plants which can thrive indoors.
- Make your own hanging baskets – If you’re running out of floor space, consider filling baskets with leafy greens and hanging them from the office ceiling.
Greenery in offices has been linked to lower levels of stress and increased employee creativity, so this isn’t a trend we think will be going anywhere soon.
Flexible workspace design
In recent years, office design experts have begun to move away from the cubical vs. open plan office debate with a happy medium – flexible workspaces. Flexibility in the office, otherwise known as agile working, has increased in popularity as a result of recent studies suggesting that employee productivity thrives when office spaces suit their preferred way of working.
Agile working takes employee demands into account to create an office that suits them, rather than requiring a whole team of people to work in a “one size fits all” layout. By now, it is well known that employee satisfaction is essential to achieving great results in the office. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that more and more workplaces are basing their office design around the needs of their staff – something we can expect to see a great deal of throughout 2019.
One way we can expect to see this is through office layouts showcasing a range of different rooms, giving employees the choice between modular workstations if they’re hoping for privacy and open plan communal areas if they’re working on a group project. Giving your staff the chance to choose between working alone or in a team will help them find a workflow they find most rewarding, and could be as simple as investing in furniture that employees can move from A to B.
Brand identity
Every business is different, so why should all offices look the same? You don’t need to rely on plain white balls and rows of desks to foster a productive environment; in fact, a dull office environment may achieve the opposite effect. Instead, to instil a unified brand identity among your employees and impress any partners or clients, consider injecting some personality into your workspace with decor that reflects your business.
If you run a marketing company full of creative and forward-thinking individuals, a minimalist office layout may not be the right one for you. However, if you own a technology business with a clean cut, no-frills brand personality, you may benefit from a more simplistic design. This year, it’s all about considering your company’s ethos and finding ways to represent it in the workplace.
This can be achieved by a number of ways. It may be that you consider colour psychology (e.g. choose greens and oranges to promote creativity, yellow for optimism and blue for relaxation) or opt for an exciting feature wall to really make your office stand out. Alternatively, you may go for more subtle decoration ideas such as branded wall graphics or feature flooring – both great ways to create an effective brand identity at work.
A prime example is our recent award winning fit out for Robinson Structures Ltd shown above who design, manufacture and install structural steel work and cladding for the building industry. Our brief was to showcase their products resulting in exposed services and structure.
Whatever you choose, make sure you employ professional office design and fit out experts to install it for you.
Smart offices
We rely on technology every day, both at home and at work, so it’s no surprise that offices are seeking ways to become smarter. There are, of course, many benefits to doing so, especially as technological advancements become more and more innovative. By incorporating smart technology into office workspaces, you can reduce the amount of time spent on menial yet necessary tasks (such as creating to-do lists) and spend more time on the work that really matters.
When it comes to incorporating technology into your office design, there’s more to consider than simply purchasing the latest model of computer. Above all, it’s important to consider which devices and technologies will actually benefit your business. For instance, if you have lots of international clients and business partners, consider the advantages of installing video call software in one of your meeting rooms. If you’re an environmentally conscious business, think about investing in automatic lighting and thermostats to ensure you’re never wasting energy.
Over the coming years, expect to see a move away from traditional office layouts towards a smarter, more efficient design – something made possible by a rise in technological advancements. From voice assistants booking our meetings to key tracking technology monitoring employee attendants, 2019 is set to be a big year for smart office design.
