Office design trends are changing every once in a while, and this year is no exception. Following the heels of the global call for sustainability, offices this year are characterized by more eco-friendly features, fluidity, modular elements, and increasingly smart features. If you are ready to remodel your workplace in line with the latest developments, here are a few trends which you should take into account when allocating the renovation budget.
Going paperless office-wise
Gone are the days when busy offices were piled with paper and plastic: with the increasing awareness of the importance of eco-friendly features, modern work areas boast a paperless design with dedicated recycling bins to match. To achieve the sleek, clutter-free look in your workplace, it might be a good idea to consider going digital with your important files and documents. This simple transition will also help you become more organized and it will slice the time which would otherwise be wasted looking for paper-based data and other relevant information. In addition to that, you can also replace paper by live plants as this is another hot trend on the office design market this year which aims to infuse the office with a dose of freshness and style.
A smarter than smart office
Smart offices made a big entrance a while ago, and as the time passes, they are becoming increasingly high-tech in terms of devices and equipment. In contemporary offices, one-touch, remote controlled and even voice-operated elements such as coffee machines and printers are a must-have. If you wish to achieve the smart office look, you need to allocate a significant segment of your remodel budget for the procurement of state-of-the-art devices, but the investment will definitely pay many times over down the road. For a neat bonus, the upgrade will also add a few points to your brand’s value in the eyes of existing and potential employees.
A touch of old-school warmth
Despite the fact that clean, clutter-free offices are here to stay, there is also a need for comfort, style, and old-school warmth which you will need to take into account when remodeling your work area. To achieve a sense of luxury and friendliness in conference rooms and other large areas in your company, you can take a look at the wide range of elegant, rich rugs in Honk Kong and choose a carpet with minimal yet suave design which will communicate the air of luxury to your associates and employees. On top of that, you should consider going carpetless in small areas in the company. Suave, barebones ambiance is always on trend, especially if coupled with sustainable, eco-friendly floor and furniture materials.
Human-centric is here to stay
With COVID-19 still in full blow, companies are rapidly becoming aware of the value of every single staff member and their safety and wellbeing. With maximum employee safety in mind, companies are now introducing features such as hand sanitizer points, handwashing stations, flow management, and built-in social distancing, as well as readily available PPE in order to keep workplace health in check and reduce absenteeism. In addition to that, the trend of ergonomic furniture and devices with wellbeing certifications such as WELL and Fitwel is still going strong, which is why you will need to put your staff’s safety wellbeing front and center when looking to remodel your office space this year.
Stylish offices in 2021 boast far more style and functionality than their last year’s counterparts. From paperless designs and sustainable materials down to increasingly smart technology features and health and wellness-centered features, head-turning offices nowadays are a testament to minimalism and comfort, with a dose of green touches and luxury details. If you are set on remodeling your workplace soon, watch out for the big trends listed above and top office style, safety, and comfort will always be guaranteed. You are welcome!
By Peter Minkoff
Peter is a lifestyle and travel writer at Men-Ual magazine, living between Ústí nad Labem and Antwerp. Follow Peter on Twitter for more tips.