In the past decade, we’ve seen a range of design trends take hold in office spaces throughout the world. Some things, like open-concept floor plans and flexible workstations, are still growing in popularity, while others (remember the color-based organization of the mid-2010s?) seem to be fading away.
Here’s a look into what 2020 holds for corporate interior design.
Sustainability
Consumers and employees care about corporate responsibility more than ever. Over half of the population is willing to foot a higher bill for an environmentally-friendly product, while nearly 80 percent say they at least bring corporate sustainability into account when deciding what brands to support.
Many companies will take this to heart, going beyond refining their production processes to actually overhaul their office buildings. We can expect to see an increase in sustainable materials (like natural fiber flooring and recycled furniture) as well as a focus on “employee sustainability” – that is, design that makes coming to work easier and healthier.
Biophilic (nature-inspired) design
Hand-in-hand with responsible sustainability practices, biophilic (nature-inspired) interior design is a growing trend. As the world around us becomes more modernized and tech-heavy, we find ourselves craving workspaces that make us feel connected to the outside world.
We’ll see this play out in a few key ways in 2020. First, natural light will continue to be a hot commodity as companies invest in large windows and glass doors to keep their employees energized. Second, plants will start to fill offices in the form of vertical gardens and hanging arrangements that bring splashes of green without crowding valuable workspace.
Open-concept, flexible spaces
The open-concept offices that first arrived on scene in the 90s have suffered some recent pushback for their many distractions, but they aren’t going away completely. Instead of returning to quiet cubicles and guaranteed privacy, we’re more likely to see a push toward “flexible” workspaces that allow employees to choose the environment they need for a specific task in real-time.
Small phone booth pods for private conversations, large tables to facilitate collaboration, and secluded spaces to help employees relax are all becoming staples of the modern office design.
Hard-surface floors
Companies see their offices as an investment, so it’s no wonder they want to keep them in top shape for as long as possible. As routine carpet repairs look increasingly unappealing, durable hard-surface flooring options like luxury vinyl (LVT) continue to grow in popularity.
Some businesses are experimenting with different types of tile and hardwood, but we can expect the most common approach — LVT with a few textured rugs to soften the space — to carry us through 2020.
Residential touches
Finally, we can expect to see more companies weaving residential touches throughout their workspaces to make employees feel at home. We spend around a third of our lives at our jobs — and no one wants to endure a stuffy office for hours on end.
Comfortable furniture, cozy bookshelves, unique pottery, and more will adorn corporate interiors throughout the next year. We’ll see an increase in interesting textures, colors, and shapes as businesses begin to fade the line between work and home.
