As we head into 2020, we’re turning an eye to emerging trends within the office design space.

It’s been proven that there’s a distinctive relationship between smart office design and worker productivity. It is important to be committed to both style and function in the way we present our workspaces.

Biophilic design

Biophilic design is based on the concept of increasing connectivity to the environment through the incorporation of natural elements and materials. Textures such as wood are on trend, bringing an earthy feel into the office space, and plants breathe extra life into the workday. Offices shouldn’t feel sterile – wooden varnishes and greenery are increasingly being used to boost feelings of comfort and productivity. This goes hand-in-hand with black frames, concrete and layered textures which we’re seeing a lot of – all of which create an aesthetically pleasing space that goes hand-in-hand with sustainability.

Natural light

As much as possible, natural light is being prioritised in the workspace to promote a calm, welcoming environment in the office and increase concentration levels. With harsh fluorescent lighting having a negative impact on workers, more offices are incorporating large ceiling-to-floor windows, allowing the flow of natural light and opening up the space substantially.

Parents’ rooms 

Increasingly, workers are pursuing flexible arrangements, often involving parenting and children. This means offices sometimes have a couple of tiny visitors for the day, who all have different needs and can require different facilities. Parents’ rooms benefit all genders and allow workers to tend to their baby’s needs without disturbing colleagues. Workplace design is shifting to ensure a healthy work/life balance is promoted for everyone, and a big part of that is ensuring that parents have access to the facilities that they need.

Image supplied by Just Co

Private phone booths

If you need to make a private work call in today’s primarily open plan spaces, you’re often faced with stepping outside or risking disrupting the whole office. Soundproof phone booths have become a staple in the co-working floor plan, as they allow for immediate privacy, and you don’t have to leave the office to find it. This is a crucial part of our office design at JustCo, and we intend to take it into 2020 and beyond.

Variety

According to Forbes, variety is one of the leading trends in office design, and will continue into 2020. All workers are different, so it’s important to provide a space that will work for multiple personality types and give individuals some element of control. Offices are increasingly offering various sizes of meeting rooms, games rooms to let off some of that steam, communal tables and more. These features all aim to foster an inclusive office space that encourages work methods of all kinds.

 

Written by Sheree McIntyre, Vice President and Head, JustCo Australia