1. Bring parts of "home" to the office

Because many people continue to work from home, traditional office design and aesthetics have evolved. The goal is to give comfort and safety on all levels and make an office feel less like an office.

Designers might add residential aspects such as comfy sofas and chairs, soft lighting features in common areas, more plants, and/or artwork displayed throughout the office to encourage a comfortable and safe sense of "home" at the office.

2. Adaptable pod-area layouts

Many firms have embraced open office design throughout the years, and it's safe to say there will be a shift towards more flexible workspaces and "pod-style" layouts.

Employees are increasingly searching out quiet spaces where they're able to work safely in the office. Flexible, pod-style layouts should offer enough workspace, outlets, and private areas so employees can take conference calls, participate in Zoom meetings, and socially distance when needed.

These layouts must also be able to accommodate employees who are only working in the office for a few days a week and working from home the rest of the week.

3. Safety first

Businesses and organizations are reconsidering the interior design and arrangement of their office space in order to provide a safe, protected workspace. While touchpoints (such as doorknobs and elevator buttons) remain the focus, many businesses are opting for hard surfaces and design components that are easy to clean and disinfect.

4. Light, bright colors

Light color palettes that feature a variety of grays, greens, and earth-toned neutrals will be big in 2021. Many interior designers are incorporating light wood with pops of brighter colors on floors and walls, which can help employees feel more cheery and happy.

Color also helps businesses stay on brand, and many organizations find methods to incorporate their logo or brand colors into the design of their space, such as with colored furnishings, pillows, or even carpeting. Pops of color are a wonderful way to differentiate space and ease navigation in an open floor plan office, but be sure to stick to mostly neutrals when it comes to walls.

5. More natural lighting

One of the biggest office design trends of 2021 is to include more natural lighting in the workplace. If you don't have a lot of windows, we suggest the following alternatives:

• Make use of diffused lighting
• Install artificial lighting that looks and feels like natural light
• Use warm-toned bulbs; stay away from fluorescent lighting
• Use a projector to mimic a window; feature a forest, meadow, or something that incorporates sunshine and greenery

Keeping your wall colors light and bright will also help prevent your office from feeling too dark.

6. “Living” plant walls

Living walls (also known as green walls) are real plants that are mounted to interior walls in many modern office buildings. If you don't have enough natural light for a living wall, consider introducing more low-light plants to bring the outside in. Office plants not only contribute to the relaxing, homey atmosphere we mentioned earlier, but they also provide a number of health benefits, including:

• Increased productivity
• Increased creativity
• Fewer toxins in the air
• Improved oxygen flow and overall air quality
• Calming effects
• Noise reduction

7. Using both old and new design elements

Another top office trend of 2021 will be mixing classic and contemporary design elements to create an inspired blend of the past and present. Retro and geometric patterns, such as chevron and herringbone, are popular among many modern designers. Geometric patterns can also be used in bigger areas, such as floors and walls, and can include everything from vibrant splashes of color to subtle gray and ivory tones.

Brass, industrial retro metals, exposed brick, and concrete ceiling and floors are popular “old and new” design elements.

Learn more about top office design trends of 2021

Whether you’re moving into a new office space or refreshing your current space, it’s important to keep up with the office design trends of 2021. If you need assistance with an office redesign or fit-out, reach out to us today at Lavoro Consulting.

With more than 20 years of interior design experience, we’re here to help make your space work for you. Contact us today to learn more.