It’s now 2014, and with the new year brings new design styles and trends for office and work spaces.
As the modern office continues to mould and change, there is a distinct step away from the structured layouts and sterile designs of traditional offices.
Throughout 2013 we saw a number of office interior designs pop up that were bright, fun and somewhat outrageous.
While it was predominantly seen in those trendy startup companies and design firms, however if the predictions are true, it looks like these innovative designs will move into the mainstream, even in the more conservative corporate offices.
There is an obvious progression from the layout and décor themes prominent last year, with the huge influence technological advancements have made on the changing office culture.
We’ve scoured the web and compiled a list of office design trends predicted to keep an eye out for in 2014:
Open Layouts
We will see less and less of the traditional structured closed office layouts, rather leaning towards activity based workplaces and notions of hot desking. Allowing staff to move around as they work, and with more areas for casual meetings (see you later board rooms).
Interactive and Collaborative Spaces
One prediction is office interior designs to start to resemble an urban city block, with rooms and spaces designed with the flexibility for specific types of interaction. The thoughtful layout of workspaces will be built to stimulate creativity and teamwork between staff.
Bringing the Outdoors In
Greenery and plants will continue to make their way into the office designs. We will see more than just some potted plants, but earthy design elements as well as living wall and plant installations.
Fun and Social Workplaces
What’s been coined the Google Effect, even the corporate workplaces are introducing fun into the office design. Office designs in 2014 will have more social spaces, for staff to hang out and have fun in the worplace, like relaxation areas and games rooms.
Representing Culture not Brand
We will start to see office spaces moving away from just representing branding messages of the company, but start to resemble the staff culture. Through the fun and casual designs, interactive work areas, social and recreational spaces this will all be evident.
Kitchens & Lunch Rooms
Larger companies will start building kitchen and eating spaces into their office design, to offer staff healthy meal options. Employers are seeing the benefit of allowing staff a casual environment to socialise and discuss work topics over a meal, while in the convenience of the workplace.
Changes in Technology
Rather than threatening the future of the modern office, technology will help mould the design and layout of workplaces in 2014. While a move away from traditional personal offices is nothing new, this year we will see more break out spaces for employees to move around and work wirelessly, with less of the bulky desktop computers adorning every desk.
More Staff Friendly
Covering everything from ergonomic furniture, quality of air, temperature, acoustics, safety, lighting and access to daylight. Modern offices will become more comfortable places to work in and designed for the needs of employees. Rather than just getting the most out of the space, there will more emphasis on creating an environment that reflects the respect employers have for staff.
Bright Colours & Styles
More than ever, companies are becoming more comfortable in using colours to brighten up the workplace. This year will we will see all the colours of the rainbow popping in furniture and decorative pieces around the workplace. With bold, bright, geometric and graphic prints appearing more and more in the interior design.
Innovative Structures
Office designs will become even more bold, in all aspects of the design. With the staircases, roof beams, walls, floors, wall dividers, lights, all featuring fun and quirky design ideas. We will see more wooden features, glass walls, geometric cut out wall dividers and bright wall paint and wallpaper.
If these predictions are anything to go by, it will be a fun year ahead for office interior designs!
