You should recognize that in the future old and traditional office designs will be things of the past. This is so because the workplace is adapting and changing constantly.
Nowadays, businesses and organizations are working on providing a healthy workplace for workers. The latest trends mainly focus on incorporating comfort and variety to improve the well-being of employees because satisfied workers are highly engaged and productive.
Providing flexible working hours, generous work benefits, extensive learning, and issuing paid business leaves may not be enough anymore to boost employee engagement if the workplace design is poor.
In today’s article, we’ll go through the latest workplace design trends that can help you create a more efficient and productive work environment.
5 Latest Workplace Design Trends that Incorporate Comfort & Variety
The latest trends in workplace design are not only beautiful but also functional. They boost efficiency by optimizing focus and collaboration based on the shifting needs of the workplace. The key drivers of the evolution of the workplace design are:
- The ever-increasing influence of modern technology
- Changing demographics
- Financial factors
- Impacts of workplace design on workers
- The ongoing talent shortage
Here are the five latest workplace design trends you can incorporate into your business or organisation:
Active Workplace
The evidence of how poorly designed workplaces affect workers continues to mount. Among the findings: bad furniture and prolonged sitting sessions are profound hazards to the well-being of workers.
The latest trend that can effectively reduce the effects of a sedentary office lifestyle is creating an active workplace. A business can achieve this through standing desk setups. Finding a stylish and functional standing desk in Australia isn’t a difficult proposition. There’s a wide variety of sizes and styles of standing desks available.
An active workplace improves posture and helps burn calories, keep circulation going, reduce back pain, boost energy levels, and enhance mood and focus.
Flexible and/or Activity Based Design
With more people embracing technology in the modern world, there’s no need for workers to be constrained to their desks all day. Companies have realised that they can boost engagement and productivity with flexible workplace designs.
They provide workers with a choice of office setting for a variety of jobs and activities throughout the workday. Most of the adopted flexible office settings are open-plan setups with no cubicles or assigned seating.
Organisations that implement flexible workplaces provide workers with multi-purpose spaces throughout the office, including open spaces for meetings, relaxation zones, brainstorming areas, and privacy zones among others. Flexible work environments are portrayed as innovative solutions to common office problems.
Here are some benefits of flex space for businesses:
- It’s open and collaborative
- Provides employees with comfort and variety
- Improves the health and well-being of workers
- Makes employees more engaged and happier
- Enables a business to get more out of their space or lease
Integrating Technology
Every business or company knows that technology is nothing new in the workplace. However, the trend is to create a workplace design that assimilates digital-based tech and business processes.
Through technology, companies can provide their workforce with easier and more convenient content-sharing solutions. Tech can be integrated into different places, such as huddle rooms, lounges, and workstations. Some common elements of tech integration are:
- Interactive displays
- Built-in power and data
- Technology touch points that allow for easy connectivity
- Wireless streaming dongles
- Integrated wireless charging
- Articulated monitor arms and stand risers
- Tabletop touchscreens
Biophilic Design
This new workplace trend focuses on human connection to the natural world. Creating a biophilic environment is crucial for the well-being of workers.
Be it some small refreshes in specific areas or a major fit-out of the entire office space, there are elements of biophilic design that are beneficial to the organization and the workforce. This unique design trend of bringing plants into the workplace can help enhance employee well-being, reduce stress, and foster a culture of creativity.
Whilst plants are the main focus of a biophilic interior environment, it’s also important to incorporate elements like landscape features, ventilation, and natural lighting. Not only will this create a more comforting work environment, but it will also make the workplace healthier for workers.
Besides, incorporating a biophilic design can help improve air quality at the workplace. One of the critical components of healthy living is indoor air quality. So, it’s a good idea to add air-purifying plants like bamboo palms, Boston ferns, peace lilies, and ivy.
Employee Appeal
One of the biggest challenges for some organizations is attracting and retaining talent. Both millennials and Gen Z seek a workplace that works for them.
Millennials are usually after an inclusive work environment that encourages collaboration, creates transparency, and provides a sense of community. On the other hand, Gen Z looks for work-life balance, flexibility, and a sense of autonomy. They’re all about working collaboratively with other people.
Companies can meet such employee appeals by incorporating multipurpose spaces, lounges, collaboration centers, outdoor break areas, workout rooms, appealing food offerings, advanced tech, and modern furnishings.
In Summary
If you’re considering the most effective ways to boost employee confidence at work, then comfort, variety, and well-being should be high on the agenda. That’s where an active workplace, activity-based design (flexible workplace), technology, biophilic approach, and employee appeal trends are crucial.
