Office design trends for 2021: great ideas for a modern office
People spend a significant portion of their time at work. And if less attention was paid to office design earlier – the emphasis was more on productivity – now it is actively developing! And it also changes along with the world of fashion, the creation of ordinary interiors, and even society’s mood.
What are the brightest trends in office design in 2021, current color solutions, planning trends, and office furniture – you will find out all this very soon in this article!
The article was prepared with the help of an interior designer with over ten years of experience in different countries of the world: Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Russia, and others.
Top 5 Office Design Trends in 2021
The office space’s general orientation is significantly transformed compared with the period even 5-7 years ago. From a place where people just work, there is a transition to an increasingly comfortable interior with its zest and fashionable elements.
One curious trend that I want to mention separately is the use of aromatherapy to improve company results. Research and practice show it works! So if you want to change with simple means, take a look at these three essential scents:
All these scents are united by an anti-stress effect, which will be very useful in an office environment. Now it’s time to move on to 5 main trends in interior office design!
Trend 1: home atmosphere
Executives and designers are trying to move away from in every sense, gray interiors with cold light. It became clear that it is more difficult for employees to feel calm and confident, especially if they spend a lot of time in the office. This is bad for productivity and team mood.
This trend is also taking root thanks to remote work development, which is attracting more and more people. Therefore, pleasant materials, a lot of natural light, accents in color, and space close to the classic are essential in organizing offices in 2021.
You can often find games up to a punching bag, sentimental and significant things for workers, indoor plants. Some establishments even allow slippers to be worn to keep employees comfortable!
Trend 2: trendy interiors
It’s hard to say exactly when it started, but nowadays, offices regularly turn to fashion to showcase their status and modern focus. This is not only a workspace but also a real advertisement for the company for potential employees and customers!
As a result, you can find in offices:
The focus is on both the atmosphere and improving people’s performance, as well as interesting patterns, high-quality textiles, and attention-grabbing objects. The allocation of zones for different tasks and the overall perception of space brings offices closer to traditional interiors.
Trend 3: team building
More recently, corporate parties performed this function. In 2021, managers are sparing no expense and space to organize a territory to relax and communicate in peace. This often becomes a weighty argument in favor of working for this particular company!
Organizations increasingly find cozy chill-out areas with basketball nets, table football, darts, soft sofas, and a board for general brainstorming. It’s nice to discuss the news here, exchange ideas, and just relax. Designers choose comfortable tones and a subdued lighting scenario for such areas.
Trend 4: environmental friendliness
This trend does not slow down outside the offices. People prefer natural colors and materials, natural forms in the interior. All this creates a feeling of coziness, which is what other trends in the office sector are aimed at. This fact again shows that the company is keeping up with the times and adhering to public sentiments.
A considerable amount of vegetation that is popular now helps the eyes to rest after sitting in front of the monitor for a long time. It also makes the space more lively, homely. Thanks to these things, your office will be in line with the eco-trend:
This trend also extends to technologies and tools that contribute to the economical use of resources: for example, water, electricity.
Trend 5: individuality
Now offices are no longer faceless and, among other things, demonstrate their character! Everything with personal meaning is used in the office design: awards, personal symbols, letters, graphs with dynamics of development, history, and much more.
Like fashionable elements, it becomes an additional unobtrusive advertisement. The trend brings employees together with the company and makes them more involved in it. This means it increases productivity! It is encouraged when people confidently talk about their strengths and development in society, including through office design.
You can apply wallpapers, paints, etc. on walls and see how they look in various interiors.
Trendy office colors 2021
Many companies have bright colors in their offices that go beyond white, black, and gray. But which ones are at the top in 2021? The main color that can be noted is blue. Any of its shades are popular: from bright to deeper and noble ones.
In addition to blue, the following colors are relevant:
Designers recommend keeping the interior in basic shades and adding fashionable ones through decor items or the walls’ color in specific areas. Fashion is changeable, and you would not like to do full-fledged repairs too often. On the other hand, all these colors will remain in trend for at least several years!
Office furniture trends for 2021
The fashion for office furniture is also undergoing significant changes. They can be reflected in such key points.
And if you understand the general mood, you should take a closer look at the trends of two primary furniture elements for any office worker: tables and chairs.
Office desk trends 2021
In 2021, employers are giving preference to tables made from natural wood. If the budget is limited, they choose light desktops like Ikea furniture. An important point is the absence of unnecessary details and basic calm shades. Minimalist trends in action!
If non-useful elements are not held in high esteem, then the opposite is true with functional things. Wire management tools, useful compartments, height adjustments, and even built-in sockets are all in great demand and make your day-to-day office work more comfortable.
Office chair trends 2021
The trends have also affected office chairs, which now prevail in two versions:
I would also like to dwell on the second type. These chairs have the correct angle of inclination and shape of the back, which take care of the spine. Considering that workers spend a lot of time sitting, this is a big plus for their health and general condition.
Modern trends in office layout for 2021
We talked about the main trends, current colors, and furniture. It’s time to move on to the layout! In this area, you can also notice tangible changes.
If before there was no clear division of space for work, rest, and communication, now it is widespread. Simultaneously, the workplaces themselves are not so close to each other: so that workers have more of their own free space.
The tendencies of minimalism and lightness of the premises led to the total area and division due to zoning design, rather than blank walls. Phyto-corners, decorative items, glass partitions act as dividers. All this creates an entirely new generation of offices!
Further unification of the space is achieved thanks to a single style and materials, aromatherapy, and even technologies: so that employees can easily communicate and discuss tasks without being distracted from their affairs and workplaces.
Executive (CEO) office design trends for 2021
The executive office is also called the CEO office or the office of the general director. The same tendencies apply to it, but it also has its own characteristics.
Also, both in the executive and in the ordinary office, you have to avoid cold lighting of 5000K and above. Perhaps it has a good effect on performance, but it does not create a comfortable atmosphere and leads to chronic long-term fatigue. Better to replace it with a white but softer light: on the Kelvin scale, about 3000K.
2021 office design trends: Conclusions + Photo Gallery
Lots of natural light and plants, relaxation space, individuality, bright colors, comfort, functionality – it’s all about office design in 2021! Many of the recommendations in this article will help you make your workspace modern with a minimum investment. Keep up with the times and make the interior comfortable, inspiring for your employees: everyone benefits from this!