Office Furniture Trends You Can Expect to See in 2020

Still of the interior of a modern office aligned with wooden features, divided work spaces, office chairs, and office tables.

The new decade is finally here and now, more than ever, companies are becoming increasingly complex in terms of their functions and operations. Those who are on the front line of workplace design are working to anticipate the ever-evolving needs of businesses while creating a cohesive brand that encourages innovation and a company’s corporate vision and culture. The challenges that businesses face today have led to exciting transformations in the way that employees perform, interact with, and operate within built environments. Employees are now working in offices and workplaces that are designed for high-demanding business needs, with the goal to improve performance and productivity, attract talented new recruits, enhance wellness and well-being, and inspire new and innovative ideas. None of this would be possible without the prevalence of specialized office designs and furniture. As we plan for 2020 and beyond, these trends stand to make the most immediate and significant impacts on the future of our workplaces. 

Making a Comeback with Wooden Interior 

By today’s standards, most office environments are built with traditional whiteboard drywall construction and filled with metal cubicles. As brands become more focuses on sustainability and rearrange their workspace to attract top talent, facilities have adopted a more environmentally conscious attitude in recent years to meet their employee and tenant expectations and this is done with the help of wood. Wood is infamous for adding biophilic texture, lines, and warmth to traditionally sterile office environments. Linear wood paneling and slatted wood patterning also help create the illusion of depth. 

Utilizing Monochromatic Expression 

The Oxford dictionary defines monochromatic as containing or using only one color. Although, this definition doesn’t depict what it can monochromatic color schemes can do in terms of design. Monochromatic color schemes have sparked a color explosion that’s been taking place in commercial vicinities over the past several years. These color palettes only use one color, but they utilize the entire spectrum of shades, tones, and hints of that particular color to depict a uniform and recognizable theme. This design draws people in via creative expression and establishes an image that showcases functions and personality within a workspace. 

Implementing Hanging Horticulture and Vegetation 

Plants have become more popular in office environments than ever before, with the emergence of walls adorned with green and moss as staples of well-being and branding. With floor space at a premium, designers are turning to new heights to integrate their vegetation: ceilings. Office ceilings are the next frontier for companies striving to maximize space, efficiency, and incorporate the patterns of nature. Hanging vegetation often promotes home-styled environments where the lines of business and leisure are blurred. With plant design engrained in buildings seeking a sustainable and wellness-forward image, green has become and continues to be an undeniable feature in the near future of office design. 

Modular Modern Designs

By the looks of it, the open office space isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In the meantime, businesses are looking for ways to provide their employees with personalized, private spaces in which they can focus on their important projects. Beyond that, functional furniture is a key element to help employees stay creative, active, and extremely productive. This indicates that new studio drafting tables, standing desks, benching workstations, and even insulated phone booths are being developed and reimagined every day to help workers maximize their time in the office.

Dynamic Spaces and Flexibility 

The trend of dynamic spaces has begun to emerge, introducing people to the idea of multi-functional workspaces. These spaces typically include indoor-outdoor access via garage doors, movable dividers, and television and video equipment—just to name a few. Dynamic flexibility incorporates an entirely new generation of moveable, multi-functional, lightweight, and ergonomic elements designed to fit any space and purpose. This design trend also focuses on a complete transformation of environments from the meeting rooms, to a production area, to a quiet, semi-private space, with just a blink of an eye. All in all, these spaces are designed to meet the needs, application, and comfort in our increasingly multidisciplinary business world. 

Indoff Commercial Interiors: Here to Help You Transform and Modernize Your Office Space

If it’s time for you to renovate your office or workplace, we have all the materials, furniture, and office essentials to help you achieve efficiency and success! Contact us today to learn more about the products we carry and to have a professional help you find furniture to compliment your office environment.

7 Ways the Office Place Has Changed Over the Past 20 Years

Employees talk amongst eacn other as they work on their computers in their modernized workplace/office space.

Though offices have been around since what seems like the beginning of time, our experiences in working in them have dramatically changed. Long gone are the days of Rolodexes and smoking in the office. Now, work tasks and projects can be completed at the convenience of a smartphone, accommodations are made for the employees, and workplaces have become more open and diverse. We’ve gathered some information regarding some of the major changes that have taken place in offices within the past couple of decades. 

Employees Can Work Remotely 

Not too long ago, this was not an option for most employees. As of current times, approximately one-third of employees operate from a remote station, which is most often their homes. It is an accommodation that has increased worker motivation and has saved many companies the cost of running and owning more office space. With some industries, the internet has come into play by helping employees work from any location, full time. 

Major Alterations of the Office Desk 

In the 90s, office desks were jam-packed with all sorts of material and equipment, which were usually inconveniently heavy. A typical desk would contain items ranging from the phone book to staplers, pens, a telephone, notepads, dictionary, scissors, and more. Although these items can still possibly be found in an office today, most are missing from employees’ desks thanks to technology. There is no longer a need for bombarding an employee’s desk with tools that can be all found on the internet or through an electronic device. 

Office Designs and Styles are Ever-Changing

Approximately twenty years ago, many offices felt a bit more sterile, thus employees felt a bit stiffer and uptight at work. That is not necessarily the case as of recently. Contractors and business owners are constantly trying to find ways in which an office can feel more comfortable and inviting. Lighting fixtures tend to be less dim so that they are not too bright and headache-inducing. Sofas and couches are implemented to give employees and guests with a place to rest and take a comfortable break. Desks and chairs are designed to be flexible so that employees can move around and focus, all at the same time. 

The Use of Less Paper

The digital age has brought about software that makes the use of loads of paper unnecessary. Twenty years ago, paper material was necessary for any office as phones and computers were not as available as they are today. Going digital is now much easier than ever before. Many industries now utilize online technology to communicate, send, receive and store documents. As a result, the need for paper decreased dramatically. 

Waste Management has Improved 

Despite the fact that many offices use less paper, office waste has not decreased over the years. A vast amount of waste comes from the increased demand and purchases of office supplies and essentials by employers. Additionally, more and more waste is being generated from the use of departmental acquisitions and poor project management. As a result, many offices and workplaces are now adopting improved waste management systems, which is something you would rarely see twenty years ago and beyond. 

Diminishing the Tradition of the Cubicle 

From the 1980s to the 1990s, office spaces were known for going on a cube-modality frenzy and there was a fair amount of wariness over this new look. As the American population grew, so did the workplace. It did not make ergonomic sense to tuck every employee into a four-walled office space. It also failed to make sense to house everyone in a giant, noisy, open-air room. The logical solution lied somewhere in the middle with a hybrid office/open workspace. The average workspace is now formatted where employees can work amongst each other, interact, and make more contact. 

Facilities Management Software Has Evolved 

Today’s standard facility management software offers a wide variety of features and functionality that was not available before and it also looks more appealing. Gone are the boring screens that resemble DOS, replaced by colors that are easy on the eyes and a user interface that is intuitive. Updated software also offers a capacity for collecting, analyzing, and reporting on important data so that a company stays on top of its facilities and spaces. 

Get Started with Indoff Commercial Interiors for the Latest Office Essentials and More! 

We can never be sure as to what the next decade will bring, but as of right now, our professionals are here to help companies make changes to their workplaces to stay innovative and up to date. Contact us today to learn about how our office furniture and supplies can enhance your workplace, overall!