The latest trends in contemporary office design

Please note that the information in this article was based on trends from 2013 and may now be outdated. 

The face of the modern office has changed over the past few years.  While there are a good number of reasons for the change, the most common is all about having a creative yet energy-efficient office space.

A well-designed modern office area has been proven to improve employees’ moods, which in turn increases creativity and productivity. But it doesn’t stop there. A well-planned office area should also be energy efficient so as to have as much impact on the environment as possible.

Redesigning your office interiors to transform them into more pleasant and creative areas is actually quite easy. In fact, most open planned offices can be converted into fashionable contemporary work areas in just one week.

If you’re thinking about redesigning your office area, here are a number of styles and ideas that you might find handy.

1. Colour Schemes

A colour scheme can make or break your redesign project. A good colour combination is a must. It can create focus zones within an office as well as help to lift the mood of its workers. Many big companies are now choosing bright colours such as tangerine or lime greens to inject some vitality into their places of work. So, if you’re planning to redesign your office space, be sure to give plenty of thought to textures and colour combinations.

2. Collaborative Workspaces

There has definitely been a shift in the way that companies view creativity. Just have a look at the office layout plans by Google or Facebook. Many firms now have dedicated collaborative workspaces where their employees can sit together in a comfortable, relaxing environment. In this informal setting, a team member can easily share and brainstorm ideas with a fellow teammate without getting up from his chair.

3. Lower Horizons

Something that is certainly gaining momentum within the modern office design world is the lower cubicle wall. This lower divider means that personnel can still enjoy a level of privacy while working yet can easily just look up and have a look at the surrounding areas. This idea helps people to feel less isolated and more in touch with the rest of the office team.

4. Office Chairs

Many workers often spend six to eight hours sitting at their workstations. A well-designed ergonomic office chair can help to increase your employee’s productivity by making them feel more comfortable throughout their working day. A comfortable worker is a happy worker, so remember to think carefully about your choice of chairs when you redesign your offices.

5. Recreation Areas

Good recreational areas for staff are now considered an important part of any office. Many companies even go so far as to install indoor gardens and couches so that their workers can relax in peace and comfort during their breaks. This may sound a little indulgent but it has been proven that members of staff who can relax and enjoy their breaks are more creative and productive when they go back to their workstations.

6. Making Space

Open, clear and uncluttered working spaces are definitely the way forward for many businesses. This sense of extra space will give your office area a more roomy and energised feel, helping to lift the mood of all office workers. With the introduction of cloud storage, you can even do away with bulky storage devices and PC towers. This will leave you with clear, organised workstations with only sleek new laptops or flat-screen monitors visible.

7. Touchdown Spaces

A touchdown space is an area where your staff can access data or quickly get online. Many companies are introducing these areas, which are basically communal areas with everything a worker needs to complete tasks such as checking emails. The idea behind the touchdown space is that workers can start their work preliminaries without having the need to get straight behind their desks.

Contemporary modern office designs are as much about making your staff feel comfortable and relaxed as they are about actual aesthetics. Remember, happy workers are productive workers.

Author Bio:

Lilian Desailly is a freelance writer for Saracen Interiors, one of the UK’s leading designers of office interiors. They also offer services in space planning and facilities management.