Office design trends 2017

The top five office design trends for 2017

Office design trends for 2017 will increasingly focus on simplicity and flexibility according to our design expert and MD, Guy Crabb. If you are planning an update or refit of your office space over the coming year and are looking for inspiration, Guy has shared his top five design predictions for the workplace below.

Connecting office space with business branding: there is growing trend for interior design that reflect the ethos and messaging for each individual business. For example, a company that focuses on sustainability and ethical products increasingly sees the value of reflecting this in their office interiors through the use of ethical materials, natural colour schemes and natural light. A games tech company may want an area for gaming machines and gameplay within a shared space to reflect their employees' interests. In 2017 there will be greater connectivity between design and brand so that office space becomes a true reflection of a business.
Bringing the outdoors in: this design trend will come into its own in 2017 as businesses look for a return to a simpler way of life. People want to re-connect to nature - a feature that has been lost in recent years with air conditioned offices and lack of natural light. There is increasingly a return to daylight sources, planting and the use of natural materials and fibres. Design features will include "living walls", trees growing through office space, roof gardens and places for planting and growing herbs and plants.
Communal space: as people continue to be flexible about where they work, there will be a continuing trend for large refectory style tables and communal areas with comfy sofas and chairs where people can hold ad hoc meetings or hotdesk when they come into the office, catch up on emails or sit and relax. The move is very definitely away from boxing people in and more towards shared spaces as people share ideas.
Wellbeing solutions: employers are placing an increasing emphasis on the wellbeing of their employees as research shows the difference it can make to staff happiness, sickness levels, productivity and profit margins. By designing a workspace that is not only functional such as utilising sit-stand desking, co-working space together with quirky landscaping pieces, teams work better, become calmer and happier and don't remain static in one place all day.
Modular spaces: as businesses face an uncertain economic climate in 2017, there is likely to be a rise in portable meeting rooms and offices as businesses become more reluctant to invest in permanent fit outs and associated building services work. Modular elements are manufactured off site and assembled quickly and easily on the premises. The performance quality of these solutions is now very high. For businesses not willing to take the plunge on extensive and expensive building work, it is a cost effective and quick solution to the problem of space creation with the added benefit of being portable so you can take it with you when you move offices.