When it comes to modern office design in 2019, there are three major trends emerging: employee wellness, atmosphere and a close connection to nature. It’s important to balance creativity-boosting design ideas, along with an environment designed to breed success and growth. Let this blog post be your guide and inspiration to the top on-trend office designs for 2019 and beyond.

1) Old Meets New 

This trend revives old buildings with distinguished craftsmanship details. Think bringing once-dilapidated steel and brick structures and warehouses back to life.

Areas such as old fishing yards, meatpacking districts, deserted manufacturing plants and abandoned buildings (in major metropolitan areas) are gaining a second chance on life in a newly designed role.

These “old meets new” spaces often balance the ageless features of the old buildings with modern furniture and decor. Here, it’s all about juxtaposition. For example, cutting-edge technology with a rough, worn aesthetic. These unconventional spaces, create a design that moves effortlessly into the future, while maintaining its inherent connection to the past.

Features include:

• Antique and weathered textures

• Smooth and soft textures

• Old-world craftsmanship

• Modern design accents

• Glass and Metals

• Wall coverings with abstract designs

• Modern furniture and office equipment

Get the look: Wall Theory’s Faux Brick Wall Panels and Realcast Concrete Panels are perfect for creating that traditional warehouse feel.

Download our Commercial Catalogue for Architects and Designers here.

2) Casual Work Stations and Lounge Areas

More and more companies are providing comfortable ‘living-room-like” work areas for employees. Couches, lounge chairs, pillows, and more—these furniture elements help make employees feel at home, and foster creativity and relationship-building in the workplace.

 We know - some traditionalists may balk at the idea of a workspace being turned into a living room. However, these areas are not designed for longer work sessions, or as a replacement to traditional work configurations—they’re meant to provide space for casual meetups and short breaks. These collective areas help to maximize collaboration, creativity and innovative ideas.

3) Experience-Driven Spaces

This trend incorporates characteristics which encompass the “human potential” aspects of space optimization. The goal here is to prioritize employee experience at work. Experience-Driven Spaces are highlighted by employee-focused and specialized enhancements, aimed to develop overall employee wellness, happiness and sense of community. We promise that this trend will help to boost morale for all office staff.

These on-site features are usually embodied by the spirit of the company rather than a one-size-fits-all, uniform approach.

These Experience-Driven Spaces include (but are not limited to) features such as:

• Massage therapy and chiropractor consultation spaces

• Meditation areas

• Acupuncture and holistic medicine offerings

• Yoga studios and walking/jogging trails

• Rock climbing walls

• Espresso and cocktail bars

• Game rooms and virtual reality gaming spaces

• Corporate sports tournaments and active spaces (indoors and outdoors)

• Theater and music stages
  
  
  

4) Private (and Productive) Work Spaces

 
The trend towards open, collaborative workspaces is a priority for many employers. Dedicated conference rooms featuring large meeting tables (with plenty of built-in charging ports), are welcome havens from noisy common areas. Increasingly popular height-adjustable desks also add an ‘active’ element to the workspace.

Limiting distraction at individual workstations is accomplished through the addition of privacy panels. While not new in concept, privacy panels are easy to install and can work around nearly any workspace. They come in a wide variety of colors and sizes, and are more lightweight and inexpensive than those of previous generations.

 Get the look with Wall Theory’s Privacy Screens.

5) Bringing it Back to Nature 

Being in the proximity of organic life in the office is energizing. Oftentimes a sterile, corporate work environment can be transformed by including biophilic design elements. Surprisingly some of the big tech firms, including Microsoft and Amazon, are leading the way by creating new workspaces that give the feel of the outdoors (and include natural elements like real wood furniture).

A space like this serves as a welcome escape for city-dwelling employees in need of a rejuvenating encounter with nature. The introduction of natural elements like office plants, water features and real wood desks can make a work environment feel more earthy and energizing.

Wall Theory’s AS-IS Brand is a proud partner of Trees For The Future. For every box of AS-IS that is purchased, a tree is planted.

Wall Theory is here to help with your commercial interior designs. Heed inspiration from the top office space trends of 2019, and help your client’s achieve a stylish, and productive workspace.

We also love to work on custom designs! Get in touch with us, and we’ll help your clients create an aesthetic that reflects their brand from start to finish.