Just like everything else in our fast-paced and rapidly developing world, office furniture looks set to evolve significantly over the next few decades. But what will office furniture of the future look like? In this article, we consider the innovative and creative modifications that we can expect to see.
Improved Ergonomics
As we become increasingly aware of our physical and mental wellbeing, the desire for office furniture that supports a healthy body and mind will increase. Over the next few decades, our knowledge of ergonomics will continue to grow, providing us with the ability to produce evermore supportive office furniture. We can expect office chairs to become more personalised and customisable to ensure that they meet the needs of each office worker. As technology continues to advance, we will also see new and innovative tech become incorporated into the design of our office chairs.
Collaborative Style
Post-pandemic, office layout is shifting to accommodate a more collaborative style of working. With hybrid working becoming increasingly popular, employees are spending less time in the office, so when they do head in, they need as much opportunity as possible to communicate with their colleagues and to bounce ideas off each other. Long gone are the traditionally segregated office partitions, the future office will embrace an open-plan layout, encouraging innovation and collaboration. Furniture that supports collaboration will become increasingly popular over the coming decades.
Focused On Wellbeing
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all keen to adopt a more healthy lifestyle. The importance of looking after our well-being, both physical and mental, has become clear following two years of social distancing measures and imposed lockdowns. Employers are also motivated to take care of the well-being of their workforce, inspired to cut down on sick days and boost waning productivity levels.
Office design can have a significant impact on employee wellbeing. We are likely to see more investment in height-adjustable sit-stand desks in the next few years. Many workplaces will go a step further and introduce innovative desk bikes to encourage an active and productive workforce. The future office is likely to have high-tech lighting systems which work with our natural circadian rhythm to support our sleep-wake cycle and prevent fatigue during work hours. Designers may choose to incorporate more skylights into office plans, to allow workers to experience more natural daylight while at work. Access to increased outdoor areas will have a positive effect on wellbeing. While office equipment is best housed indoors, social and dining areas could be set up outside, with the appropriate comfortable furniture.
Further down the line, we may even see the widespread introduction of sleep pods, allowing employees to grab some quick shut-eye after lunch and beat the dreaded afternoon slump!
Minimalistic Look
You have probably heard of minimalist design before. It became very popular within the domestic interior design scene several years ago. The idea is to minimise clutter and just include essential furniture pieces within your room design. Minimalist style makes it easier to keep things clean and tidy and helps to keep the mind calm and stress-free. Offices can accumulate clutter very quickly, with wires trailing all over the place and mountains of paperwork. The minimalistic office of the future will incorporate lots of practical storage solutions and organisation options to keep things neatly hidden away. Flexispot already offers plenty of solutions to minimise your office clutter, such as a cable spine to neaten up trailing wires and a handy under desk drawer to store away your essentials in an easy-to-reach location.
Technological Advancements
Technological advancements impact every part of our modern life, and office furniture is no different. From built-in USB ports and wireless charging pads to gesture control systems, smart desk technology is set to take over the office. New technology can really help to boost work productivity and efficiency. If you are part of a forward-thinking business, expect to embrace the high-tech office sooner than everybody else!
Move To More Eco-Friendly Materials
It's fair to say that we have all become more aware of our carbon footprint and the environmental impact of our daily choices. Most businesses and organisations are making a conscious effort to become sustainable, and our choice of office furniture will likely follow suit. As well as having a positive environmental impact, choosing office furniture made using eco-friendly materials will prove more cost-effective in the long run. Without a doubt, high-quality and well-made office furniture will last longer, so investing in well-designed furniture helps to prevent the throwaway culture from spreading into the office environment.
Final Thoughts
Post-pandemic, our office spaces must continue to adapt and evolve along with our style of working. Given that most of us have got used to working in the comfort of our own home recently, the future office will likely be made to look and feel more homely by adopting what is known as a “resimercial” style - a mixture of “residential” and “commercial”.
