With the world still adjusting to post-pandemic life, we’ve seen plenty of activity in the office interior design world over the past year. The pandemic has accelerated many existing office design trends, while others are exemplars of cutting-edge innovation that will undoubtedly make way into more spaces throughout 2023.

Office Space Design for Hybrid and Flexible Working – The global pandemic has continued to have a big impact on the way we work, with many companies maintaining a “hybrid” approach that supports a blend of in-office and remote work.

For businesses that will change to hybrid working in 2023, the challenge will be optimise the dead space left by the remote employees. Those who have already made the change typically do so by offering a wide range of furniture and work zones to facilitate specific tasks. This makes good use of the available space and offers elements that the home office cannot, such as pods for deep work and collaboration areas.

Design for Diversity – With a spotlight on inequalities, many companies are now addressing the unique needs of employees from a variety of backgrounds. Here are some of the things you can introduce to embrace diversity: Private Spaces for Quiet; Assistive Technology; Respect for Religious Beliefs.

Ultimately, it is important to engage with all employees during the office design process, as this will lead to inclusive solutions that improve the working environment for everyone.

Human-Centric Design for Wellbeing – Human-centric office design aims to satisfy the professional needs of employees while prioritising their wellbeing. With the pandemic creating a new set of requirements, every element is designed with people in mind, from the furniture to the layout to the aesthetic elements.

In 2023, expect to see more companies introducing new facilities that boost employee wellness. These may include amenities and social spaces, wellness studios, access to outdoor spaces, natural ventilation, bicycle parking spaces, gaming areas and biophilic elements to instil a sense of calm.

Connecting Humans with Nature – Humans have an innate attraction to nature, so introducing biophilic elements aims to reduce stress, aid mental recuperation and create positive connections between employees and the spaces they use.

There are plenty of ways to introduce biophilic elements to office. Natural elements are also important for companies with carbon aspirations, as greenery helps to instil an eco-friendly ethos through office design. If you’re passionate about sustainability, a reputable interior design company will give guidance on eco-friendly elements like lighting and flooring, source materials and furniture from supply chains with green accreditations, and utilise local labour to reduce fuel consumption.

Skill Sharing Facilities – Knowledge sharing reduces repeated mistakes, helps employees make better decisions and increases productivity by 10-40%. Therefore, it makes sense to encourage skill sharing by making it part of the company culture.

Skill sharing is particularly important for hybrid workers (95% of employees would come into work for collaboration alone). It may be a case that they come into the office for this reason alone, so as hybrid grows in popularity in 2023, expect to see skill sharing facilities on the rise too.

While there is plenty going on in the office interior design world, it seems like the overarching theme is “power to the people”. With a host of wellbeing trends and an emphasis on inclusivity, employees are being put first. Arguably, offices have never been so people-centric, and that can only be a good thing!

Click here to read the full article: 10 Office Interior Design Trends for 2023 – Blog by Rap Interiors