5 office design trends you'll want to pay attention to in 2018

There’s no denying that office design has transformed in recent years. Luckily, stuffy cubicle farms and uninspiring rows of desks have been falling out of favour and are being replaced with more imaginative, user-friendly setups. When designing a workspace, companies are now paying more attention to their employees’ specific needs and preferences. Now, jobseekers want much more than just a good salary with benefits. Having a dynamic and comfortable work environment is also seen as very important - and with every year comes an influx of new design solutions and products to help businesses attract and retain the best talent. If you’re thinking about remodelling your office, here are five trends that you’ll want to pay attention to in 2018. 1. Flexibility Although not an entirely new concept in the workplace, flexibility is set to be the watchword in office design this year. Instead of the traditional setup of permanent workstations and designated conference and meeting rooms, design experts are now focused on more flexible layouts. Not only are cubicles becoming a thing of the past, but you can expect to see more meeting rooms doubling up as breakout zones, non-assigned seating solutions and movable room partitions. Having a flexible workplace also means that employees are no longer stuck at their desks from nine to five, five days a week. Having a mixture of both open plan and private spaces gives staff more options by allowing them to choose how and where they work. Rather than one central working area, many offices are being reimagined to feature quiet areas for employees to focus on individual tasks and collaborative areas for idea-sharing and group activities. Comfortable places where workers can use laptops, tablets other digital devices are also becoming a more prominent design feature. 2. Multi-purpose furniture Going hand in hand with the flexible office trend is multi-purpose furniture. Today’s office furniture is far more versatile and adaptable than it used to be, which reflects the constantly-evolving work landscape. While before you may have had a specific conference chair or boardroom table, manufacturers are now making multi-use furniture that can have various roles and be used in different scenarios, such as in meetings, waiting rooms and canteens. Modular designs are also moving to the forefront of office furniture. For example, having desks and chairs that can be moved, stacked and reconfigured to offer multiple combinations can help to create a more dynamic and efficient office. This type of adjustable furniture caters to the changing needs of a company, as well as helping to keep costs down and save space. 3. Informal meeting areas Who says that a business meeting has to take place in a boardroom? Another trend that is gaining traction in the world of work is informal meeting areas. We’ve already seen this in creative companies like Google and Lego, which have paved the way for other businesses to incorporate more casual and unusual collaborative spaces into their office designs. Today, it’s not uncommon to shun formal conference rooms and hold business meetings while sitting on bean bags in a breakout room or standing around a pool table. Some firms are even installing writing walls and media outlets in corridors, lounges and other casual spaces, where employees can take part in brainstorming sessions and give presentations. The idea behind these types of informal areas is that they help to encourage more efficient and productive discussions. In fact, many employers find that having impromptu meetings in more relaxed environments can help to foster a sense of openness and stimulate creativity. 4. Health-focused offices Today’s workers are increasingly health-conscious, so it makes sense that this shift in mindset is reflected in the workplace. In recent years, there has been plenty of research to suggest that a healthy workforce is a more productive one. As a result, businesses are becoming more concerned with their employees’ physical and mental wellbeing. However, this doesn't necessarily mean every workplace needs to have an on-site gym and spa to keep their staff happy and healthy. Small changes, such as allowing for more natural light, buying better furniture and using mood-enhancing décor, is easy to do and can make a big difference. Bringing nature indoors with aesthetically pleasing features like green walls, or providing an outdoor garden or rooftop terrace where staff can go to get some fresh air, can also work wonders for morale and mindset. Thanks to a greater awareness of the negative impact of sedentary work, sales in stand-up and adjustable desks and ergonomic chairs is also increasing. Rather than focusing on functionality, employers are now taking into account comfort and health when purchasing furniture. After all, ergonomically-designed workstations not only benefit the people using them, but also the company - which can gain a more engaged and focused team of workers. 5. Balancing work and play Relaxed breakout areas and recreational facilities are also in vogue. In fact, you may have noticed that more and more companies now offer perks that aren’t necessarily associated with the job, such as games areas, chill-out lounges, napping pods, sports equipment and so on. While this may seem counterproductive, it actually serves to make employees feel more at ease so that they want to be at work. By creating an environment that feels like a home-away-from-home, the idea is that staff will feel less stressed, will stop clock-watching and will want to spend more time in the office. Having chill-out areas with comfortable seating and appealing dining areas gives employees the chance to blow off steam and enjoy a refreshing change of scenery away from the daily grind. This can make work seem enjoyable rather than a chore, which can in turn increase job satisfaction and boost performance. Of course, these are just a few examples of the workplace trends you should keep an eye on in 2018. If you want to stay up to date with the latest designs and are in need of some inspiration, why not browse our range of modern and versatile office furniture today?