It’s truly an exciting time for office spaces! Interior designers have new materials to play with, interesting concepts to generate, and new tech to help them achieve the kind of look they want. With such resources, having an office with white, barely decorated walls, grey flooring, and dull lighting simply won’t do, especially if you have a brand identity to maintain.

It’s time to step away from the traditional office space concept and get creative. Here are ten design ideas to liven up the workplace to keep you and your team inspired all day every day. We divided these based on work styles and the kind of work your company does.

Trendy and productive office spaces, here we come!

FOR TEAMS THAT WANT FLEXIBILITY AND FREEDOM TO MOVE AROUND

The start-up

Must-haves: Standing desks, cozy couches on the main work area, private nooks in case some people want to break away from the team setting, and laptop desks that are light and easy to transfer.

Why this style:

• • Having plenty of standing work space breaks the monotony of sitting all day. More importantly, you’re helping keep everyone healthy and in good shape. Read about the benefits of standing work spaces here.

• • Soft and comfortable couches in the main work area dismantle the traditional office vibe. It’s also great for teams who frequently need to collaborate but don’t want to take their work to the conference room.

The newsroom

Must-haves: Lots of open space, plenty of flexible seating options (a combination of office chairs and bean bags would do), and individual desks that you can easily move around and connect together (in effect, creating a conference table) when the need calls for it. Do away with dividers and cubicle walls.

Why this style:

• • The newsroom style is great for teams who are almost always collaborating. The individual desks still maintain personal space and, when pushed together, create a larger table for impromptu meetings.
  • The flexibility, not to mention the generous amounts of open space, allows constant communication among team members. Collaboration will constantly flow with minimal to no disruptions. This is  great, especially if you work in a fast-paced environment.

The social hub

Must-haves: Divider-free work desks to create an open-space layout and common areas with cozy seating. All these are arranged to encourage interaction among team members. Remember: no man is an island.

Why this style:

• • An office where employees can freely converse and interact is an environment that fosters rapport and friendships. This is key if you want to encourage a sense of unity, not just in the workplace but also in the entire company. Nobody wants to work in a place where people can’t make friends. Women, in particular, like to make close relationships where they work.
    
  • In this Gallup study, it was discovered that friendships at work also help to enhance performance. With a social set-up, you’re not only inviting your employees to make friends — you’re also helping them to work even better.

FOR CREATIVE TYPES

The classroom

Must-haves: Flexible seating options, lots of writing places and platforms (whiteboards, blackboards, etc.) in gathering spaces so your team can discuss their ideas.

Why this style:

• • It can be challenging to talk about matters or explain key points without the assistance of writing materials. With whiteboards or blackboards, you and your team can easily illustrate concepts, charts, or idea maps. This is especially helpful if your work concentrates on design.
  • The classroom setting isn’t just for work. You can also use it for after-work sessions, where teammates can share their knowledge or expertise on other matters (not specifically work-related). Like a real classroom, it can be both educational and fun.

The artist studio

Must-haves: Decor giving pops of color, white or blackboards, compact work desks that can easily be moved from one place to another, samples of the company’s work hung on the walls as artwork. With an artist studio, sources of inspiration should be everywhere. Good lighting is a key feature as well.

Why this style:

• • Teams engaged in creative and highly visual work should have ample space to play and design. White and blackboards help with illustration and compact desks can be pushed together should team gatherings and discussions be organized.
  • An office inspired by an artist studio isn’t just for graphic and visual designers. Spaces can easily be converted to suit other creative types, depending on the kind of work you do or the products you produce.

The creative lab

Must-haves: The essentials: desks that can easily be moved around, flexible seating options, and casual common areas. Add nooks for small team meetings, inspiration boards, and idea banks to keep the inspiration flowing throughout the office.

Why this style:

• • It’s an office layout that fits any type of creative work. Common areas can easily be a meeting space for large teams, while others can focus on their projects using the smaller nooks. Team members can regularly exchange tips and inspiration at the idea bank, which can come in the form of a board with post-it notes, for instance.
  • Creative types don’t like to be shoved in one corner. This style of workspace allows them the flexibility and freedom they need, all while keeping them focused. There’s a constant exchange of ideas, creating avenues for collaboration and out-of-the-box ideas.

The DIY space

Must-haves: Individual and customizable work spaces, clear but unobtrusive demarcations through carpets or panels, and open spaces that can easily be converted into smaller areas with the use of a single and inexpensive material, such as wooden frames.

Why this style:

• • Let’s face it: each of us has our own distinct style and design preferences. With this DIY setting, you’re letting each team member decorate their respective work areas as they see fit. As a result, their personality shines through, they do their job in a space they actually like, and most importantly, their sense of belonging increases. Check out this case study where a Rotterdam call center let their employees choose the type of environment they’d like to work in.
    
  • It’s actually a clever way to insert your branding into the workplace, especially if it involves creativity and freedom. If you’re afraid of making the office look like it’s all over the place, simple elements such as wooden beams and consistent lighting can make the entire office still appear coherent.

FOR THOSE WHO KEEP SELF-CARE AT THE FOREFRONT

The office that motivates

Must-haves: All the usual workplace furnishings and decor, complemented with accent walls and artwork displaying motivational words and slogans. Some may think it’s cheesy, but such inspirational words actually work.

You can make this even better. If you have artists in your team, commission them to make a mural or any type of artwork, as long as it’s motivational. Check with your landlord first so you and your team can plan accordingly.

Why this style:

• • Whether you manage a small team or oversee a large one, it’s hard to determine if an employee is having a bad day or not. Or maybe you’re the one who needs the boost. Either way, motivational quotes sprinkled all over the office can provide that instant pick-me-up and get you going for the rest of the day.
  • Motivational quotes don’t just boost anyone’s self-esteem. These can also help you coach your employees. The very idea alone of somebody believing you can achieve whatever it is you want to achieve is powerful, especially in the workplace.

The fitness center

Must-haves: Ideally for an active and health-minded team, this office inspired by a fitness center should have plenty of open spaces where employees can stretch, walk around, or even exercise when all the work is done. Privacy screens for team members and identified “fitness zones” are also great additions.

Why this style:

• • Sitting all day has serious consequences to one’s health. With this type of office layout, you encourage employees to get up and move to get their blood pumping. Increased physical activity can also help to keep your team members alert and productive for longer periods of time.
  • It transforms your office into a multi-functional environment. If you have enough space, consider devoting an entire room to health and fitness. You don’t need to invest in expensive equipment — unless you want to. Yoga mats, exercise balls, and dumbells in varying weights are enough. You can even go one step further and invite personal instructors to hold weekly classes. This will boost employee retention and workplace relationships.

The recharging office

Must-haves: If the gym-inspired office gets employees moving, the spa-like office creates spaces where your team members can sit back and recharge. Quiet breakout spaces, cozy nooks, and plush seating are a must. Bonus feature: sleeping pods.

Why this style:

• • When the workload is too much to bear, it’s important to take a break. Introducing recharge rooms in the workplace helps you and your employees to unplug for some time, realign their focus, and get back to work reenergized.
  • Recharge rooms come in many forms. It can be a quiet room decked out in aromatherapy candles and diffusers. It can be a rec room with board games and books. As long as these provide that much needed space for sanctioned zoning out, it’s all good.

Inspired? Talk to us at [email protected] or give us a call at (02) 284-8789 / 0917 899 1111. Learn more about our custom built offices so we can tailor it for your team.