Office design trends for 2023

The last few years have taught us that the world of work can be somewhat unpredictable – so it’s always good to have one eye on the future and keep up to date with the latest trends. In this blog post, we share our office design trend predictions for 2023.

Creating a home from home

A recent survey has shown that, as of November 2022, over 30% of full-time UK employees are working a hybrid working schedule. With so many of us experiencing some home working during the week, it’s no wonder that office design is shifting to reflect this.

A big trend for 2023 is going to be more relaxed office environments. This will include plenty of access to creature comforts – just like you’d get at home. Think cosy furniture, plenty of retreat and relaxation spots and tech-free zones. We also predict that many businesses will place much more importance on communal areas. Kitchens and bathrooms for example will become much higher spec to provide an extra level of comfort for staff members.

Don’t be fooled though. This trend isn’t about recreating a home environment – offices are supposed to be very different spaces. Instead, the idea is to borrow ideas from the home to create a space employees feel comfortable to create and innovate.

An emphasis on employee experience

With hybrid working now very much the norm, providing seamless home/office working continues to be a priority into 2023. This year, we predict more organisations will invest in technology in their workspace that makes it even easier for employees to ‘plug in and go’. After all, there’s nothing more frustrating than making a trip into the office and not being able to access all your systems and documents when you get there.

Enabling those working at home to contribute effectively is essential too. Meeting rooms will be set up with technology that better enables hybrid gatherings. For example, dual screens will allow meeting participants to present their work and still see those who are participating remotely. And say goodbye to the flip chart paper and post-it notes. Ideas will be gathered online using collaboration management software like Miro or Jamboard for example.

Continuing trends

Designing for wellbeing

As we get into 2023, mental health in the workplace continues to be a major focus. Sadly, rates of burnout, anxiety and depression continue to rise. This year, we predict even more businesses will look to support the wellbeing of their employees through carefully considered office design. Increased personalisation of workplaces and biophilic design are just two of the wellbeing design trends we expect to increase. You can read more in this blog post.

Sustainable office design

As the UK’s zero carbon targets draw ever closer, sustainable office design is a trend that looks set to continue in 2023. This isn’t just about recycling bins and cutting down on single use plastic (although this is a good start!). Instead, companies will look to fundamentally change their office space to make the biggest impact they can. This could include large-scale retrofits to make the office more energy efficient for example. We also expect to see changes to working practices. Going paper-free or introducing climate action training for staff could become more prevalent.

Designing for the future

Office design in 2023 looks set to be as exciting as it has been over the last few years, as businesses continue to adapt following the pandemic. If you’re ready to create the office of your dreams this year, why not get in touch to find out how we can help.