The Top 7 Office Fit Out Trends For 2016.
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At RAP Interiors we believe that workspaces should be more than what’s considered ‘the norm’. Your workspace should be about meeting the needs of your employees through flexible and high quality office design and fit out.
The best way to determine what the normal office space is and what stands out is to look into the latest office fit out trends. So what are the latest trends to look out for when considering your new office space?
Office Tech Solutions
Integrated technology – IT solutions that fold flat into desks means the versatility of a desk and the modern tech solutions provide a “clear desk policy” at the flick of a switch. Through solutions such as tech desking and multimedia screens, office spaces are made clearer and more portable due to how compact everything is.
Google
The new London HQ for Google includes: gyms, a spa, slides and a secret garden. This idea has recently inspired other UK offices to do the same, creating an “at home “feeling when you’re at work.
The funky office design choices that Google have chosen has inspired other offices to take on a similar styling known as ‘The Google effect’.
Clever really -as we are probably finding ourselves spending longer in the office – with home comforts. By providing TV areas, bars and music in the office along with a fully loaded kitchen providing breakfast, lunch and tea – employers are becoming clever at keeping employees working!
Colour
Colour is motivational.
Instead of the stale office colours, the modern office incorporates vivid bold colours with varieties of funky designs and shapes even in the flooring finishes. Matching corporate branding into office furniture fabrics provides an endless choice of funky fabrics, coloured seating, mesh back operator chairs and even branded desks. Colour keeps us happy and interested.
Pantone’s 2016 colour choices are two pastel based tones: rose quartz and serenity, meaning that this year the go to colours are much more stable and are more reminiscent of a sunset. These colours would be perfect for breakout areas due to their relaxing tones.
A great way to incorporate funky colours into your office space is through feature walls, which is not only cost effective but is also visually appealing through a huge range of wall options to choose from.
Natural
Plants being incorporated into the office space is a great way to improve your employees’ health and wellbeing as natural environments provide extra oxidation to the brain and positively impact mood.
One way of incorporating nature into this office is through the use of living walls, which provide a real “outdoors” feeling and keeps us in touch with nature by actually using plants. It’s very trendy to make home comforts a thing of the office. Artificial glass flooring also has a similar effect to this and is perfect for that outdoor feel.
Another way of incorporating nature into the workspace is through the use of eco pods, which can be used outside in order to give your office a more homely feel. Eco pods are also made of natural materials, which further promotes the positive effects of natural environments.
Workspace Optimisation
In short – this means space planning to perfection. Creating office environments that are flexible and that can be altered to accommodate for growth is an absolute MUST for clients. Space is costly and so the wise and creative use of the workplace must add value at every stage.
There are now plenty of ways in which you’re able to customise your workspace for each individual worker, through the use of hot desking and height adjustable furniture workspaces can be altered to fit any workspace needs. Versatile movable pods can be used to customise your office space at a whim, meaning that meetings are easier to organise if space is few and far between.
However if space is an issue then there are all kinds of funky storage solutions that will save space in your office such as hidden storage units that are subtly placed under your desk.
Comfortable and Healthy Working
Wellbeing and ergonomics is one the most talked about subjects in society today. In the UK it has been recorded that 34 million work days have been lost just by work related injuries and long term sickness, the biggest problem being back pain.
Did you know we sit on average a total of 7.7 hours a day without interruption which, has been shown to cause postural backache. Getting the correct posture is one thing, but choosing the right chair is equally important and this is the easy part! A chair needs to support you where you need it. If you get these right you will notice an improvement in productivity and you will have a happy work force. Focus on your companies’ wellbeing, ergonomics and healthy working.
Home from Home
Recently office spaces have been focused on the stylings of a home office with breakout area spaces that allow employees to relax during their breaks. Through vast arrays of office breakout area furniture, there are plenty of ways to ensure your breakout area greatly benefits your employees.
With rocking chairs making a comeback and seating booths with comfy fabrics and iPod docks available for office spaces, it’s clear that funky breakout areas for employees are the ‘in thing’ for 2016.
Employees are treating their workplace more like a second home, which is understandable given the possibilities of having so much versatile furniture in the workspace.
Looking for inspiration in your office – contact us for free advice and ideas for your workspace.
RAP Interiors are an award winning design and build company with our own furniture division.
0333 600 1234
refurb@rapinteriors.com
www.rapinteriors.com
