Top 10 office design trends for 2023

The benefits to being conscious of workplace sustainability are two-fold: 1) Employees expect their companies to make meaningful efforts to reduce its carbon footprint. Incorporating these efforts into workplace design is as much about talent acquisition and retention as it is about doing the right thing; and 2) Energy-efficient products and green appliances reduce greenhouse gases, yes, but they also reduce otherwise soaring energy costs.

That’s why employers are embracing energy-efficient lighting, water coolers, vending machines and printers, while also looking at upcycled furniture for communal spaces.

A couple clever ideas we’re seeing is to 1) incorporate increased shelving in kitchen areas to promote reusable coffee cups and plates, while also aligning with the paper- and plastic-free policies that many organizations are adopting; and 2) creating space for bike storage to encourage employees to take a more environmentally friendly approach to commuting.

With open space concepts becoming increasingly popular for more than a decade, designers have been on the lookout for stylish means of sound absorption for years. Even with a slight shift away from the open styles we might be accustomed to, this challenge has remained in place. Fortunately, modern sound management solutions have come a long way by incorporating art and design into their products so that a commercial office designer doesn't have to choose between ambiance and aesthetics.

Plants in an office have probably never gone out of style, but the prominence placed on bringing the outdoors indoors is a big trend in 2023. Throughout the year, expect to hear the term “biophilic design” a lot. This concept refers to mimicking and integrating nature, and reaping all the health and motivation benefits that come with it.

In practical terms, it means we'll be seeing more than just a couple potted plants in offices as flowerboxes, suspended macrame planters and even entire green walls take over workplaces to add warmth and life to what can all too often be the cold and institutional office tone.

It wasn’t so long ago that office walls everywhere were being covered with dry-erase, white-board paint. In theory, it’s a great idea to inspire collaboration anywhere at any time. In practice, though, it too often leads to employees being surrounded by empty white spaces, more aligned with uninviting institutions than welcoming workplaces.

Large, customized graphics on office walls and meeting room glass have become a popular change to this earlier trend. These are crisp and cool graphics that can reinforce organizational values through corporate branding or inspire a sense of community with local or regional skylines. Even inspirational quotes in hand-crafted fonts can be a nice, positive addition to the daily lives of workers.

For designers wanting to show clients what graphics could look like on their walls, check out how 2020 Visual Impression can help you make a presentation that will close the deal.

One trend that’s carried over from pre-pandemic times and has seen a resurgence in home design as well is the use of natural colors. Gone are the days when offices were slathered in grey paint floor to ceiling, called modern and then opened up to workers. Today, offices are expected to look modern, but also have life to their appearance.

This will be achieved this year by using natural colors like sandstone pink, light green or earthier shades like beige or light brown. It’s also not uncommon to see a splash of blue or cobalt, if not as an accent wall, then with furnishings or even office cabinetry.

Too much space may seem, at first, like a good problem to have. However, designers are being asked more and more often to remodel commercial office spaces that are adapting to increased remote and hybrid workers. It can be easy to run out of ideas if every client is complaining about having 100 desk spaces when no more than 20 people are ever in the office at a given time.

One trend we’re seeing this year is to devote that extra space to leisure through remodeled fitness centers, yoga studios, game rooms, dining halls and mediation areas. In addition to providing a beneficial use for the space, leisure areas help battle burnout and fatigue while contributing to happier feelings being associated with coming into work. It may not completely eradicate the “Sunday sads” but amenities like this can make showing up to work on Monday morning a little more pleasant than it’s traditionally been.

Another similarity we’re seeing between home and office design is the use of wood. Not only does the material contrast well with computers, keyboards, monitors and other work tools, wood also has a way of making any space feel softer, warmer and homier. Think: wood-stained desktops, hardwood flooring, wooden-based furniture and even decorative elements on walls.

In addition to contrasting well with computer equipment, wood looks amazing when paired with metal and concrete, allowing mixed materials to provide a little bit of originality in spaces that have been traditionally uniform in appearance and feel.

Technology may play a significant role in allowing people to work remotely, but that doesn’t mean designers should shy away from incorporating tech into workplace design.

The “smart office” concept is one that brings technology, data and office design together to maximize workplace efficiency, security and general comfort. We touched on the importance of sustainability this year, and this ties in with that through heating/cooling and lighting systems that are connected to layouts and capable of collecting data to determine occupancy rate. Another example available right now is a system that connects sensors, security cameras and access points to increase security.

For business owners, running a “smart office” translates to lower energy costs and an excellent reputation-builder for being on the cutting edge. For employees, their workplace is at once a more comfortable, safer environment in which to work.