According to the Society of British Interior Design, offices have increased their refurbishment work in 2009 by a whopping 43%. It’s a staggering figure when you consider 2009 was the year businesses staggered under the weight of the recession. But the reason for a whole swathe of office refurbs has been put down to changing working habits. As flexible working is in and more employees are opting for home working options over office based work, employees are beginning to feel demoralised by ugly office furniture or strip lighting. As a result, more offices are upgrading their office space with office furniture that looks more like our living room furniture; making offices more welcoming is one way of alluring employees back from the comfort of their homes.
As well as a move to homelier offices, there’s a trend for offices to become increasingly open plan, with office furniture that stimulates team work rather than creates divisions for a less hierarchical approach. Trends include kidney shaped computer desks that are softer and more approachable and cushion covered pedestals for people to perch and chat to colleagues on.