Workplace Trends to Watch in 2021
A new year is just around the corner and as one year comes to an end, we like to start looking ahead to what the new year might be like. 2020 was most decidedly a year that did not go the way anybody expected it to, but we have been seeing signs of what types of workplace trends could be popular in 2021 as people continue to return to the office.
Resimercial Design
Resimercial design has been a popular workplace design trend for the past few years and it’s one that could have a big moment in 2021. Resimercial design is all about bringing some of the comforts of home into the office. For example, an office lounge area might be designed to remind you of spending time in your own living room, offering you a comfortable place to take a meet up with colleagues or to take a break and recharge your mental batteries.
Not only does resimercial design create a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere that employees and visitors love, after the pandemic, it may simply feel normal. After spending much of 2020 working at home, many people have discovered things they like about it and resimercial design can be a way to embrace some of the good things about working from home while taking out some of the difficulties.
Flexible Spaces
If there’s anything we’ve learned in 2020, it’s that you never know what life will throw your way and sometimes, you have to change quickly to keep up. Flexible office design is another trend that has been popular in recent years, but because of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s something that will likely be very influential in 2021.
As we head into the new year, we’re still not entirely sure what “the new normal” will mean for offices once a COVID vaccine becomes widely available. But flexible layouts and easily movable furniture make it possible to create a workplace that meets your current and future needs.
Photos Courtesy of Caprice Aerts from Artscapes
Creative Partitions
One thing our team spent a lot of time doing in 2020 was installing glass and plexiglass partitions in offices to help people return to work safely. Over the past few years, when the subject of wellness in the workplace came up, people were often thinking about things like in-office fitness centers or finding ways to encourage people to get up and move. But this year, partitions are going to be a new addition to those wellness discussions.
Even though glass and plexiglass partitions are popular because of how easy they are to clean and keep the open concept atmosphere, there are lots of other stylish and creative options to add the spatial boundaries you need. For example, some of the vendors we work with have seen growing demand for room dividers that include plants. Check out some examples of plant dividers. Mobile whiteboards are another option that can also provide a convenient writing surface while separating workstations or other spaces.
Support for Video Conferencing
Video conferencing has played a vital role in the way we work in 2020 and it will likely remain very important for the foreseeable future, even after more people return to the office. Because of this, many companies are interested in creating meeting spaces that include integrated support for video conferencing technology so that people can easily connect with other team members or clients, wherever they may be working from.
Acoustic Controls
Between all those extra conference calls and the addition of various hard, easily cleanable surfaces, offices might suddenly seem a little noisier in the new year. Because of this, some people are expecting 2021 to be a big year for taking steps to control noise levels, whether it’s private booths where people can make calls without disturbing others or adding acoustic panels to walls and ceilings to help keep noise in the office down overall.
Planning to give your office a new look in the new year? Premier Construction & Design can help. Take a look at our portfolio and case studies to see some of the other projects we’ve created in the Metro Detroit area. When you’re ready to get started, contact us so that we can learn more about your project.
