Covid-19 dominated 2020 and drastically changed almost every aspect of our lives. Last year, the country was on the defensive trying to react to the waves of the pandemic as best possible. Now as we enter 2021, it’s time to take proactive measures to help us get to a new normal. When it comes to commercial and office spaces, Covid-19 has brought new trends that will become commonplace. Here’s what you can expect to see in commercial interior design moving forward.
1. Dedicated Video Conference Spaces
Working from home is going to become commonplace in many office environments, even when people return to work. Google announced back in 2020 that all employees would have the option to work from home until Summer of 2021 at least.
Because of this, a key office design trend will be more dedicated video conferencing spaces for team meetings. This will involve private rooms or screened-off areas with high-quality video and microphone resources to make sure employees can always stay connected.
2. Well-Designed Space Division
Before the unexpected turn of 2020, offices were becoming more and more open plan. However, in 2021, this is going to take a rather sharp U-turn and division is going to become key.
Glass dividers quickly became a staple office design in the latter half of 2020. This trend is going to continue but evolve to give more attention to the aesthetics of the office as well as protection to employees.
Rather than simply retrofitting screens and partitions, new offices will have full glass rooms within the space that give much-needed separation without compromising on the design of the space. As well as living walls of planters and write-on walls and screens designed for collaboration,
3. No More Hot Desking
Although we don’t want to see a full return to the tedious cubicle layout offices had just a few years ago, it’s safe to say that hot desking will be let go.
This was a growing trend pre-pandemic that gave people the flexibility to set their own work hours and work where and when they needed to. However, this is no longer safe for employees and increases the spread of Covid-19.
Now, we’ll see employees having their own dedicated workspaces, as well as small meeting areas for collaboration that will need to take deep cleaning and hygiene into consideration.
4. A Resimercial Feel
This is a somewhat overused term in recent months, but office aesthetics are going to have a focus on achieving a resimercial feel. This means incorporating a residential look into a commercial space to help employees have an easier transition from home to work. This is especially important after spending so many months in isolation at home.
This casual approach will be seen in aesthetics as well as schedules and company culture. Giving employees the mental support they need to get back to work and a new form of normal post-pandemic.
Want Advice on How to Implement Interior Design Trends in 2021?
At Creative Edge, we specialise in designing and installing commercial and retail spaces. We are at the forefront of 2021 trends and have the expertise to help you create a functional, safe commercial space for your employees. Get in touch today to find out more about how we can help you.
