Innovative Office Furniture Trends for Contemporary Workspaces

Creating the right workspace for a business requires a deep understanding of employee needs and what makes them perform their best.

When setting up a new business space most entrepreneurs fall into the same trap: they focus on furniture that looks great instead of its performance.

This is a costly mistake.

Office furniture and supplies choices can make or break team productivity. With the global market projected to reach $99.58 billion by 2032 there are a lot of innovative options to explore.

In This Article We Will Cover:

• Why office furniture choices are more important than ever before
• Top trends for setting up modern workspaces
• How to choose the right furniture for your new business space
• Making smart investments that pay off

Why Office Furniture Choices Are More Important Than Ever Before

Office furniture choices matter.

This is obvious when you consider how much time people spend sitting in chairs and working at desks. The average employee sits for over eight hours every single day.

Couple that with the furniture most offices are still equipped with and you end up with a lot of discomfort, health problems and workers who just can’t focus.

Studies show that ergonomic workspaces can boost productivity by up to 17%.

This is not a small margin. A 17% increase in productivity for a team of 10 workers equals almost two additional effective employees working for you and it does not cost you a dime to hire anyone.

Ergonomics and productivity aside, when picking office furniture for setting up a new business space special attention should be paid to pieces that allow employees to be comfortable while at the same time facilitate teamwork.

Modern office layouts demand furniture that suits a variety of working styles and optimizes employee health.

Old school workspaces of identical cubicles and one-size-fits-all desks are a thing of the past.

The way employees work and interact is constantly changing which means office furniture also needs to be able to accommodate new requirements.

Fortunately, the industry is responding to the need for flexibility and change and the options available to those looking for better solutions are rapidly increasing.

Top Trends To Set Up A Modern Workspace

These are the furniture trends taking over modern offices as we speak. Here is a closer look at the items that address specific problems business owners face when outfitting a productive workspace.

Ergonomic Everything

Ergonomics is not a fad.

Height-adjustable desks have become the norm in offices. Having a workplace where employees can alternate between sitting and standing throughout the day prevents them from suffering due to the prolonged time spent in one position.

Office chairs now are built with lumbar support, adjustable armrests and back support, as well as made of breathable material in order to help employees focus on their work rather than their back.

Modular And Flexible Systems

Work styles change. Furniture needs to be able to follow suit.

Modular furniture systems allow businesses to reconfigure their office space on the fly. Is today a day for meetings but you need individual workstations tomorrow?

Modular furniture makes the switch seamless.

Modular furniture systems are especially useful for:

• Growing businesses which scale quickly
• Teams that move from project-oriented to individual work frequently
• Businesses with limited office space
• Companies that want to test various layout configurations

The best modular systems are not only fully functional but also pleasing to the eye. Flexible no longer means ugly.

Sustainable Materials

Sustainability is no longer a trend but a requirement.

Businesses are increasingly turning to furniture made of recycled or reclaimed materials, as well as more sustainable materials.

Sustainable furniture aligns with the general business Corporate Responsibility goals while often providing cost savings down the line.

In addition, furniture built with sustainable materials is more durable which means better quality products mean pieces last longer without needing replacement.

Technology Integration

Office furniture now comes pre-integrated with the latest technology.

Workstations include built-in wireless charging pads for employees’ devices, cable management systems and outlets.

Conference tables are fitted with pop-up screens, as well as connectivity and power supply ports to keep team members’ devices charged and connected.

Technology integration minimizes clutter and creates more organised workstations. Employees like knowing they will not have to search for an outlet or deal with tangled wires.

Acoustic Solutions

Open offices brought on the noise issue. Furniture manufacturers provided the answer.

Acoustic panels and sound-absorbing dividers or phone booths with no compromise on aesthetics seamlessly integrated into the overall office design.

The result is an office that facilitates collaboration but also provides employees with opportunities for focused work time when needed.

How To Choose The Right Furniture For Your Business Space

Picking office furniture for a new business space means looking beyond what pieces look like in the catalogues.

Start by asking yourself the following questions.

Begin with the function.

What exactly does the team do all day long? What are the core components of their workflow?

The requirements of a writer’s workspace will be different from that of sales representatives, customer support, or software development, for example.

Take exact measurements of the entire space before buying anything. Measure walkways, doorways, emergency exits and other areas to account for regular traffic flow through the office.

Ask to trial before you buy.

The vast majority of quality furniture suppliers have trial periods or showroom visits.

Use these opportunities to the fullest. What might look like a perfect piece online might feel just awful when sitting on it in person or at the office.

Plan for the long-term.

Cheap furniture always comes with the price tag that eventually becomes much more expensive to sustain in terms of repairs, replacements and even productivity loss. Quality furniture can hold up for decades and usually comes with warranty included.

Think of the brand.

The office environment says a lot about a business.

Clients and potential employees notice those details. Make sure the choices you make regarding furniture match the overall company culture you are working so hard to build.

Making Smart Investments That Pay Off

Office furniture should not be an expense.

It should be an investment in the team, employee retention, and overall business growth.

All the furniture trends we have covered in this article point to one thing: putting people first.

From ergonomics to reduce injury and overall discomfort to flexible furniture systems that allow the business to grow and evolve as needs change.

Sustainability demonstrates a business’ values. Technology integration into furniture rids employees of daily work friction.

Smart business owners know that the work space directly impacts the results.

They pick furniture that supports modern team members work and does not require them to adapt to outdated layouts and supplies.

The market for furniture for offices is still rapidly evolving.

New materials, smarter design and technology keep raising the bar for what a productive office can become.

Bringing It All Together

Setting up an effective contemporary workspace means making informed choices regarding furniture pieces.

Pay special attention to ergonomics to protect employees’ health and productivity. Modular and flexible furniture systems will allow a business to grow along with its needs and values. Sustainability also means better durability and less cost down the line. Technology integration is key. The less friction in the daily work the better the results. Add acoustic furniture items to better manage noise in an office.

These are not expensive luxuries but practical investments which business owners can start reaping rewards from as the result of increased work output and happier employees.

Office furniture should be considered an investment that is taken seriously when setting up the business. Retooling or retrofitting later down the line is always more expensive and disruptive to a business’ operations than proper planning from the start.

Take your time, evaluate your options, visit showrooms, try chairs and desks, talk to suppliers about your specific needs.

The office is not just about how it looks on the outside. It is about what it does for the people that work there every single day.