Today’s offices have little to do with those of just ten years ago. Trends in office furniture 2023 tell us of environments that are becoming more and more like “third spaces” such as cafeterias, coworking centres and hotels.
The transformation of workspaces in recent years has been of such unprecedented magnitude that today both their design and the very concept of what the office is and what it is used for are being questioned.
There are three main reasons for this new paradigm:
- Technology.
- New forms of flexible working; a transformation accelerated and driven by the pandemic, but which was already there.
- The new demands and requirements of consumers and professionals, who are much more aware of issues such as ecology, social commitment and work-life balance, for example.
The 7 most important trends in office furniture 2023
The “new normal” is hybrid and multi-location working in agile teams. Today’s and tomorrow’s work environments are as multifaceted as the people who work in them. And that’s exactly how it should look: from the perspective of everyone involved.
1. People at the centre of design
The biggest change that the office furniture trends 2023 show us is in the design of spaces, designed to put employees at the centre, with the aim of making the office a capital asset to attract not only new talent, but to retain existing talent.
What is clear is that the office has gone from being the place you have to go to the space you want to go to. So companies are looking for ways to make their employees want to spend more time at their corporate headquarters.
How? By designing environments for employee wellbeing, encouraging natural light, sustainability, collaboration between employees and a generous offer of services.
Of course, an indispensable element to be able to work comfortably regardless of where you are is, without a doubt, the furniture. Ergonomic and comfortable furniture, which ensures correct postures during all working hours, regardless of the activity carried out by the worker at any given time.
Comfort and ergonomics are the most highly valued qualities of furniture, although aspects such as safety, easy cleaning and disinfection, versatility, sustainable and recyclable materials, as well as technology and sensorisation also stand out.
Alongside ergonomics, safety and hygiene, other aspects, such as emotional health, are increasingly finding their way into office design, hence the importance of creating work environments with stimulating design furniture. The trend for biophilic design, with plants incorporated into the furniture, will also continue.
2. Flexibility in a multi-faceted hub
The office is a hub and a home at the same time. It is a focal point for personal exchange, connection and developing ideas together.
How can workspaces satisfy both our need for concentration and communication in equal measure? Flexibility is the key here. Office furniture trends 2023 tell us about spaces that accommodate different concepts at the same time.
Therefore, new offices require flexible furniture to make it easier for people to work in flexible environments.
The new work environments bring together all kinds of spaces and services, as described in the ebook “3×4=12. The formula for the new workspaces“: soft seating areas, library, innovation zones, operational stations, the boulevard, the plaza, recreational and rest areas, etc.
3. Unallocated workstations
Office furniture trends 2023 confirm that unassigned workstations are here to stay.
The shared use of workstations requires new furniture elements such as lockers for personal belongings.
Such non-territorial workstations not only save space; they also bring other benefits, from encouraging collaboration between employees to reducing paper and increasing creativity.
4. Acoustic comfort, a key office furniture trend for 2023
The more open and agile the office environment, the greater the need for products designed to optimise acoustics. Hence the importance of sound-absorbing furniture and solutions, such as sound-absorbing panels or soundproof booths like Vetrospace, which create specialised and visually appealing micro-environments. This is one of the most relevant trends in office furniture 2023.
5. Smart office furniture
Trends in office furniture 2023 also indicate that communication solutions are increasingly merging with furniture, lighting, sound and air conditioning solutions to create optimal working environments for agile teams.
Technological advances have led to an increased demand for smart furniture that provides internet connectivity. In addition, they generally promote better posture and support movement.
6. The casual office
As evidenced by office furniture trends 2023, organisations are creating informal office spaces to foster a collaborative environment among colleagues and increase social interactions in a relaxed atmosphere. This translates into furniture collections that are closer to the world of the home than the traditional office, such as sofas, stools and poufs.
7. Planet-friendly furniture
The growing environmental awareness of consumers is resulting in an increased demand for sustainable practices in eco-friendly processes and products, manufactured under the circular economy production model.
Office furniture manufacturers such as Ofita are increasingly focusing on issues such as eco-design and circular economy, as well as opting for ecological and certified materials. Some of us are going one step further with Level®.
In 2019, Ofita became the first Spanish company in the office furniture sector with Level® – 2 sustainability certification. This standard adopts a global approach, beyond the product, and meets the European requirements for the concepts of Green Public Procurement (a process in which public authorities seek to obtain goods, services or works with a reduced environmental impact) and the circular economy.
