Trends in office planning

Furnishing trends for offices have changed a lot in recent years. While the focus used to be mainly on fashionable colours and trendy furniture, today it's all about making the best use of the available space, creating a pleasant atmosphere and a productive working environment. We go into the most important trends that are in focus when furnishing an office:

Office lighting - the be-all and end-all for a pleasant atmosphere

Lighting plays an important role in the working environment. Well-designed lighting can improve the well-being of employees and increase their productivity. Daylight is of course the best lighting, but well-designed artificial lighting can also improve the mood and motivation of employees. Here, people are increasingly turning to intelligent lighting systems that can adapt to natural daylight and reduce energy consumption.

Encounter zones create space for exchange

Meeting zones are an important trend in office design. They provide a place for employees to meet and exchange ideas. A well-designed meeting zone can also help employees feel more comfortable and creative. This is not just about providing seating, but also about making the space appealing and incorporating technology to enable interactive presentations, for example.

Electrification and power supply at the workplace

Modern offices are full of electronic devices and technologies, so it is important that the power supply is sufficient and safe. Well-planned electrification can help ensure that cables and sockets do not become an obstacle, but are discreetly and effectively integrated into the office layout. Modern electrification solutions such as those from maxCONNECT can create exciting power supply options. Office furniture can be inconspicuously electrified with compact built-in solutions.

Flexible working environment for employees

Central zones are a new trend in office design. They offer a flexible working environment for employees who are not tied to a fixed workstation. These zones can be equipped with different workstations that are tailored to the needs of the employees. This is also about employees being able to freely choose their workplace and be more productive and satisfied in a flexible working environment.

Satisfied employees are more productive

Employee satisfaction is an important factor in the success of a company. A well-designed office environment can have a great impact on the well-being and productivity of employees. An inviting atmosphere, comfortable furniture, good lighting and a pleasant room temperature are just a few elements that can help employees feel at ease and satisfied. It is therefore important to keep employee needs in mind when planning the office.

The home office has established itself as a new way of working and shows that a flexible working environment can significantly increase employee satisfaction. Some employees prefer to work from home and are more productive in an environment they can design and control themselves. A combination of home office and office work can be an ideal solution to increase employee productivity and satisfaction.

In times of a shortage of skilled workers, companies must pay special attention to creating an attractive working environment in order to attract and retain qualified employees. A modern office environment with state-of-the-art technology and a good working atmosphere can help employees feel comfortable and happy to work for a company.

Desk sharing for optimal use of available space

Desk sharing is a trend that is becoming more and more popular. Here, several employees share a workplace that can be used at different times. Due to the increased activity in home offices, employees are no longer in the office 5 days a week and therefore do not necessarily need their own workstation. This can help to use office space more effectively and save costs. A well-designed desk-sharing environment can also help employees get to know each other better and exchange ideas. The prerequisite for this is flexible power and multimedia connections at the workstations.

Choice of tables - the agony of choice

The choice of tables is an important factor for the ergonomics of the workplace. It is important that the tables are adjustable in height and provide a sufficient working surface. It can also be an advantage if the desks can be equipped with connections, for example to integrate wireless charging stations or to integrate monitors. More and more companies are also opting for height-adjustable sit-stand desks here to give employees more flexibility in choosing their working position. Thanks to flexible cable management solutions, clean cable management is also possible with height-adjustable tables.

Despite the above trends, mistakes can also happen in office planning. Here are five common mistakes to avoid when planning an office:

• Insufficient power supply: An insufficient power supply can become an obstacle and make it difficult to work with electronic equipment. It is important that the power supply is sufficient and safe to ensure an optimal working environment. Especially in meeting zones and central zones, sufficient connections should be available.
• No consideration of staff needs: Office design should focus on the needs of employees. An environment that does not meet the needs of employees can lead to dissatisfaction and lower productivity.
• Poor lighting: Poor lighting can affect the productivity and well-being of employees. It is important that lighting is carefully planned and adapted to needs.
• Wrong choice of furniture: The choice of furniture can have a big impact on ergonomics and comfort at the workplace. It is important that the furniture is adapted to the needs of the employees and provides sufficient space.
• Lack of flexibility: An office environment should be designed to be flexible to meet changing needs. Lack of flexibility can lead to lower productivity and dissatisfaction.

Overall, office planning is an important factor for the success of a company. A well-designed office environment can help employees be more productive and satisfied. When planning an office, the needs of the employees should be the focus and attention should be paid to the latest trends and technologies.