It seems clear at this point that the workplace has changed for good. Covid-19 shook up the world of work big time, but there was always a question mark over whether or not everything would snap back to the way it was before. In 2023, it’s become eminently obvious that it isn’t going to.
So, instead of questioning whether hybrid working is here to stay or not, most businesses are instead asking whether they can refine it to make it better – and a core piece of the hybrid working puzzle is of course the design of your office.
Most offices – even those designed just five or 10 years ago – simply have not been built with hybrid working in mind. So, we thought it was the perfect time to create an introductory guide on the subject. How can you bring your office up to speed with the hybrid working trend—and get it right the first time around? Here are some top tips from our designers.
Flexibility is key
If you want to plan an office space that is suitable for hybrid working style, your key consideration has to be flexibility. Unlike in a traditional office, you’re not likely to have the same people showing up every day. Some days, you’ll have a full house. Others, you may only have a handful of employees in.
So, how can you make your office more flexible? For starters, you can invest in portable, modular office furniture. The hybrid working boom has sparked a new wave of innovation in the office furniture world, and there are now tonnes of amazing products out there. What used to be static furniture has now been fitted with wheels. Pieces that were traditionally used to create zones can now be multi-functional with built-in storage. The possibilities are endless.
Switching to reconfigurable furniture will allow your team to adapt the office to suit their changing needs.
You could consider implementing hot desking, too.
New kinds of spaces
Traditionally, offices might have only had one or two meeting spaces (or “boardrooms”). Nowadays, however, to adapt to the appetite for hybrid working, companies are increasingly turning to things like meeting pods or booths.
These can be installed virtually anywhere and allow those in the office to communicate with their colleagues at home with ease, free of distraction and away from the hubbub of the main office. If you don’t want collaboration to suffer as more of your employees begin to work remotely, a meeting pod is a worthy investment.
Make your team feel at home
If you go down the hot desking route, some of your employees might feel a little lost. Without a fixed desk to call their own, venturing into the office can feel a little bewildering for some. But there is a solution to this problem: making the office feel more like a home.
By incorporating breakout areas and quiet zones, you’ll give your employees a new-found feeling of comfort and connection to both the workplace and the team around them. They’ll have the freedom to work where and how they choose, just like they do at home.
Speak to one of our experts
As a leading office interior design company, we’ve designed flexible spaces for a range of clients across the UK. Could your office be next in line to receive the Plann:d treatment? Discover more about what we do today, or get in touch to arrange your free initial consultation.
Recent Comments