Facing a worldwide pandemic over the last couple of years has changed how companies operate. More employees work from home at least part of the time, and the space needed to conduct business is shrinking. Even as COVID-19 fears ease a bit, the way people work is forever changed. 

According to a recent Owl Labs report, around 70% of full-time workers in the United States worked remotely at least some of the time. An employee shortage combined with people’s reluctance to return to the office means the hybrid model is likely here to stay.

Hybrid offices have different challenges than full-time setups or fully remote teams, and new design trends developed to meet these concerns. Here’s what to expect for the hybrid office of the future. 

1. Designing Smaller Office Spaces

One of the perks for companies going to a hybrid office model is using less office space. Whether businesses have staff share desks and come in on varying days or go fully remote except for meetings, they need less square footage. 

Savings come from lower rent, smaller utility bills, and less office furniture and equipment. Some brands may even find they can get by with renting shared office space occasionally for a companywide meeting or go fully remote except for a handful of managers and support staff. 

2. Setting Up Collaboration Stations

The hybrid office model is where workers gather to share ideas they’ve come across while working off-site. It has an almost summer campfire feel to it. Companies are adapting to the changing needs of the workforce by trending toward gathering spots.

Many companies had already moved away from the open office model and set up spaces for staff to brainstorm. The latest trends take that idea to a new level, offering breakout areas for smaller teams and larger rooms for soaking up company culture while employees are in the office.

With this design perspective, it’s important to make these collaboration spaces particularly energizing. With both in-person and virtual attendees around the conference room, for example, setting a strong impression with an impressive table and good monitor hookups can help everyone feel impressed and comfortable working in a hybrid format.

2. Rigging Mini Streaming Studios

Workers often head into the office on varying days, and companies may run into a time when they need input from someone working from home that day. A hybrid office must include the ability to stream in everyone on the team. 

Make sure the room has ample screens, cameras and excellent audio. There are few things as frustrating as trying to Zoom into a meeting room and not hearing or seeing the other participants. 

4. Choosing Configurable Office Furniture

Less space means companies must get creative with the pieces of furniture they buy. A table lifting up and converting into a desk or sitting/standing workspaces help staff be comfortable when working in the office.

Lightweight, movable walls can be pushed aside for a larger meeting or combined for a small one-on-one review. Think about how every piece might do double duty in some way.

5. Embracing Homier Decor

Many workers consider themselves to be more productive working from home, but they are also often working more hours. Finding that perfect work/life balance isn’t an easy task. How can office design help encourage comfort and balance?

Setting up an at-home feel with the decor can help people feel more relaxed in the office. A few green plants help with productivity and mental well-being. Natural lighting saves on electricity costs. 

6. Selecting Well-Loved Colors

The person designing the hybrid office space may love brown or tan, but keep the psychology behind colors in mind. Certain shades are popular across the board without defaulting to the beiges that many have come to associate with drab, personality-free environments.

For example, blue is considered calm and pleasing in most cultures. Sticking with a hue loved by many helps everyone feel inspired. There are so many different shades of blue, and it can work in any design — soft baby blue for a peaceful vibe or vibrant navy for more dramatic accents.

7. Using Up to Date Technology

A recent Work From Home survey by Gensler found that 74% of employees missed face-to-face interactions with colleagues and 54% grieved lost socializing. Technology is a must to stay in touch with one another.

Each in-office workstation must be equipped with great access to Wi-Fi and digital conferencing equipment. At the same time, the hybrid office must break out spaces for larger meetings, brainstorming sessions and opportunities to meet with clients. 

8. Maintaining Smooth Surfaces

The geometric table base might be beautiful, but it isn’t designed for daily disinfection. Even after COVID-19 eases, many workers and employers fear other viruses and diseases might follow.

One design trend for hybrid office spaces is the use of smooth surfaces that are easy to wipe down and keep clean. Setting up stations with hand sanitizer is another thing appearing in most modern spaces. 

9. Innovating With Robots and Inflatables

One company many smaller ones look to for inspiration is Google. It’s redesigned its spaces with some interesting concepts that will likely trickle down to other brands in the next few years. 

The headquarters features an agile workspace with team pods containing chairs, desks, whiteboards and storage space. The team can change elements to suit their needs. The company uses robots to automatically rearrange the room and puts up inflatable walls to add instant privacy. 

New Design Trends For Hybrid Office Spaces

As technology advances and companies allow more staff to work from home, it’s hard to say where future design trends might end up. There’s already less need for formal space and more demand for meeting areas and technology. 

One day office workers might gather in a virtual room in the cloud with avatars representing their appearance and zero need for a physical office space at all. But until then, designing innovative office spaces will continue to be important.

Author Bio: Evelyn Long is a writer and editor-in-chief for Renovated, a web magazine for the home industry. Her work focuses on design and construction tactics for industry professionals.

cover image © pexels