by Brianna Crandall — September 26, 2018 — Ambius, a national interior landscaping company, released a report this month highlighting the top trends in office design for 2019 and beyond. The new year is expected to see a continued evolution in designers’ understanding of workplace optimization with design that boosts office morale and employee wellness while facilitating a creative work environment. A look at 2019 trends shows office designers and facilities managers (FMs) working to make the most of limited spaces and utilizing plants and other green materials to connect the building’s occupants with the natural world.
Macro trends
Macro trends for the coming year include a movement toward experience-driven spaces. Office designers are focused on incorporating functional amenities such as meditation areas and espresso bars that improve the workplace experience for entry-level staff and C-suite executives alike.
Macro trend #1: Experience-driven spaces. Office designers are focused on incorporating functional amenities that improve the workplace experience for all employees. Image courtesy Ambius
Ambius experts also foresee the coworking space reimagined with features such as multi-use meeting areas, lightweight, movable furniture and lots of plants, portable green walls and other greenery to provide separation and privacy when needed.
Another macro trend the researchers expect in 2019 is the emergence of plant-based, biophilic design from an experimental principal to a standard for the modern workplace. Incorporating nature-inspired textures and shapes, as well as features such as living green walls, floor plants, potted trees and decorative flowers will move from a trendy fashion statement to a near-necessity for the office.
Micro trends
Among the micro trends detailed in the report, moss walls stand out as a feature to keep an eye on in 2019 and beyond because they make a statement and work well in areas where lighting can be a concern. Moss walls and other green walls are expected to grow in popularity because they enhance the office’s connection to nature while leaving floor space open for other features, making them highly compatible with the macro trends outlined in the report.
Micro trend #1: Moss walls. Moss walls and other green walls are expected to grow in popularity because they enhance the office’s connection to nature while leaving floor space open for other features. Image courtesy Ambius
Laura Burns-Lambert, sensory designer for Ambius, remarked:
As the job market grows more competitive for employers, companies are recognizing the advantages creating a modern workplace environment provides in attracting and retaining talent. Incorporating biophilic design and prioritizing a connection with nature unites many of the broader trends our team foresees in the coming years.
The ability of plants to add beauty and aesthetic power to a business has long been recognized, notes Ambius. Modern research increasingly shows that biophilic commercial spaces, those designed to connect humans with nature, also have dramatic health and wellness benefits, providing the business with advantages through improved employee health and attendance, job satisfaction and more.
To view the complete 2019 Office Design Trends report or for additional information about Ambius’s office design services, visit the company’s website.
Ambius provides plants, holiday décor, replica foliage and flowers for commercial environments. The company also offers a broad range of products and services, including scenting and living green walls, that can help improve employee productivity, reduce absenteeism, and boost well-being in the workplace. Founded in 1963, Ambius is a division of Rentokil Initial.
To learn more about groundbreaking research being conducted by Ambius and building science authority BRE on the biophilic office, visit the BRE website.
