Design for Doers: Trends in Office Space Interior Design

Successful companies, big and small, often find success by prioritizing the fundamentals of business - the ability to attract and retain talent, deliver innovation, and create an environment of collaboration. There is no denying that these elements are crucial to running a business and are the pillars for accomplishing goals. With increasing frequency, the impact workplace design and the importance of fostering a healthy working environment is also joining the line-up when we look at companies achieving success. One of our partners, Sunbrella, recently redesigned their headquarters, creating a stunning environment that both nurtures creativity and reflects their innovative and thoughtful approach to design. How does a company focused on design and innovation incorporate the workplace trends into their own HQ? Sunbrella, known for their outdoor fabric,used their very own performance fabric to create a quality work environment for their employees to enjoy daily. We took a look inside the recently revealed space to explore how interior design trends came to life at Sunbrella.

1. Connect with nature

The power of plants means the trend of biophilic design, or design based on the natural, is here to stay. Today the average person spends the majority of their time indoors, often at work. Finding ways to bring nature into the workplace not only creates an inspiring aesthetic, it can also improve the health and focus of employees.

There are a myriad of ways to infuse nature into the interiors of workplaces. Living plant walls are a great way to add texture and depth to a space while improving the air quality in the building. For Sunbrella it was important to enliven the traditional conference room by infusing natural elements. By tearing down walls and installing windows that let in more natural light, Sunbrella merged indoor gardens with its boardroom. While removing walls will be prohibitive for many offices, consider connecting with Mother Nature through foliage-themed wallpaper or accent pillows. These small touches create a more nature-inspired vibe in a room that might otherwise feel closed off from the outside world.

2. Add touches of home

As more and more people telecommute and work from home, an expectation has arisen for more comfortable working spaces and stations. Gone are the days of each employee being tied to a desk and a computer chair. Today, many people find they are most productive when they are inmore relaxing and comfortable environments.

Finding ways to extend the feeling of home to the workplace is a trend driving interior design selections in offices around the world. The elements that embody comfort can be simple yet impactful. For example, furnishing a space with custom drapery and plush couches creates an inviting work environment. Sunbrella used their performance fabric to balance comfort and durability in their open work spaces.

Open concept lounges that offer movable seating arrangements can help spur collaboration and connection between teams and colleagues. Plus, these versatile spaces create flexibility to address evolving spatial needs. Creating flexible seating areas that transport employees from the office to the coffeeshop is one way that Sunbrella used its redesign to showcase a modern style and encourage comfort and productivity.

3. Reimagine Restoration

The marriage of old and new is an increasingly popular design trend in workplace design. As historic buildings, manufacturing facilities, and warehouses are redeveloped, remnants of the past are given new life when paired with modern patterns, furniture, and designs.

Paying homage to its history while paving the path for its future, Sunbrella transformed its no-longer-in-use, original outdoor fabric factory into an incredibly restored corporate headquarters. Reimagining the space as a home of innovation versus a center for production allowed the old to inform the new, and vice versa. By changing the full brick façade to incorporate expansive windows, new light and a natural energy now stream through the office and give a feeling of connection with the outdoors. The raw materials allow the performance fabric to shine as it adds softness and color to these interior spaces. Sunbrella maintained many of the original architectural features, like thick, dramatic steel doors and exposed ceiling beams (some dating back to the 1700s) and softened these industrial fixtures with neutral palettes, plush seating, and sleek modern furniture. Each step across the 118-year old flooring that still carries the markings from the movement of spinning machines that once filled the factory gives a glimpse of the past.

No matter the industry, investing in thoughtful design of the workplace is here to stay, with proven benefits from employee satisfaction and productivity to corporate social responsibility efforts. Learn more about the interior design trends changing the landscape of office design at Sunbrella.com. Sunbrella outdoor fabric is distributed in India exclusively through D’Decor.