Residential-style workspaces are increasingly popular in commercial offices around the country. Think about couches, coffee tables, floor lamps, and area rugs. This style is revolutionizing the workspace into one that enhances employee creativity, comfort, and collaboration. The evolution towards comfort also provides an opportunity to bring back one of our favorite trends: mid-century modern design.
Bring a Bit of Home to Your Office
Where and how an employee works has evolved from stagnant offices to home workstations to trendy coffee shops. Now, all three trends are coming together to disrupt the traditional office style. Offices everywhere are bringing a bit of home to the workspace by adding living-room style spaces and opening up the floor plan.
Not only does the “Resimercial” trend bring some much-needed comfort to the workplace, it has a litany of benefits for employees, as well. When employees get to work in a space that helps them feel relaxed, they are more likely to be happier and stay at a job longer. Spaces more conducive to creativity and collaboration encourage those behaviors among employees.
However, we’re not just talking about bringing in an old couch to add a level of comfort to your space. Mid-century modern design lends itself spectacularly to the residential style in offices.
Why Choose Mid-Century Modern Design?
Mid-century modern design is centered around four basic principles:
—Organic influences
—Simple Forms
—Functionality
—Universal utility
Organic Influences
Office buildings are generally bright, fluorescent, and monotone in build. Mid-century modern design relies heavily on bringing a little bit of nature back to a project. Think about adding teak, rosewood, elm, or oak pieces into your residential-style space. These woods have rich grains and saturated colors to help minimize the stark design of most office spaces.
Simple Forms
No lumpy couches or unnecessary drawers to be found here! Mid-century modern furniture is streamlined. Consider adding low-profile leather couches with built-in cushions and simple, pegged legs. The look is clean and comfortable; it retains some professionalism while inviting employees and visitors to relax.
Functionality
There is no need to add extra bulk to the workspace. Mid-century modern furniture always serves a purpose and nothing more. Coffee tables are meant for coffee cups and light reading material; not for drawers filled with old magazines. This functionality also encourages cleanliness, since no unnecessary frills means no space for clutter
Universal Utility
Bringing a residential-style to your office doesn’t mean sacrificing workspace—quite the contrary, actually. Mid-century modern furniture is designed with everyone in mind. The furnishings are universally appealing because of their clean lines, organic influences, and functionality.
Residential influence on design in office spaces adds interest to your company for employees, visitors, and potential hires. It transforms a space that can be sparse and intimidating to one that is warm and welcoming. If you are considering modernizing your space, look no further than adding some living-room inspired-spaces with mid-century modern furniture. Environments Denver makes workspaces trendy and inviting, and can seamlessly help your office achieve this look. Contact us to get started today!
