While a percentage of employees remain remote, many of us have resumed our early morning commutes. But whether you’re in the office every day or enjoying a hybrid schedule, adjusting to life in the office after time away can be a challenge.
Why? Because the comforts of home are dependable and safe. Home-brewed java, cozy couches, peace and quiet. But something has been missing: Connection to one another. We’re craving well-balanced community spaces that bring us together.
Don’t get us wrong—solo focus has its merits. But teamwork? It’s powerful. There’s nothing like sharing ideas in real time. Generating new perspectives through an in-person brainstorming session or simply breaking in the middle of the day for a quiet conversation with a colleague is vital to creativity, focus, and productivity. When you have shared goals, anything is possible.
So, how do we evolve the office landscape to mirror the comforts of home without sacrificing camaraderie and engagement? Hint: It’s not one-size-fits-all.
A Place for Everyone
Although real-time communication and collective creativity often have impressive results, not everyone does it the same way.
While some employees might enjoy intense banter in tactical spaces—think tech-savvy conference and training areas—others may feel more focused and relaxed in environments that offer a more organic, relaxed vibe. And it’s not just limited to HQ—schools everywhere are increasingly focused on how their spaces support the well-being of students and how they communicate with their peers. That means rethinking traditional education spaces to incorporate a more holistic, inclusive approach to learning.
That’s why organizations everywhere—from government offices to schools to corporate entities—are developing inclusive, sustainable shared spaces designed around furniture solutions that foster communication and creativity. By incorporating a harmonious blend of customized storage, dynamic seating, and powered-up hubs that encourage instant connectivity, today’s comprehensive workplace can offer everyone a seat at the table.
A New Normal
The days of noisy, poorly lit, underdeveloped shared spaces are gone. Dingy breakrooms are evolving into dynamic café spaces and touchdown areas—multifunctional hubs designed for a cup of coffee with a co-worker or a quick one-on-one with the boss. Efficient, highly organized hoteling stations with privacy options are replacing boxed-in cubicles. Even classrooms—especially media centers and STEM spaces—are evolving into open, flexible environments that offer multifunctional solutions designed for every student at every learning level.
Bridging the Gap
While supportive seating and efficient workstation options are non-negotiable when it comes to an efficient office space, there’s an unsung hero that’s changing the way we share ideas and goals with colleagues.
Any guesses? Believe it or not, it’s storage! And no, we’re not referring to standard filing cabinets (although they have their place, too). We’re talking about customizing the way we stay focused and engaged. It’s about personalizing the way we do business and encouraging a more thoughtful approach to collaborative spaces throughout the office.
How? Those squeaky, heavy-duty cataloguing systems our parents wrangled with 30 years ago are giving way to ingenious new organizational horizons. We’re seeing expertly tailored credenzas, pedestals, and bookshelves that enhance and expand the office footprint. Innovative, multipurpose units that use laminate shells to consolidate shared spaces. Cohesively engineered organizational systems that combine floating shelves, glass markerboards, and mixed-material tiles to help people connect on projects while staying inspired and empowered. Mobile, multipurpose cubbies and lockers designed to maximize space, promote flexibility, and encourage kinesthetic learning.
The Gang’s All Here
Of course, when it comes to a state-of-the-art space, there’s usually more than just one MVP. How you sit and where you sit are just as important.
Seating. While your personal task chair is imperative to all-day comfort and support, organizations everywhere are realizing the best ideas happen away from the solitary desk. From cafes to benching areas to touchdown spaces, we’re connecting in a variety of shared environments. With quick-sit task chairs that can accommodate people of all sizes to soft, think-outside-the-box seating designed to help people unplug (or plug-in, if that’s what you need), finding the perfect sit in today’s busy spaces has never been more inclusive.
Surfaces. Benching stations are hot, hot, hot—and for good reason. They encourage heads-down work without sacrificing colleague communication when it’s needed the most. And no modern office should be without multipurpose tables that encourage efficient teamwork and are easy to move, reconfigure, and stow at a moment’s notice.
The bottom line? We do more than work in the office. We socialize. We communicate. We create. And everyone deserves spaces that not only support project planning and weekly meetings, but how we share ideas, meet goals, and stay successful—together.
