When you think of a professional office design, you probably think of mahogany desks, wooden doors, and huge, closed off meeting rooms. This might be the traditional professional office design, but modern trends and changes in work environments and flow mean that a professional space does not have to be traditional.
Some of the most professional offices in the world, like Google, AirBNB, Etsy, and Facebook, are also leaders in modern design. They take traditional office elements and tweak them for modern employees and clients so that everyone can work efficiently, purposefully, and with style.
Check out sohoConcept's tips for creating a professional office design while also keeping in line with the 21st century!
Mixing Professional with Modern Design
Just because you want your office space to be professional doesn't mean it can't also be modern and unique. With a few things in mind, you can easily mix a professional and modern design.
Accents
Part of what makes a company successful is in how well it tells its story. The best office spaces aren’t just functional, they also work to capture the spirit of a company. By choosing a few accent pieces to stand out within your design, you’re showing your company’s creativity and spark.
An accent wall with the company logo is one route to take. You could also have meeting rooms or coworking spaces with brightly colored office chairs to perk up the space. Accent chairs can be used anywhere in the office to change the aesthetic and contribute to the overall design.
Many offices are also beginning to use poufs in common areas. Because these work double-duty as seating and table space, they can provide great opportunities for your employees to work in a new environment. With some bright materials and in the right places, these can also act as accents to your office design.
Artwork
When people hear the phrase ‘corporate atwork’, a pretty dull image comes to mind. Motivational posters and old landscape photos hanging on your walls can speak to a company being outdated and unprofessional. Finding one or two large, bold art pieces for your walls can showcase your creativity, modernity, and uniqueness to anyone who visits your office.
You can create your own inexpensive piece by finding an image with appropriate licensing online, making it large, and editing it or tweaking it to suit your office design. This shows that you care about your office space and have put effort into its design. How professional!
Coworking Spaces
One of the pillars of modern office design is coworking spaces. Slightly different than meeting rooms, these are open spaces with various areas for employees to brainstorm, discuss, and foster relationships. Most coworking spaces have assorted desks and seating so employees can choose what suits them best. Implementing coworking spaces in your office design is one of the key components for a professional look.
Using high counters with bar stools, low tables and desks with chairs, lounge chairs, and poufs are just some of the pieces of furniture used in coworking spaces. Providing seating separate from traditional office chairs is a great way to foster creativity and create environments for employees to work at their best. What’s more professional than that?
Neat and Tidy
Making sure you have ample storage (and that you’re using it!) does wonders for making your office look more professional. Keeping an office neat and tidy drastically improves the look of your office and your employees’ motivation, too.
Filing cabinets, sideboards, shelving, and the right desks all play a role in minimizing clutter and keeping your office clean. If employees have space to store things, it’s much better than keeping them in piles on tables or on their desks. Another common practice is to put garbage and recycling bins in one communal area as opposed to at individual desks, as this can easily eliminate messes and build up.
Cleanliness and neatness should be part of any professional office design. It makes a good impression on clients and your employees. Check out some of sohoConcept’s storage solutions!
Lighting
Brightly-lit offices are some of the most modern and productive. Having multiple sources of natural light is always best, but that’s often out of your control. If your office space doesn’t have large windows or skylights, choosing modern lighting that provides ample light is key.
You can use modern light fixtures to contribute to your design and provide the right type of light for your space. Work to minimize glare on your employees’ computer screens and use LED bulbs producing uninterrupted light. You can use multiple types of fixtures to cast light across your entire space. Nothing says that your office is outdated and unprofessional like burnt out fluorescent lights!
Start with Modern Office Furniture
If you're looking to create a unique office design, start with finding the right modern office furniture. Finding pieces that you love can help inspire an entire design. sohoConcept offers modern office furniture from office chairs, to desks, to stools, and everything in between. Whatever you need to design the perfect professional office space, we can help.
Check out our Instagram @sohoconcept for office design inspiration and visit our online catalogue to see our full range of modern office furniture. You can be professional, unique, and modern all at the same time.