In the last several months, workspaces have mostly adjusted to a new “normal”, with many teams returning to the office or adopting hybrid work. We recently shared what office trends to expect for the remainder of 2022 and beyond. This month, we’re looking specifically at the recent trends in office textiles, fabrics and materials.
How office materials differ from residential
Office furniture utilizes textiles and fabrics that can withstand far more wear and tear than traditional residential materials. Instead of shag carpets, you’ll continue to see durable materials, such as carpeting with more texture and a higher rub count.
Wall and Ceilings Fabrics
Walls and ceilings are still a popular place for adding textures and fabrics. For the design of DP World, our team used acoustic panels to add warmth and sound insulation to the space. To add dimension and incorporate the client’s brand colours, we customized them in blue, resulting in a unique feature that helps cancel out sound in style.
Brands like Baux from Denmark also offer trendy wall panels made with paper pulp or wool, perfect for noise canceling.
Stain Resistant Fabrics
As offices gradually become busier, stain-resistant fabrics will continue to increase in popularity. Crypton fabric is still a popular option for office chairs and couches, thanks to its durability and stain resistance. In lieu of vinyl at the back of desk chairs, many offices utilize mesh for transparency, texture and comfort.
Photo Credit: Baux
Natural and Organic Materials
As companies strive to be more eco-friendly, natural and organic materials like wood, wool, linen and rattan have increased in popularity and will continue to do so. Wool in particular is popular in commercial spaces because it’s not only versatile, but timeless, and adds warmth and texture to any space.
“Return to Work” Elements
Offices have steadily returned to their in-person functions, with a bit of a twist to account for the pandemic and hybrid workers. Our client Productboard opted for bright, open collaboration spaces instead of cubicles. Similarly, many offices are shifting from taller, 16-inch dividers to 13-inch ones, or eliminating them altogether.
For offices with a younger workforce, coworking-style workspaces often feature fun, trendy seating, like soft poufs or colourful lounge chairs instead of cubicles and desks. Rattan seating is also growing in popularity, as it’s not only stylish but timeless and comfy.
For the latter half of 2022 and into 2023, we anticipate that office design will continue to incorporate comfort and style to make work feel more like “home”, leveraging long-lasting materials and giving them a fresh, contemporary spin.