Planning Office Space for Improved Inter-Office Relationships and Greater Employee Well-Being

A well-planned office space can improve relationships in the office and boost an employee’s overall well-being. The result is a reduction in issues like absenteeism and low output. Your environment benefits both the mindset and the physical health of your team.

Think of the office as a place where healthy relationships are needed to complete tasks.

Let’s look at easy ways to refresh a design and plan space so people have a sense of connection to their work and with each other.

Plan for Daylight

Sunshine is abundant everywhere in Southern California—from Riverside and Ontario to the beaches of Los Angeles County and Orange County. Workers with plenty of sunshine enjoy higher morale during the day and are more rested when sleeping at night.

How do you harness light?

Installing light tubes is an easy way to let more daylight into otherwise darkened spaces. If the roof isn’t accessible, then get the most you can from light streaming through windows.

Minimize the use of solid partitions when possible and reduce the height of cubicle walls.

Artificial light is still necessary so use ergonomic task lighting and also use bright colors in the breakroom so it feels as airy and relaxed as possible.

An architectural and interior design firm, Bockus Payne, moved locations and designed their new office around daylight. Company executives found that the team was more likely to greet each other positively than they had before.

Their experience is described in an article on Workdesign.com, “How Physical Spaces Shape Human Relationships and Emotional Well-Being.”

Even a design firm has to learn lessons. Here’s something else they learned: keep partitions as low as possible.

Reduce the Height of Partitions

Privacy is necessary, but partitions can make someone feel like they’re working in a closet.


Photo: Loftwall Flox Room Divider

When Bockus Payne moved offices, they learned their partitions were too high and described the change:

“The new office balances separation and a completely open environment, with lower-height panels that make it easier to interact and stay connected while still allowing people to pin up personal items, calendars, and notes.”

The result is a work environment that’s friendly and vibrant. Social relationships are a major bonus when employees are collaborating and problem-solving with peers.

Use open-plan benching arrangements and cubicles that meet the needs of your team like the Maverick Apex Open Plan Desking. It’s a modular solution that can be used with just a few people or configured for a team that’s growing.


Photo: HON Concinnity Desk

Another approach is to use a model like the HON Concinnity Desk with a partition that either rests on the floor or on a desktop like the Loftwall Hitch Space Divider.

Accommodate Different Generations and Personalities

Who are your peers at work?

Your colleagues may be quite different from each other in age and personality. This can impact work habits. One person may be most comfortable with meetings around a more formal conference table, while someone else can interact much more comfortably with a cup of coffee or tea in a breakroom or lounge setting.

Different environments affect people and their abilities to communicate with each other.


Photo: DARRAN Chameleon Workspace

Don’t consider that a problem or a barrier to accomplishing tasks and getting along as a team.

Use office designs to bring out the best in each other by planning different types of spaces within a larger office setting.

Let’s say your company is a professional services firm in Irvine or in Santa Monica so you want it to look neat, orderly, and convey expertise and credibility.

But that doesn’t mean the furnishings have to be rigid.

Modular lounge furniture comes in all styles and designs so you can have traditional-looking private executive offices with desks like the Cherryman Emerald Desk. Then you can incorporate lounge areas with furniture that’s comfortable and fun to move around, like the Krug Zola Modular Lounge Seating arrangement.


Photo: Krug Zola Lounge Seating

Browse through the 2010 Office Inspirations page to see the various office designs that are showcased. See how the colors and fabrics blend to create specific office environments.


Photo: 9 to 5 Seating Lilly Office Reception Chairs

Remember that your goal is planning for positive interactions in a supportive office setting.

The Value of Experience

Get input on your project from the team at 2010 Office Furniture. They have over a combined half-century of experience working with clients in different industries. The organizations are among Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, universities, and small businesses.

2010 Office Furniture offers space planning so you can feel confident in choosing just the right furnishings.

Contact them with your questions and project needs.

Read Also: Harnessing the Benefits of Collaborative Workspaces
Main Photo: Loftwall Gravity Acoustic Divider
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: 9 to 5 Seating, DARRAN, HON,  Krug, Loftwall, Maverick

Office Furnishings and Ideas for Keeping Your Employees’ Energy Levels and Moral High

When considering office furnishings, let’s first remember a few things.

Energy to power office buildings and personal energy for employees are both essential so we don’t come to a grinding halt.

Where does the energy in the office come from? That may seem obvious when the electricity is on. How about your windows?

A British start-up named Water Filled Glass is doing just that—using water-filled glass to heat and cool buildings. Their window technology uses a thin layer of water between glass panes that absorbs heat from sunlight or other sources like heat leaving a room.

The warm water pumps through pipes to cooler areas of the building or is directed into thermal storage.

It’s an innovative solution that turns everyday materials we’re familiar with and turns them into sustainable energy.

How about your people? Humans are more complex than glass.

It’s always important to design and plan your office to energize your team and reduce fatigue factors that result in conditions like brain fog or absenteeism.

Energy for your office building is important, as is energy for your company’s employees.

What will energize your team? Another way of looking at the same issue is using resources to keep your employees engaged in their work.

Start with Ergonomics

You know what happens when you have office furnishings such as a wobbly desk or a chair that doesn’t fit quite right and hurts your lower back? You’re distracted and you expend extra energy trying to stay comfortable and overcome your physical obstacles.

Ergonomics benefit workers because the equipment and surroundings are fitted to their needs and people can work more efficiently instead of expending excess energy.


Photo: Loftwall Rooms Wall System

Assess your work environment and see how the right types of quality ergonomic chairs and workstations will serve your team.


Photo: Friant Amenity Task Seating

An ergonomic chair is one that lets the user sit comfortably without strain on the elbows or knees and provides needed lower back support. A good chair will also shift easily with the user’s movements so the body isn’t confined or working against the chair.

Photo: Humanscale Diffrient Smart Chair
A good example is the Humanscale Diffrient Smart Chair that’s easy to use and adjust, including a weight-sensitive, mechanism-free recline.


Photo: SitOnIt Seating Focus Chair

The SitOnIt Seating Focus Chair has wide seat cushions and padded arms that “provides a new standard to ergonomics.”


Photo: Nucraft Alev Table

Workstations are essential and fit in any office setting.

Want a sleek and unencumbered look? The ODS Artiv Desk has a minimalistic appearance and fits into any style office, including the style known as the Scandinavian office. The ODS Artiv Desk is designed for excellent wire management. Wires are routed along the structure below the desktops using wire trays that are hooked to the aluminum beam.

Ergonomics also includes details like lighting and sound.

Maximize Sunlight

Sunlight is a big deal because getting enough of it helps people stay alert during the day so they sleep more deeply at night. Get as much light flowing through the office as possible by using translucent dividers in place of solid walls. If natural light is limited, or if your office is on a middle floor, then use the more efficient LED ergonomic lighting solutions instead of fluorescent.

Reduce eye strain with LED lights. They convert up to 95 percent of their energy and only about 5 percent is considered “wasted.” The lifespan of LED lighting can be more than double the lifespan of fluorescent lights and LED doesn’t contain potentially harmful gasses.

Looking for lighting solutions?

The best task lighting solutions are ones that direct the right amount of light where you need it most so you don’t have to squint.


Photo: Workrite Fundamentals 2 Desktop Lighting

The Humanscale Horizon 2.0 Desktop Light and the Workrite Fundamentals 2 Desktop Light are glare free and are made for long life spans.

Channel Sound

Sound is a major disrupter for people trying to concentrate and it’s one of the most common criticisms of the open office floor plans. Walls of private offices were taken down so workers could collaborate. But the problem was neighboring conversations and chatter from private phone calls and keyboards clicking away irritated employees trying to concentrate.

Earbuds and headphones were used to block out the outside world and people who were in close proximity became strangers to each other.


Photo: Loftwall Arbor Wall Panel

Accessories like sound panels and green walls help absorb sound waves. But another strategy is letting workers do their work in semi-private areas if they want or settle in lounge areas for informal meetings.

Promote Mobility

Using modular lounge furniture is a way of promoting mobility. Stretches at desks and getting up every 90 minutes to 2 hours for quick walks keeps blood circulating and is a natural way to keep a person’s energy levels up.

Why?

As WebMD explains, “Oxygen-rich blood surges through your body to your heart, muscles, and brain.” Blood provides the nutrition a body needs.

Here’s an idea. Make sure people stay hydrated. It’s another way to keep their energy up. Encourage them to get up regularly and take a long stroll to the breakroom to get water so they don’t get thirsty.

Office Furnishings for an Energy Boost

Well-planned office spaces that have the right furnishings take deliberate planning. Consult with 2010 Office Furniture on developing a space that’s right for you, whether you’re refreshing an existing office space or designing one that’s entirely new.

2010 Office Furniture’s clients are among the most distinguished corporations, universities, and small businesses in Los Angeles County, Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Contact the team at 2010 Office and share your project needs.

Read Also: Create an Office Wellness Plan for Optimal Thinking
Main Photo: ERG International Carlton Stools
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: ERG International, Friant, Humanscale, Loftwall, Nucraft, SitOnIt Seating and Workrite

Easy Guide to Calculating Space for Best Office Design Layout

Companies that operate smoothly do so not just because because goals are clearly aligned with the mission and a positive culture has been built.  They’ve been able to achieve and offer the best office design layout for their operations and employees,  Fortune magazine listed several companies in Southern California in their “Best Places to Work in 2022” roundup.

Tustin-based New American Funding was listed as the 18th best place to work in the United States. Other businesses included in the listing were the Cheesecake Factory in Calabasas, the Panda Restaurant Group out of Rosemead, and Scripps Health in San Diego.

Companies on the Fortune list are part of a certification program that includes looking at the employee experience.

How do you create a great employee experience?

You ensure that people know their purpose. They know why they’re part of a team. And they’re comfortable in their workspace which is planned effectively.

Let’s take a closer look at how planning an office design to create a great company culture can make a huge difference.

Define Spaces

Planning an office space isn’t just a matter of placing cubicles and workstations in the right places. Well-designed offices have a structure that allows for a smooth flow of information and employee collaboration.


Photo: AMQ Activ Height Adjustable Workstation

Most work gets completed at workstations, but employees who want to are encouraged to move around and work where they’re comfortable. Employees are valued for their talents and not just for following rigid protocols.

Inter-office communication is important, but spaces are also offered for privacy. Informal areas known as touchdown spaces allow for personal conversations and meetings outside of more formal or closed conference rooms.


Photo: OCI Seating Breeze Lounge Seating and Table

Touchdown spaces are created using the styles of modular lounge furniture that suit your surroundings. Add indoor plants for a green touch. This also welcomes remote workers who are coming in for meetings and gives them a place to operate from.

Let Light Flow for Best Design Office Layout

Natural light is a highly desired office perk. Sunshine flowing through the office lifts moods and helps employees maintain a healthy rhythm of waking and sleeping. Various lists show that the LA area, including Ontario in the Inland Empire, gets over 280 days of sunshine annually.


Photo: Loftwall Hitch Space Divider

To let as much light as possible spread through the office, use translucent floor-to-desk panels and dividers for desks and workstations like the Loftwell Hitch Space Divider. Ergonomic lighting solutions can pinpoint the amount of light needed and will reduce eye strain.

Apply Ergonomic Design

You want to fit your equipment to the work habits and physical needs of employees. OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) defines ergonomics as “The science of adapting workstations, tools, equipment, and job techniques to be compatible with human anatomy and physiology.” The goal is to reduce the risk of stress on the body.


Photo: Global Princeton Design Workstation

Use furnishings that promote the well-being of your employees like ergonomic chairs and height-adjustable desks.

OSHA doesn’t have specific ergonomic standards, but this overview of ergonomics describes the risk factors:

  • Awkward postures, or unsupported positions that stretch physical limits, can compress nerves and irritate tendons
  • Static postures, or positions that a worker must hold for long periods of time, can restrict blood flow and damage muscles

(Source from the Timber Products Manufacturers Association)

Fitting your employees with desks and other furnishings that support them shows that you’re investing in their well-being and it will keep them engaged in their work.

Know Your Colors to Achieve Best Design Office Layout

Bring a cohesive color design to your office using color schemes and fabrics that reflect your brand and meet the overall personalities of your employees. Choose to go bold and inspire passion with shades of red and orange, or for quiet and relaxation use shades of blue.


Photo: Senator Group Haven Pods Meeting Lounge

A creative design can use a variety of shades and colors to vary the atmosphere. See the 2010 Office Inspiration page to see the possibilities.

Some offices design their spaces using a local look and feel when possible. The offices of Google in Pittsburgh make use of a red brick interior to pay homage to the region’s industrial heritage.

We know how much urban sprawl there is from Santa Monica to Redlands, but nature is still on display. The mountains, oceans, and late afternoon sunshine offer lots of colors to incorporate into our office environments.

The Santa Monica Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena have a purple hue; the hills around Malibu and in Orange County have green and golden tones. Redlands still has orange groves and the Chino and Chino Hills area still has farmland, so tap into this dimension.

Incorporating local elements into your colors and overall office design gives your employees a sense of continuity. They’re not shutting the door on one place to enter another world but are blending the environments in a pleasing way.

Stay Flexible

Flexibility remains key to retaining top talent and making the corporate office a desirable place to work. Be flexible in different ways. Allow your team to take their laptops and phones away from their workstations and go to lounges if they decide they can work better there.

And if they stay at their desks, then encourage your employees to stretch once an hour and get up for a brief walk every couple of hours. Movement helps the blood circulate throughout the body and to the brain. This reduces foggy thinking and aids in clarity throughout the day.

Flexibility also means accommodating remote employees who split time between their home office and the corporate office. Have dedicated space for teleconferencing by using architectural walls like the OFS Obeya Architectural Structure.

Involve them on the inside, too. Ask members of your remote team to come into the office and lead meetings when appropriate. This way, they’re involved internally and feel as engaged as someone coming in full-time.

Plan for a Great Office Environment

Looking for help and guidance to create the beast office design layout? Contact the team at 2010 Office Furniture on planning your floor space and choosing the furnishings that are right for your employees.

Tap into more than a half-century of combined professional experience that 2010 Office Furniture has earned in assisting clients who are recognized as Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, universities, and small businesses.

Read Also: Easy Guide to Calculating Space for Best Office Layout
Main Photo: Senator Group Mote Workstation
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: AMQ, Global, Loftwall, OCI Seating, Senator

NeoCon 2024: A First Sneak-Peak

Neocon 2024 Rouillard Eva Courbe Sofa

Summer is fast approaching and with it comes NeoCon 2024.

Every year in June, Chicago’s Merchandise Mart (THE MART) hosts NeoCon—an event for all furniture and interior design enthusiasts to interact and see the latest innovations in residential, hospitality, health-care, education, and workplace spaces. The exhibitions are divided into ten categories: best of competition, acoustics and privacy, flooring, furniture, healthcare, interior products and solutions, lighting, outdoor, technology, and textiles. Prestigious awards such as the Best of NeoCon, Interior Design’s HiP, MetropolisLikes, and IIDA Showroom & Booth Design are handed out at the end of the convention.

Blast From the Past

Optimism and collaboration were encapsulated in last year’s theme: “Together We Design.”

NeoCon 2023 focused on human wellbeing in the office. Exhibiters presented furniture that would not only make people comfortable working in public spaces again, but also answered environmental and behavioral desires and needs.  These came in the form of private offices, pods, shared workspaces and more. Human well-being was the benchmark companies judged themselves by, and they rose to the occasion. Design trends featured more amped-up, playful colors and rounded/organic shapes to boost that feeling of comfort and dynamic elements. 

Notable Winners Of Neocon 2023

Senator Group won Gold and Silver awards with their CoLab collection for the furniture category because of their versatility and adaptability in collaborative environments.


Photo: Senator Group CoLab Beam Bench and Perch Seating

Enwork’s private office system, Cayman, won the Gold award and Interior Design Magazine HiP Honoree Seal for how user-friendly it is; capable of supporting emerging work styles and user preferences.


Photo: Enwork Cayman Private Office Desk Collection

DARRAN Furniture received the Innovation award with the Dove Lounge for combining sustainability with great design.


Photo: DARRAN Dove Lounge Seating

NeoCon 2024 Provides Glimpse of the Future

NeoCon 2024 is shaping up to be just as memorable and exciting as its previous years.

This year’s theme is “Design Takes Shape.” Many regulars such as Allermuir, Snowsound, Global Furniture Group, Stylex, Koncept Lighting and more will be returning with the latest trends in commercial interior design. 

With the new year comes new opportunities: NeoCon has announced that 18 new showrooms, expansions and renovations will be debuting on June 10. Some of the newcomers include Silen, an Estonian furniture company making their mark with sleek modular office pods; Bulo, renown for  transforming the typical office into a bucolic, homey environment; and Fōmcore, an American-based company specializing in soft seating and whimsical designs. Other companies such as Ghent, Arcadia, Encore, and Innovant will be expanding their exhibits to showcase their products more effectively.


Photo: Arcadia Contract Conduit Meeting Table

Also new to the event is the inclusion of the Climate Positive Solutions Gallery. This space is dedicated to materials and technologies that are low-carbon and carbon-negative, with the intention of helping designers understand how to go green without compromising aesthetics, quality, and reasonable prices.

Last but not least, NeoCon cements its place as the most important event for the commercial design industry with their inspirational presentations. Keynote speakers include industry leaders such as Gensler’s Global Entertainment leader Bob Weis, multi-disciplinary artist and designer Yinka Ilori, and Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter.

This year’s lineup is stacked with exciting news, expanding exhibitions, and awe-inspiring speakers.

This year’s NeoCon takes place June 10-12.  What are you looking forward to seeing at NeoCon 2024?

Read Also: NeoCon 2023 Trends: Lighting the Way to a Better Workspace
Main Photo: Rouillard Eva Courbe Seating
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Arcadia Contract, DARRAN, Enwork, Senator Group

Cultivating the Disciplines Needed to Work from Your Home Office Successfully

People who work from their work from home office around Los Angeles, Orange County, and the Inland Empire have distinct advantages, but they face certain risks, depending on their circumstances.

Read on to see what those are and how to handle them so you can work at home successfully.

Working from Home’s Upward Trend in SoCal

In Southern California, working from home has been a trend that’s on the rise and tripled between 2019 and 2021. Clearly, the COVID-19 shutdown impacted working habits. The six-county Southern California Association of Governments reported the results of a research study from 2021.

In Los Angeles County, about 22% of employees work from home. That’s about one in every five employees.

Orange County has fewer work-from-home employees with 20.9% while San Bernardino County tallies in with 13.7% and Riverside County follows with 13.6%.

In 2006, only 4% of people identified as working from home, and that number only bumped slightly for the next 15 years when 6% of those surveyed said they worked from home.

Work From Home Office SitOnIt SwitchBack Desk
Photo: SitOnIt Switchback Desk

Equipping and planning the work-from-home office and treating it like an extension of the corporate office is strategic.

Work From Home Office Trade-Offs

Rush hour.

Does any more need to be said?

If you have to commute more than 10 miles from your home to the office you know what you face each morning and each evening on most freeways and surface streets.

Working from home eliminates commuting time to the office, but your trade-off can mean less contact with other professionals.

The other issue to handle is blending work life and personal life. Are you caring for others? Kids or aging parents? Those needs may replace your commute and be more demanding.

Working from your home office or other remote spaces has pitfalls to watch for and guard against.

Home Office Boundaries

Defining your work-from-home space is essential to being productive and moving from a personal mindset to a professional point of view.

The morning and evening commute gets a bad rap because of traffic from the 405 in West LA to the 215 in the Inland Empire. But do you know the benefit of a commute? It provides a separation between work and personal life. You may be under pressure, but mentally you can move from one space and adjust to another.

Create those boundaries by planning an office space that’s just right for your needs. The space needed for a desk is often minimal. You need a surface area, some storage, power cords, and an online connection. And the types of desks available can be equal to a set-up in the company’s headquarters.

Look for what’s light and sleek like the iDesk M Series Desk with a storage panel and multiple configuration options.

The iDesk D Series Private Office Desk Workstation works well in either corporate spaces or home offices.

Work From Home Office Loftwall Hitch Space Divider
Photo: Loftwall Hitch Space Divider


Photo: Loftwall Split Space Divider

Use space dividers if you have others coming in and out of the home throughout the day. Check the Loftwell Hitch Space Divider and the Loftwall Split Space Divider for models that provide a boundary without making users feel closed in.


Photo: Friant System 2 Workstation

Consider a cubicle for your home office. A model like the Friant System 2 Workstation has plenty of customizable options to fit a small space or open area.

If you like to see your day and tasks visually then a whiteboard on a wall or a moveable whiteboard can also be used to separate work and personal life.

Structure is Key

You need structure to be as productive as possible at your work from home office. It’s not hard to envision what that may be, but develop a structure that’s workable and doesn’t cut into your most productive times.

Try not to deviate from your morning routine. Make those first few hours count. If you don’t have a morning commute then take a brisk walk before you begin working and take one again toward the end of the day. If you drive kids to school or have to care for aging parents then work mild exercise into your schedule. It can help settle your mind and any feelings of jumbled nerves or feeling like you’re in a mad rush.

Focused Time and Break Time

Try to eliminate multitasking. It may work as a parent who’s handling a couple of different children while cooking meals and doing laundry, but handling multiple work tasks at one time isn’t productive. You lose momentum and thought when switching from one task to another.

If you have 90 minutes, then make sure nothing else interrupts that time. Take a break and then come back for more focused time.

Work From Home Office Communication

If you’re an employee who works remotely or on a hybrid schedule and the arrangement is beneficial then be a good example by being an outstanding communicator.

Check-in regularly with your team at the office whether via email or virtual meetings.

Here’s an idea.

Work From Home Office Scale 1:1 TeleMeet Tables
Photo: Scale 1:1 Telemeet Tables

Have a wall monitor for your virtual meeting space instead of using your laptop or phone. Use a separate media table and the corporate office can design its own videoconferencing space using attractive architectural walls.

Take initiative and suggest times you could drive in for updates. Many corporate executives fear that employees who are out of sight are also out of mind.

Eliminate those fears that the company has of losing accountability. Hold them accountable and communicate so they’re aware of your efforts, progress, and challenges.

Turn to Expertise

The team at 2010 Office stays up to date on trends to help clients plan their work areas as well as work from home office spaces.  They help design environments to improve employee engagement, and equip companies for improved productivity. Get input on connecting home offices with corporate spaces.

Contact 2010 Office and let them know your project needs.

2010 Office works with clients who are among Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, nonprofits, and small businesses.

Read Also: Your Guide to Equipping Your Home Office
Main Photo: SitOnIt Switchback Desk
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Friant, Loftwall, Scale 1:1, and SitOnIt

Office Acoustics: How to Soundproof Your Workspace

Office Acoustics Snowsound Baffle Ceiling Acoustic Panels

The challenge of office acoustics is something architects, interior designers and space planners and have been wrestling with since the office became a central place for work. What are office acoustics?  Office acoustics refer to the way sound behaves in the work environment, ranging from small background noises to regular speaking volume. Throughout the many forms and evolutions the office has taken, noise has been a consistent factor viewed in different ways, especially in recent decades when open-plan office layouts have become more popular.  Are workers distracted by poor acoustics and can’t concentrate? Or do they find themselves ready to sacrifice peace and quiet to be immersed in collaboration and desire to be surrounded by others?

How do we find the perfect balance?

Use office acoustic solutions.


Photo: Loftwall Parallel Desk Divider

The Great Variety of Office Acoustic Solutions


Photo: Nevins Ariel Acoustic Hanging Panel

Office acoustics solutions are products that absorb and diffuse sound waves and vibrations to reduce noise in a workspace. They can also improve sound quality and are typically made of lightweight materials such as polyester fibre, mineral wool, or biophilic elements like wood, cork or moss. These materials come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors, and oftentimes may serve as decorative objects. There are various types of acoustic products. They can be integral parts of the office, like ceiling tiles, panels, carpeting, and double-paned windows.  They can also serve a combination of aesthetic and functional purpose like dividers, planters, and ancillary furniture and accessories.

The Hybrid Schedule 

Now that more people are coming back to the office, many businesses are turning to a hybrid work model that allows employees to work at a fixed schedule in-office and remotely for the sake of flexibility and better work-life balance. Harvard Business Review and Stanford’s research shows that the hybrid work scenario where workers go to the office for at least three days a week is 50% more effective at completing tasks, boosting motivation and increasing engagement with their work. Individuals are using this work model to their advantage; working remotely in privacy and isolation to concentrate on their assignments, and coming to the office in person to be immersed in the company culture, foster connection, and spark creativity through collaboration.

Office Acoustics in Open-Plan Spaces

The hybrid schedule led to the return of open-plan layout and industrial office lofts: environments known for being flexible with space and capable of supporting different work styles while encouraging communication and innovation. But the open office comes with potential issues too. Collaborating together creates noise that can serve as a distraction for others who needs to focus. Now, companies are very much invested in looking for a solution that would resolve their sound issues and help divide spaces into designated areas. That’s why with the reemergence of open-plan spaces, office acoustic panels that function as space dividers are now becoming increasingly popular.  Many are being used not only to dampen noise and optimize sound quality, but to divide spaces and create separate environments for different applications and purposes. 

The Right Balance of Sound

One should never underestimate the power of office acoustics, especially in the workplace. Office acoustics can have an enormous effect on the overall working environment, dictating how well people communicate and perform they daily tasks. It’s all about finding a good balance. Instead of swinging between two extremes of isolation and noise, acoustic solutions can restore equilibrium in the workplace and come with many benefits. By absorbing sound and reducing noise, these products can significantly improve the overall sound quality and help achieve the best acoustics for office environments with the additional perks of boosting concentration, effective communication and worker productivity.

Multi-Functional Office Acoustics


Photo: Nevins Bio Canvas Wall

Best of all, acoustic solutions can be multi-functional. Why clutter your office space with too many products that only serve one purpose when you can save space with just one? Today, there’s an endless array of products in the market ranging from space dividers, desk shields, wall panels, suspended ornaments, planters, shelving, soft furniture, cubbies, ceiling tiles and more.  It also comes with the added bonus of offering clients a strong, favorable impression the moment they walk through the company doors, especially now that corporations have taken more initiative to create and present stronger, identifiable brands.  All in all, office acoustics solutions not only optimize the overall sound quality of your office environments but also add immense value by elevating the look and feel of the entire office space, ultimately enhancing overall mood, productivity, creativity and employee well-being. 

As our needs in the office evolve, our offices evolve with them. And the key to answering the challenge of balancing collaboration and productivity with privacy and concentration: office acoustic solutions. 

Recommended Office Acoustic Solutions

MERGEWORKS ECHODECO BEAM BAFFLES – Office acoustic ceiling panels like the MergeWorks EchoDeco Beam Baffles can be hung horizontally and add a pop of fun texture and color while ensuring noise levels stay low. Acoustic baffles are great for controlling reverberation in spaces with high ceilings and give a sense of privacy in an open space. 


Photo: MergeWorks EchoDeco Beam Baffles

SNOWSOUND SI SBOCCIA – When sound bounces off hard surfaces and amplifies unwanted noise, wall panels are extremely helpful in office soundproofing and can even double as art pieces. The Snowsound Si Sboccia panel takes inspiration from rosebuds and can be wall-mounted or suspended from the ceilings as decorative design elements.

SCANDINAVIAN SPACES PIXEL AND PIXEL FRAMED – The Scandinavian Spaces Pixel and Pixel Framed panels are made of organic materials such as wood and moss.  They are excellent as office acoustic wall panels because they can absorb a range of frequencies with little-to-no maintenance, and provide great color and texture to your office walls. 

AMQ’S 3F WALL TILE – AMQ’s 3F Wall Tiles are another artistic office acoustic panels solution that can improve sound quality with its wide array of subtle and bold panels made from felt—a fibrous material with excellent sound-insulating properties. 


Photo: Snowsound Si Sboccia, Scandinavian Spaces Pixel and Pixel Framed, and AMQ’s 3F Wall Tiles

LOFTWALL ROOMS WALL SYSTEM – Office acoustic solutions can take other forms, too. The Loftwall Rooms Wall System is a quick and easy way to carve out your separate office spaces using a demountable partition system that has sound absorbing and sound dampening benefits.


Photo: Loftwall Rooms Wall System

MERGEWORKS URBAN WALLS ROOM DIVIDER – Similarly, the MergeWorks Urban Walls Room Divider makes perfect office acoustic partitions that can construct meeting rooms, huddle spaces, or private areas in a blink of an eye without the added expense. Its acrylic wall panels are an effective sound barrier that keeps noise contained where it needs to be, and also provides tack-boards and dry-erase boards for even more use and functionality.


Photo: MergeWorks Urban Walls Room Divider

MAVERICK PLANTERS – Maverick Planters reduce noise pollution because vegetation naturally absorbs and diffuses sound. Planters can also be used as partitions to divide the space in the office and come with additional benefits like providing privacy, increasing productivity and improving air quality. 


Photo: Maverick Planters

LOFTWALL SHIFT SHELF AND SPACE DIVIDER – Loftwall’s Shift Shelf and Space Divider combine necessity with privacy. Shelves are extremely useful for storage and organizing in the workplace, and Loftwall adds their own ingenious take on office essentials by creating a modern shelving solution that carves out spaces, offers storage, and uses stylishly clever panels to control acoustics.


Photo: Loftwall Shift Shelf and Space Divider

Read Also: Stylish Noise Reducing Office Furniture Trends for 2024
Main Photo: Snowsound Baffle Ceiling Panel
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: AMQ, Loftwall, Maverick, MergeWorks, Scandinavian Spaces, Snowsound

Planning an Office that Adapts to the Differing Needs of Employees

Adapting to Employees Allermuir Pause Seating

Your company may have one clear mission and vision statement, but your team is a mix of personalities, body types, schedules, and commutes.  Creating an office space and adapting to employees needs is critical for a successful working environment.

In this age of hybrid schedules and remote working you may have an office space in downtown LA near LA Live and have some employees who live in the Arts District. Others may drive in once or twice a week from the High Desert or Palm Springs.

Some like to stand. Some like to sit—anywhere in the office.

You may have a conference room, but you can also benefit from lounge furniture that can be arranged and re-arranged as needed. It’s an age of multi-use furnishings that serve the dynamics of your office environment.

Let’s see how to design for a range of personalities.

Adapting to Employees’ Physical and Emotional Needs

You can customize your office in many different ways, like equipping for people who have different physical needs and those who have different working habits and styles.

Say you have a finance department where one person likes to sit and another needs to stand for brief periods of time. Height-adjustable desks can be the solutions you need.

Adapting to Employees DeskMakers Ascend Workstation
Photo: Deskmakers Ascend Height Adjustable Workstation

The look and feel of a height-adjustable desk can vary dramatically from one model to another. The DeskMakers Ascend Height Adjustable Desk has a minimalistic appearance. It adjusts easily from one position to another within seconds and comes with many different finishes.

Adapting to Employees Drug Artemis Desk
Photo: Krug Artemis Height Adjustable Desk

For an executive vibe, check the Krug Artemis Height Adjustable Desk.

Get input from your employees so they have buy-in. Ask about their preferences and how they’d like to be accommodated.

Adapting to Employees’ In-Office Working Habits

Not everyone likes to sit at a workstation all day. A change of scenery can help some people be more creative while others prefer stretch breaks and working at different locations throughout the day.

How do you handle the preferences?

HON Abound Workstation
Photo: HON Abound Height Adjustable Workstation

For those who prefer one place to sit and work, equip them with plenty of surface area and set aside boundaries for personal space. The HON Abound Height Adjustable Workstation is a high-tech solution that has numerous configurations. It comes with a wide range of finish options.

Adapting to Employees DARRAN Honey Workspace
Photo: Darran Honey Workspace

A unique solution that’s available is the DARRAN Honey Workspace.

Different styles of cubicles or desks with privacy screens can define personal workspaces and help provide focus.

The Loftwell Split Space Divider can easily fit in new or existing floor plans and it’s also an option for home offices that need separation between personal and professional spaces.


Photo: DeskMakers Synapse Workstations

Does someone need to get away inside the office?

Set aside a lounge area where people can go to answer phones or take their laptops and work. Here are ideas for furnishing the space.

Allermuir Famiglia Chairs
Photo: Allermuir Famiglia Chairs

Use a combination of seating that allows for semi-private conversations and impromptu or planned small-group meetings. A modular seating area that can be arranged and used at the last minute has a distinct advantage over a more formal conference room. It doesn’t have to be reserved and it’s easy to arrange for a small group and then rearrange for the next use.

Look into the ERG International Brighton Modular Lounge Seating, a daring modernization of gathering and meeting spaces.

Adapting to Hybrid and Remote Employees

In many companies, full-time workers may be in the corporate office full-time while others either work remotely or work a hybrid schedule.

Equipping the office to adapt to these schedules includes having flexible office spaces where hybrid and remote workers can settle when they come into the office for meetings. This space can also be used as an area with video conferencing tools for virtual meetings.

What’s a flexible office space?

It could be similar to the lounge area with tables that can easily be set up and taken down when not in use.

It could also be a workstation that’s kept available and is reserved for those who come in for two or three days out of the week.

Adapting to Employees Nevins Volo Media Table
Photo: Nevins Volo Media Table

Install the video conferencing space and tools that are right for you, like the OFS Obeya Architectural Structures or a media table like the Nevins Volow Media Table that fits in any size office space.

You may have a range of people to work with and a variety of expectations to meet, so choose the furnishings that let you adapt to the various needs and create a unified team.

Trust Experience

The team at 2010 Office Furniture has more than a combined 50 years of experience designing offices and adapting to employees needs.  Trust our experts who’s worked in creating modern office spaces and furnishing clients who are among Southern California’s most successful corporations, universities, and small businesses.

Contact 2010 Office Furniture for input on getting as much value as possible from your office environment.

Read Also: Your Guide to the Best Training Furniture for the Office
Main Photo: Deskmakers Synapse Workstation
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Allermuir, DARRAN, Deskmakers, HON, Krug, Nevins

Offering Freedom and Flexibility with the Dynamic Office Design

Dynamic Office Design SitOnIt Seating Quiz Chairs

We are seeing something unprecedented in the office—the freedom to choose.  With the dynamic office, employees can enjoy office flexibility, fluid workspaces and a work/life balance they didn’t have before.

A Change in Office Culture and Design

As we say goodbye to 2023 and ring in a new year, we’re seeing profound changes in the office that delivers more of a balance between the needs and wants of the company and those of the employees. Productivity and efficiency remains the goal, but now companies are taking more initiative to be considerate of employee wellbeing and satisfaction when designing the spaces in which they work in.

Why? 


Photo: Friant Novo Workstation

Recent years of the pandemic aftermath showed us that less rigid work schedules and flexible hours are not only a viable option for many — but possibly the best solution. A contradiction to the traditional work model, post-pandemic times reveal that people don’t necessarily have to be in the office all the time in order to do their best work. According to research conducted by the International Workplace Group, a company dedicated to helping others embrace hybrid working, working in their preferred spaces and having flexible work schedules even increased employees’ productivity. 

So how does this progressive work-style change the landscape of our modern office spaces? A lot.

From Traditional to Dynamic

Conventional 9-to-5 hours and 5-day work schedules have in the past shaped our offices to be the traditional workspaces we’ve come to know.  This relatively regimented work culture was very much reflected in the way offices were designed. 

Before, a company would have specific rooms for very specific purposes.  Guests were welcomed entering through a formal reception and sitting area.  There would be one or two main conference rooms that everyone would need to schedule to use.  Desks and workstations were strictly only in designated work spaces.  Usually, there was one appointed training or multi-purpose room. And all employees took their breaks inside the company lounge or break room.


Photo: Scale 1to1 G Series Workstation and Lounge is perfect for the Dynamic Office

In dramatic contrast, the offices we’re seeing today are much different.  They’re being designed and furnished as self-sustaining “neighborhoods” if you will, working more fluidly and organically to not just optimize worker productivity, but better serve employees via an office experience they never had before. 

This is the Dynamic Office.  And we’re going to see a lot more of it.

A Closer Look at the Dynamic Office

What is a dynamic office? A dynamic office is designed to be intuitive to the employee’s natural way of working, offering them choice, flexibility and freedom in choosing the environments that cultivate their productivity and bring out their best work. It’s multi-faceted and multi-purpose.  It provides workers various types of settings to concentrate and work in; connect and collaborate with others; and thrive as modern professionals. 


Photo: Snowsound Snowpouf Sound Absorbing Chair

The idea behind the dynamic office meaning is to spark enthusiasm and engagement by accommodating employees in the ways they live and work today.  A combination of private, semi-private and open spaces, dynamic offices consist of various functioning environments that can facilitate different types of activities.

Private offices can double as a space for focused work, as well as impromptu meetings or one-on-one trainings.  Mobile workstations nested together are ideal for team projects, but can also be separated and sectioned off for individuals needing to concentrate.  Work-pods and private booths may also be used for focused work, especially as touch-down stations for those on-the-go or on hybrid schedules.  But they can also be used for smaller groups to meet, share ideas and collaborate.  Formal conference rooms can double as training rooms, and training rooms as employee breakrooms with kitchens.  The office reception area may also be used as an employee lounge, touchdown area or training room. 


Photo: Scandinavian Spaces Deli Chairs

Dynamic offices are designed to be flexible, adaptable and reconfigurable.  They’re meant to accommodate multiple work styles, interactions and schedules. But most importantly, they’re designed with the employees’ wellbeing and satisfaction in mind.

The Dynamic Office for Hybrid Work

HON Office Furniture said it best: “[We need to shift] into a hybrid way of thinking about our environments.” Hybrid work is ongoing and is definitely here to stay.

To many, splitting time between being in the office and out is the healthiest equilibrium we’ve seen in the workplace since the office was a concept. That’s why hybrid work is in the heart of the dynamic office design.  It provides flexibility for employees to choose the most effective way for them to work and enables a healthy work/life balance that not only accommodates diverse work styles, but for some, optimizes productivity and efficiency.

Hybrid work also has the side effect and benefit of downsizing office spaces. Since less people have to come in on a daily basis, companies don’t need to invest in or lease huge buildings for office space any more, helping them save money. This is why the dynamic office works so well, being able to accommodate multiple types of work styles in multiple types of adaptable and reconfigurable settings. It’s a leaner approach to office space management, and smarter way for companies to downsize and save on capital. 

The Dynamic Office for Hot-Desking

A particular strength of the dynamic office is its inherent ability to accommodate hot-desking. Hot-desking has been around for many decades, mostly to accommodate freelance or contract workers, but is now even more popular with the surge of hybrid work.  It’s an office organization system where workers do not have their own individual workstations anymore.  Instead they choose where and how they want to work from available desks, tables and workstations within the designated rooms and common areas that day.

Hot-desking also carries the key characterization of employee autonomy. It’s one of the many benefits, along with improved collaboration and better employee relationships, as hot-desking gives people the opportunity to work alongside coworkers they may not see otherwise.


Photo: Arcadia TOOaPICNIC Work-pod

Making Your Office Dynamic

How do you design and create a dynamic office?  Implement ergonomically flexible furniture, office accessories and technology to your workspaces so that they can adapt to different work styles. They should ideally be modular, portable and easy to set up. 

Think Global River Lounge or Rouillard Block seating to configure various lounge arrangements in your reception or lounge area.  Add DARRAN Bota, Encore Particles or OFS Strap pull up tables for people who want to work on their tablets or laptops. Lounge areas are infinitely versatile and can be repurposed into a cafeteria or training room with mobile tables like the AMQ Concur tables. 


Photo: AMQ Concur Training Tables

Scandinavian Spaces Deli seating is the perfect dynamic office chair, with its casters and stackability for ease-of-use and storage.  For other environments, you can set up private or semi-private workspaces with Arcadia’s Co-op work-booths or OFS Heya Lounge seating.  Carve out quiet spaces using architectural walls like Loftwall Rooms Wall System and Trendway Clear Wall.  Sound-absorbing technology from Snowsound optimizes acoustics and help to dampen noise to facilitate focused work and concentration.

Photo: Arcadia TOOtheLOUNGE Seating & Work-pods

Work-pods are great for spontaneous meetings and for people to collaborate, such as Arcadia’s TOOtheLOUNGE or TOOaPICNIC.  For workstations, the Scale 1:1 G Series Workstation is an excellent work-desk/lounge solution that encourages connectivity and sharing of ideas.  And Global Terina or Global Bungee tables are great for nesting together for team work or breaking apart for individual work.

A Dynamic Office That’s Works for You

The dynamic office gives freedom, stability and choice back to the employees. It is a stark contrast to the past, when office spaces mirrored a work culture that was more rigid and regimented.  But as people, we have always been dynamic. And now there’s finally an office design that reflects human nature and is a wellspring of innovation and creativity. 

Thank you dynamic office.  We’re glad to finally have you.

We’re Here to Help

Ready to change up your office space? If you’re looking to make your workspace more dynamic, 2010 Office Furniture can help. With over 50 years of combined expert experience in commercial office furniture and space planning, we’re one of the top design and retail providers to some of Southern Californias most recognizable corporations, universities, non-profits and more.

2010 Office Furniture can show you how to optimize your office space and provide a dynamic office experience to help keep your employees engaged and happy.  Contact us today with any questions and let us know of your potential project needs.

Read Also: 2024 Office Trends to Create an Engaging Office Environment
Main Photo: SitOnIt Qwiz Collaboration & Training Seating
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: AMQ, Arcadia, Friant, Scale 1to1, Scandinavian Spaces, SitOnIt Seating & Snowsound

2024 Office Trends to Create an Engaging Office Environment

2024 Office Trends Senator Haven Pods

What’s in store for 2024 office trends and what do we watch out for?

When Edmunds, the car people, opened their office in Santa Monica several years ago they suspended a Corvette above the reception desk.

The staff coffee bar was designed without traditional solid walls and featured chrome wheels arranged behind the coffee pots.

Fun? Engaging?

These touches reinforced the staff’s mission and created a creative office environment.

Workstations were grouped together according to tasks and departments, but people were free to move around the office if they needed a change of scenery.

How do you plan an office space with design trends that bring the best out of your team and puts them in a mindset to succeed?

Let’s read on.

Creating Community

Think of your office space as an engaging community, not just a place that’s solely functional. In a pleasant community, there are places where residents converse and move easily along a main street.


Photo: Friant Nik Lounge Chair

They know they belong.

Harvard Business Review addressed this just a few years ago and found that 40% of people feel isolated at work. Look at the benefits of belonging, as described in “The Value of Belonging at Work”:

“High belonging was linked to a whopping 56% increase in job performance, a 50% drop in turnover risk, and a 75% reduction in sick days.”

Creating a place of community and belonging is definitely up there in 2024 office trends.  Now take some steps in creating a community.

Your 2024 Office Trends Roadmap

2024 office trends are all about creating engaging spaces.  And engaging offices don’t just happen. They’re well-planned. The team at 2010 Office Furniture knows this. They bring over a half-century of combined experience planning office spaces and furnishing recognizable brands in Southern California.

Think through your own roadmap. Start by thinking through the following questions:

Function: how is your office currently functioning and how can the functions be improved? Does the workflow bog down in any specific area?

Charting the function helps you to see how to brand your office for employees and visitors from the time they step into the reception area and move to the interior spaces.

Needs of the team: what types of workstations, desks, and chairs best meet the task needs and physical needs of your team?

Bring ergonomics into the picture by matching the employee’s needs with the furnishings that will provide for their well-being and help them do their best.

Aesthetics

Now you can integrate your branding with the details that help motivate your team by placing them in a positive mindset.

Check the 2010 Office Inspirations page, an online showcase highlighting 2024 office trends that lend to an engaging environment.

See how different elements like furnishings and colors blend to create inviting workspaces with a specific look and feel.


Photo: OFS Eleven Wood Table

The Scandinavian office has minimal simplicity while an upbeat contemporary office mixes and matches an array of colors and furnishings.


Photo: Stylex NYC Wrap-Over Lounge

Everyday Life

In communities, people like to come together but still have quiet spaces. It’s like being alone … together.

Open office designs are here to stay, but 2024 office trends bring a sense of boundaries back in.  No doubt, it’s important to define spaces such as specific places for workstations in a department. Let’s use the marketing department as an example. Someone will need creative focus when writing up the campaign slogans of a specific product.

However, they can’t do this in isolation. They need to interview others to get their inspiration.

Have interactive spaces where the marketing team gathers with the production team to highlight the benefits of your next great project. This is where you let ideas flow with robust conversations.

Here’s another trend to be aware of.

Add video conferencing to the mix so you can have internal teams and participants working remotely.

How do you handle it all?

Go Modular

2024 office trends includes the power of keeping it flexible and adaptable.  And Modular furnishings keep you in control. You can easily accommodate workers on hybrid schedules and people working on a freelance basis. They can come in at scheduled times for a day or a meeting before leaving to finish their tasks elsewhere.

Just like a community, isn’t it?

People come and go but they’re brought together under the banner of fulfilling corporate goals.

Think of the breakroom as the General Store where informal discussions can lead to collaborative gatherings.


Photo: ERG International Carlton Stools

Cities use parks as green spaces to enhance the quality of life. Your equivalent could be designing lounge areas for both spontaneous small group use and individual use.


Photo: OCI Seating Breeze Lounge

It’s also possible with So Cal’s sunny weather to design indoor-outdoor spaces.

Why be limited by four walls?

Make sure office functionality is present and people’s needs are met. Use these ideas to make your office environment an engaging place that inspires people both professionally and personally.

Great Office Spaces with 2024 Office Trends

An engaging office environment is one where people know they’re supported while being challenged professionally.

Get expert input from 2010 Office Furniture and their space planning services along with their ability to furnish what you need.

Their focus is on helping you create the spaces that work best while bringing in quality that will last.

Contact them with your questions and possible project needs.

Read Also: Plan Your Office Branding for the Employee Experience
Main Photo: Senator Haven Pod
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: ERG International, Friant, National, OCI Seating, OFS, Senator, Stylex

Design an Office Space and Boost Morale Using Natural Materials

Natural Office Design Trends Arcadia Wordsmith Cart

Want to go natural in the office? Smart move. Let’s look at the natural office design trend and how it helps benefit your office!

Bringing nature into the office boosts overall morale and helps workers be more productive. But how do you connect the office space with the great outdoors?

In Southern California’s urban sprawl, we see evidence of natural beauty all around us—from the mountains forming a backdrop behind downtown LA, to the coast, and to the national forests. Don’t forget the sun. A few years ago, the Harvard Business Review referred to natural light as the #1 Office Perk.

It’s one of the elements that should be part of every company’s wellness program.

Light

Sunshine is worth harvesting indoors, especially since downtown LA gets about 290 total days of either full sun or partly cloudy skies, according to most estimates. Benefits of sunshine are proven to reduce employees’ stress and improve their natural sleeping cycle.

If it’s possible, enlarge windows to maximize the amount of sunshine that can filter indoors. Try to have desks and workstations within 25 feet of windows and use center spaces for storage equipment or break areas. Install skylights or sky tubes.

What happens if your office is in a windowless setting?

Advice in CareerTrend says to upgrade your fluorescent lights to a color “’temperature’ that mimics daylight and use focused task lighting to reduce eye strain.”

Regardless of the setting, consider using translucent partitions for cubicles and space dividers instead of solid walls.


Photo: Loftwall Hitch Space Divider

Fabrics and Materials

The most basic of all building materials remain popular. Wood has environmental benefits. “If sustainably sourced,” says a UK design company, Insightful Environments, “wood is one of the most environmentally friendly materials available as it is infinitely renewable and acts as a carbon store, giving it an important role in reducing carbon emissions.”

Pine, oak, and beech are three types of wood that can be effectively used in the office. So can bamboo, a grass, which is a beneficial plant for a variety of uses. It can be used as furniture and grown in pots as space dividers.

Bamboo also absorbs carbon from the environment and releases high oxygen levels into the atmosphere.

You can use wood in strategic ways. Light-grain wood floors can help lighten the office environment, even if little natural light is available.

Use natural fabrics for upholstery like cotton, leather, and wool or wool blends. Hemp is another natural fabric choice that’s described in Better Homes and Gardens as feeling similar to canvas and its resistant to mold and mildew.

Lounge seating has options with natural-looking fabrics like the OFS Realm Lounge Seating. There are fun ways to customize it like adding wood to the curved armrests.


Photo: OFS Realm Lounge Seating

Walls

Imagine natural elements on your walls with rocks, wood, and plenty of greenery. Check the Nevins Bio Canvas Frame that not only brings natural elements into the office, but it helps control acoustics, too.


Photo: Nevins Bio Canvas

Get Naturally Inspired

See these elements coming together in 2010 Office Inspiration’s The Green Office page. Notice how greenery and light are fused to create a welcoming environment.

You don’t have to shut the door on nature when stepping into a corporate office.

Use furniture with natural fabrics and natural wood.

It doesn’t have to take a huge budget to green up the surroundings. Real wood shelves filled with pleasing office plants are an easy way to start.


Photo: OFS Obeya Architectural Structure

Re-imagine cubicles or meeting spaces with office design solutions like the OFS Obeya Architectural Structures. It’s made with plywood cores and real wood grain details, and a great way to incorporate natural office design trends to your office.


Photo: Arcadia Delen Table

Need meeting tables or a breakroom surface? Check the Arcadia Delen Table that’s available in different shapes with solid Ash and Walnut wood finishes.


Photo: Arcadia Livia Bench

The Arcadia Livia Bench has a classic look and comes in both straight wood beams and scalloped wood. Optional removable seat pads can be easily added.

Remember This …

No matter how little or how much sunlight or other natural materials you have in the office, keep an orderly environment. Everyone will think better and feel calmer when their work environment is organized, clean, and orderly.

Here’s an idea from The American Society of Administrative Professionals. Choose a day each quarter when everybody cleans and organizes their personal office space and another day when you team up to clean common spaces.

Freshen Up with Natural Office Design Trends

What do you need to improve your office environment and workflow? How do you incorporate natural office design trends successfully?

Get input from the team at 2010 Office Furniture. They’ve got more than 50 years of combined experience furnishing and planning spaces for clients who are among Southern California’s most distinguished corporations, universities, and small businesses.

They’ll show you how to keep employees engaged and promote their overall well-being.

Contact them with your questions and potential project needs.

Read Also: Designing a Healthy Office
Main Photo: Arcadia WorkSmith Cart
Resources & Special Thanks to Respective Product Manufacturers: Arcadia Contract, Loftwall, Nevins and OFS