The office furniture sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience over the past four years. Vendors in this space have been skilfully adapting and tailoring their offerings to suit both home office setups and the changing preferences of the conventional workplace, with the aim of meeting the needs of today’s employees.
There is a belief at leading global furniture company Steelcase that many offices have yet to evolve to support diverse working styles, meaning customers are looking to invest in spaces that can satisfy a host of new requirements. CEO Sara Armbruster anticipates that this momentum, especially among large clients, is set to persist through the year.
Echoing her optimism, Dams Furniture Managing Director Chris Scott observes: “The outlook is bright as many organisations look to attract employees back to the workplace with spaces that reflect individual needs and desires. Employee sentiment will drive the development of innovative, multifunctional furniture.”
This perspective is reflected throughout the industry, down to dealer level, with Blakes Workplace Solutions Director Michael Byrne adding: “Lots of larger companies we work with are refurbishing offices to accommodate the new way of working. Staff are splitting their time between home and the office so we’re noticing big demand for collaboration areas, soft seating and acoustic booths.”
ACCO Brands, although smaller in this market segment, has witnessed significant sales growth since late 2022. Regional Marketing Director for the UK & Ireland Elisabete Wells explains that the vendor expects sales figures to continue to increase, and that it is developing new products scheduled to hit the market later this year: “We are confident this is not just a trend. Hybrid working has become the norm and the office refit movement is still happening.”
No place like home
Furniture now transcends mere functionality, especially as the lines have become increasingly blurred between home and office furniture. Since employees enjoyed new levels of comfort and aesthetics while working from home, they are simply no longer prepared to go back to cookie-cutter cubicles.
Wells captures this perfectly: “End users want the same level of comfort across workplaces and don’t want to feel like they’re sacrificing anything by working at one location instead of another.
“Ergonomics has major value here. When staff are comfortable and healthy, they’re more motivated and productive. Sick days are also reduced, which benefits the business and the individual alike.”
Bi-silque Business Development Manager Yvonne Partridge also highlights how the shift towards remote working models has fuelled a surge in demand for furniture that not only blends seamlessly into the home environment but also addresses the ergonomic needs of individuals: “We have intensified our research and development efforts towards creating innovative home office solutions that meet the modern professional’s requirements for versatility, functionality as well as style. The focus has shifted towards crafting pieces that promote wellbeing and can easily integrate into various home settings.”
Rose-tinted glasses
The transition towards hybrid working models brings with it a host of benefits. In December 2023, the Journal of Occupational Health published Experiences of working from home: umbrella review, which studied nearly 2,000 academic papers on the impact of work-from-home (WFH) routines.
The findings were predominantly positive, underscoring the fact that WFH can lead to healthier eating habits, reduced stress levels and lower blood pressure. Professor Neil Greenberg, one of the study’s authors and a psychiatrist at Kings College London, warns that denying WFH options will make companies less flexible in the event of a future crisis that prevents people from reaching their offices.
Despite these benefits, WFH is not without its challenges. The same review found homeworkers can be more sedentary than their in-office colleagues.
Meanwhile, Posturite (a division of Fellowes Brands) published a survey in 2023 that revealed 34% of UK- and Ireland-based remote workers feel lonely. It is, therefore, unsurprising that collaboration continues to be a key focus of workplace wellness and the furniture industry is responding with new products to mitigate shortcomings.
Referring to the evolving nature of teamwork, Wells emphasises the need for workspaces to adapt accordingly. “Collaboration will become limitless and happen anywhere at any time,” she points out, spotlighting a move towards more informal spaces and spontaneous team interactions. “It’s entirely achievable, for example, through movable whiteboards and memo boards or by employees pulling up ergonomic stools and active sitting balls,” she adds.
Indeed, Mark Brown, Sales Director at manufacturer 2020 Furniture Design, believes collaborative workspaces and breakout areas will evolve to become more agile and flexible. He states: “The next developments I expect to see will be furniture which is easily reconfigured and mobile solutions, such as products utilising wheels.”
Listen and learn
Improving communication between at-home and in-office staff is difficult but Blakes is one dealer that has concentrated on addressing this issue, recognising the growing need for adaptable meeting spaces to support productive connections.
For those companies that downsized during the pandemic and are now grappling with limited space, Byrne believes a quick and easy fix is fully acoustic meeting pods. He explains: “These are available in a range of sizes and are ideal to prevent background noise. Unlike partition walls, the pods can become company assets and be taken with the client if they move premises.”
He has also observed a significant uptick in demand for these meeting pods, marking this as a substantial growth area, with sales already around one-third higher this year than in 2023.
Wells agrees, noting: “When employers are equipping a new office, there’s a major chance to build in solutions such as soundproof booths and pods that make it easier for remote team members to join their in-person colleagues.”
The New World of Work whitepaper released by Leitz earlier this year found that 75% of homeworkers regularly encounter sound and audio problems when participating in virtual meetings. Such issues can not only cause embarrassment for employees when they have to request repetitions or repeat themselves but also lead to decreased contributions during meetings.
This highlights the importance of investing in furniture and equipment that support hybrid meetings, facilitating smooth interaction and real-time collaboration between in-person and remote participants. Reflecting on this rising demand, Brown notes: “A key area of growth has been private phone and meeting booths. We only see this trend continuing as businesses must allow more flexible work patterns, with less reliance on traditional desks.”
Investing in technology
Meanwhile, the integration of technology into the fabric of modern office life is transforming not just how we work but also the physical environments we work in. It might be surprising to learn that 62% of remote workers prefer to be on camera during remote meetings, according to the State of Remote Work 2023 report from social media management software company Buffer.
The reasons cited for this preference highlight the human aspect of remote work: 67% believe it facilitates easier communication through visual cues such as facial expressions, while 16% find it reduces feelings of isolation. This shift towards a more connected and visually engaged remote working culture has significant implications for office furniture and design.
The proliferation of cloud-based technologies means traditional, cumbersome office furniture such as storage cabinets is becoming obsolete, freeing up space for more innovative uses. Moreover, the core pieces of office furniture that have defined workplaces for decades are undergoing a technological revolution.
Bi-silque, for example, is currently spearheading several projects which integrate technology with furniture design. Its initiatives include smart desks with built-in charging stations and app-controlled height adjustability, ergonomic chairs featuring posture sensors and other furniture pieces incorporating connectivity solutions.
Dams’ Scott is also excited by the digital possibilities. “With the development of AI, it might not be long until a height-adjustable desk can analyse the needs of the user and adapt automatically to deliver the best ergonomic set-up,” he says.
Such advancements can help address the age-old problem with office working – spending hours in the same position can lead to detrimental, long-term musculoskeletal conditions. Smart desks and similar innovations promote movement and variability in posture, introducing a dynamic element to the workspace that was historically absent.
Nature nurtures
The United Nations’ projection that 70% of the global population will reside in urban areas by 2050 highlights the critical need for our work environments to reconnect people with nature. As a result, biophilic design has also been growing in popularity in the modern workspace.
“Biophilic offices incorporate features of the natural landscape to create a more relaxing and healthier environment,” says Byrne. “It has been proven that biophilic design reduces stress and improves cognitive function and creativity. Recently, we’ve noticed big demand in this area and we now supply and fit green walls as an add-on to our existing furniture portfolio.”
However, the furniture industry is not without its environmental challenges, with issues ranging from deforestation and waste generation to significant greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, office furniture manufacturers have been vocal about their commitment to sustainable practices and advocating for the circular economy.
Dams Furniture developed re.think in response to calls for a responsible solution to the disposal of waste packaging and office furniture. “Through re.think, our customers can send in furniture for repair or recycling,” Scott explains. “Additionally, waste packaging such as cardboard can be recycled with ease, reducing their carbon footprint. With this programme, our manufacturing economy is circular; and any revenue generated through the initiative is reinvested into our sustainability efforts.” (Read Green Goals for more info on re.think).
Equally, Bi-silque’s Partridge has observed a marked interest in second-hand and upcycled furniture, along with eco-friendly and renewable materials: “Sustainability is mandatory, and this has confronted manufacturers with an increased demand for long-lasting and reusable products.
“Bi-silque meticulously selects materials for our furniture, prioritising natural wood or wood-based and sourced sustainably. Our preference extends to eco-conscious metals such as steel and aluminium, plastics with recycled content and cork.”
Marius Moldovan, General Manager at portable ergonomics vendor Standivarius, further highlights the importance of creating products that are not only made from sustainable materials but also designed for durability: “Office products that fail to marry form with function often end up as little more than decorative paperweights, eventually contributing to piles of waste. Furniture that doesn’t adapt to the needs of its users doesn’t just risk obsolescence; it threatens to contribute to environmental degradation.”
Future gazing
Today’s approach to office furniture necessitates an understanding that one solution doesn’t fit all. Employees want a workspace that is as individual as their homes. According to research firm Croner-i in Individuality in the workplace: supporting employees to be themselves, staff members who can be themselves feel valued and included. This sense of belonging has benefits for both recruitment and employee retention.
Says ACCO Brands’ Wells: “People want to work for employers who understand, value and support them. Appreciating employee needs and delivering on them is crucial to helping with presenteeism, recruiting the next working generation – Gen Z – as well as retaining existing staff.”
In this context, it makes sense that the focus has shifted from quantity to quality. The advent of hybrid working models, which reduce the need for a high number of desks in a single space, allows companies to invest more thoughtfully in their work environments. This not only caters to the immediate requirements of employees but also positions businesses for future success by creating a workspace that people are eager to engage with.
Moldovan encapsulates this vision: “The goal is a future where offices are designed for longevity, adaptability and with the environment in mind – without sacrificing the joy of a well-curated workspace.”
Dealer tips
- Position your dealership as a trusted partner by becoming a knowledgeable authority on the latest market trends in office furniture and workplace design.
- Innovate beyond the basics of standard furniture offerings by identifying products and solutions which cater to wellness and individuality in the workplace.
- Create dedicated website sections and communication materials that feature consumer-enticing content.
- Offer comprehensive solutions which address the entire collaborative ecosystem.
- Take advantage of the double-selling opportunity that hybrid working presents by catering for the needs of home offices as well as traditional workspaces.
