We have reached an exciting turning point for contract design. After two years of remote working, learning, and gathering, we are welcoming people back to commercial environments. Our priorities have changed since the world went virtual; we’ve raised health, wellness, and comfort standards and shared spaces need to reflect that. As designers imagine new corporate, civic, education, healthcare, and hospitality interiors, we’ve created a list of the top design trends that will define commercial design this year and beyond. Continue reading to learn about 2022’s most exhilarating color palette, the next stage of biophilic design, and how the new office will take shape.
Home Away From Home
It’s no surprise the commercial design industry has embraced residential design trends for nearly a decade. Plush lounge areas have sprouted up in coworking spaces, cubicles have given way to large communal tables, and offices have even introduced nap rooms for midday recharging. But after two years of remote work, employees have adopted a more relaxed style. A recent study revealed that 45 percent of teleworker employees work from their couch and 38 percent work from their bed.
As people re-enter public spaces, designers are integrating at-home comfort like never before. Instead of fluorescent lighting, offices will opt for natural light and soft LEDs. In lieu of extra desks, designers will add more couches and lounge chairs, allowing employees to engage with coworkers, answer emails, and even take conference calls from a comfortable seat.
What a Gem
The most regal of all color palettes, jewel tones are making a bold comeback this season. From emerald green to marigold, these hues evoke excitement and creativity as people return to shared spaces. Take for example the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library designed by Mecanoo with Beyer Blinder Belle, . Surrounded by wood stairwells and soft white walls, the library’s gem-colored banquette and matching ottomans beautifully anchor the space. The bench also invites visitors to sit, read, and quietly converse with others.
While jewel tones are energizing, they’re also grounded in nature. Inspired by earth’s precious rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and more, the colors bring warmth to commercial spaces. Even Pantone’s 2022 Color of the Year, Very Peri’s amethyst-like hue can be enlivening or soothing depending on the setting. For a toned-down design approach, pair jewel tones with candy-colored pastels or soft neutrals.
Bring the Outdoors In
The health benefits of nature are undeniable—it alleviates stress, induces relaxation, and improves physical health—but our need to be indoors is unavoidable. Studies show we spend 90 percent of our lives inside, so it’s imperative we bring Mother Nature to us. Biophilia, the act of bringing the natural environment into the built environment, has taken over commercial design through floral motifs and living plant walls. This year, designers will continue the trend by introducing organic materials, earth-toned colors, and more to enhance an outdoor connection.
Portland-based architecture firm Hacker Architects subtly integrates wood and natural light in its First Tech Federal Credit Union project. Designed around a “people first” approach, the five-story workspace prioritizes employee comfort and health with abundant floor-to-ceiling windows, easy outdoor access, and warm wood beams throughout the structure.
Photo by John D’Angelo
Privacy, Please
Open-concept workspaces dominated office design just a couple of years ago, but now we’re seeing the rise of segmented work environments. After years of working from home, pods and enclosed areas offer privacy for uninterrupted heads-down work or one-on-one calls. As companies continue to prioritize health and safety, permanent segmentation will also be essential to the workplace. We’re not saying offices will revert back to cubicles, but you can expect a hybrid of connectivity and privacy.
Synecdoche’s design for the Modelon office offers open communal areas, as well as four enclosed meeting spaces for individuals and small groups. Many of the meeting rooms are divided by heavy curtains to customize the space size, and all are washed in oranges and blues to match the company’s branding aesthetic.
“Orange is a high-energy color that promotes several attendees to actively participate in the larger meeting space, while the smaller, intimate blue rooms put people at ease for uses like performance reviews,” says Synecdoche’s principal, Lisa Sauve. “We intentionally wanted to color the entire room instead of an accent wall to embody the energy instead of an aesthetic application. The curtains reinforced this to bring the continuity full circle while also providing privacy and acoustic dampening.”
Trends may change year to year, but commercial interiors can last for decades. Since commercial interiors turnover less than those in other design sectors, today’s decisions have a lasting impact on how people engage with a space. And after two years away from public places, we’re eager to imagine interiors people want to be in day after day. By integrating residential-inspired furnishings, jewel-toned color palettes, natural materials, and private workspaces, designers create enduring spaces that can be enjoyed for years to come.
Claire Butwinick is a senior account coordinator at Paxson Fay, specializing in marketing and social media strategy, copywriting, and public relations. Formerly the assistant editor at GRAY Magazine, Claire brings her editorial background and a passion for all things design to her role. Her work also appears in officeinsight, SagaCity’s Jewish in Seattle Magazine, and more.