A new year is upon us and, with it, a host of new trends and styles for every office. Along with a fresh twist on current trends, those looking to bring a new look to their offices will want to be on the lookout for new styles and products that will improve the look and feel of their business space.

Color

If you’ve been thinking about adding some color to your office this year, you’ll be happy to know that this thinking is right on trend. Color is going to be in demand for office furniture and decor in 2018. The best news is that you don’t have to worry about breaking the rules.

This year’s colors will be hues that grab attention with their intensity. For example, Pantone’s Color of the Year, Ultra Violet, is a deep and lovely jewel tone that adds drama without darkness. The company’s new Top 12 colors for spring 2018 include bold and unusual shades for offices that push the envelope. If you’re not yet ready to give up your neutral palette, Pantone also offers a range they call the Classic Color Palette that’s sure to please.

Whether it’s your office or lobby, adding pops of color in the form of accessories, furniture, or even new paint can give your space a significant boost. Colorful plants can even do double duty, cleaning the air as they beautify the room.

Simplicity

Remember when computer desks and other office furniture looked and felt as if they were made of stone? All that bulk used to be fashionable, but, thankfully, in 2018 it’s out with the dark and heavy, and in with the light and airy.

What’s 2018 office furniture got in store for you? Think light colors and open shelving. The cleaner lines of modern furniture also add to the simpler look and feel, making the room look bigger and brighter, without the dark and heavy clutter.

Furniture as a Tool for Health

By now, you’ve likely heard about the dangers of sitting too long, and its potential effects on employee health. What’s great is that you can do something about it with adaptable and ergonomic furniture.

Adaptable furniture allows your employees to sit or stand whenever they choose. In just a few simple movements, an adaptable desk can be raised to accommodate standing and lowered again when it’s time to sit. If you want to add this option to your current furniture, that’s easily done with products that attach to existing desks to allow for raising and lowering of computer monitors.

Ergonomic chairs prevent the poor posture which can lead to back pain and spinal problems. These chairs are available in a wide range of options, which means you can accommodate the individual needs of your employees while staying stylish at the same time.

The healthy furniture trend is far more than just a trend; it provides an opportunity for the employee to choose better health, and it places full control of this in their hands.

Another part of healthy office furniture is enhanced accessibility. 2018’s accessible offices will feature inclusive spaces and innovative adaptive chairs that allow employees with physical challenges to move as easily as their office-mates. Imagine a wheelchair that comes to you with the tap of an app or a stationary chair that can be adapted to meet an employee’s exact physical needs.

Non-Traditional Spaces

2018’s typical office space is anything but traditional. No longer do your employees need to feel cut off from their coworkers; today’s office is “human-centric,” encouraging productive conversation and collaboration.

If you want to be in line with the trend this year, think about adding a comfortable couch to the middle of the office or in a boardroom, and mobile elements that allow employees to set things up in a way that promotes creativity. Even filing cabinets have wheels this year, making moving effortless.

Of course, this kind of “open office” won’t be the ideal setup for every company. If you’re looking for contemporary office furniture in Atlanta that suits employees who prefer an individual workspace, there are also several options for which will allow this, but without making the office feel dated. One example is frosted partitions—they allow diffused light in without sacrificing privacy.

If you have an office where some employees don’t mind getting together and others prefer to work independently, you can encourage both by offering both kinds of workspaces. Perhaps one side of your office can be devoted to collaborative space, while the other can be dedicated to employees who prefer to work individually.

Greening It Up

Another trend that’s not really a trend is going green and, each year, there are more ways to do so. You can literally go green by adding plants to your office decor, but you can also make your office trendier and more environmentally friendly with recycled furniture.

What exactly is recycled furniture? It’s office furniture that has been created from recycled materials. For example, a floor mat can be made of recycled plastic bottles, or a monitor stand can be made of reclaimed wood. Not only will choosing this kind of furniture be easier on the environment, but employees and clients alike will be impressed by your desire to make the world a better place.

It’s All Right There

Innovation is the name of the game where it comes to 2018 trends. Eliminate the need to search for charging stations by offering those that are built in to each workstation. Help employees clear collaboration-stifling clutter with unusual storage solutions.

Technology will only become more integrated with office spaces this year. Instead of boring pitch decks, modern presentations will become an immersive experience, thanks to augmented and virtual reality tools.

A Blast from the Past

The 70s may be gone, but the vintage style is all the rage this year. Retro prints can be found in most 2018 design catalogs, along with antique finishes and office furniture styles that recollect days gone by. New and affordable products for the office are paying homage to past decades with shiny finishes, geometric patterns, and interesting shapes in all of the year’s hottest shades.

Remember those veneer finishes of days gone by? They’re back for office furniture. Along with them are fabric textures galore. From velvet and pleated to buttoned and smooth, your office or waiting space can be on point with this year’s hottest look.

Mix and Match with Used Furniture

Costs are definitely going up for everything you need for your business, but you don’t have to skimp on new office furniture because of a tight budget; pieces from used office furniture stores in Atlanta can offer just as much in the way of looks and functionality as new pieces can.

Mismatched office furniture can be just as trendy as purchasing matched sets, not to mention cheaper. By going to a store that only accepts office furniture that’s in excellent condition, you can be assured that your used furniture looks like new. If you don’t feel like mixing it up, you can usually find several pieces of furniture that are in a desirable style.

How to Incorporate 2018 Trends

If you’re wondering where to begin with your office redesign, you’re not alone. There are so many products on the market that, without support from knowledgeable professionals, you can quickly become overwhelmed. Or, you may not even like the idea of having to redesign and, perhaps, are just looking for expert assistance.

Whatever your situation, Office Expo Atlanta can help. Not only has our team of design professionals been helping business owners to completely transform their office spaces for over 35 years, but we also have the knowledge to help you choose the perfect pieces for your space.

There’s also no need to blow your budget with Office Expo Atlanta. We work with our customers to find attractive and cheap office furniture that doesn’t break the bank. If you’re ready to make your office space more efficient and on-trend, look no further than Office Expo Atlanta; come in today to speak with one of our experienced design team members.