Workplace design trends for 2025: a guide to getting your workplace right

Out with the old, in with the new. Let's talk about modern workplace design, creating environments that empower employees, and how you can transform your office space by following the latest trends.

Office design has come a long way since the days of Taylorism and cubicle farms. In 2025, there is an ever-growing demand for flexibility, modern values, and sustainable operations in the workplace. So it's no surprise that we're seeing that reflected in current trends.

Whether it's creating environments that boost employee wellbeing or designing for neurodiversity, we're seeing innovation across the board in how we think about and curate our workspaces. And there's no better time: research shows 60% of businesses expect to allocate more budget towards design, fit-out, and office refurbishmentby 2030. So let's take a look at the leading office design trends for 2025.

What are the benefits of workplace design?

Your workplace represents your business. So naturally, the ideals, values, and culture of your company are all reflected in the office design. How you choose to present the heart of your business influences everything from employee morale and productivity to your green credentials and attracting new talent.

These are just a few areas where workplace design can hold sway (and why business leaders are taking note):

Talent attraction

An outdated office space isn't going to win over any burgeoning young talent (or keep hold of those at the top of their game). Keeping up to date with the latest office design trends and creating a productive environment that acts as a destination workplace while also reflecting your company culture is a great way to make an unforgettable first impression.

Employee morale

It's undeniable that workplaces contribute to employee morale. Indeed, modern office design isn't just an excellent way to attract new talent. It's also essential for retaining it. Good workplace design has the power to support wellbeing and give a boost to employee health. Typically, workspaces that consider a range of diverse needs lead to higher employee satisfaction, particularly when a workplace layout can allow for working patterns and modes (for instance, quiet spaces with soundproofing).

Productivity

Employee morale is instrumental in maintaining productive, high performance environments, but there are several other elements of workplace design that also have an impact. From colour psychology to space utilisation, facilities managers have to make choices that influence productivity in the workforce.

Using available space to suit all types of people and working styles can be challenging but ultimately rewarding. Achieving a balance between open collaborative and more functional spaces, dedicating resources to sustainability and wellbeing, and even choosing the right colour palette. It can all benefit the employee experience, and therefore productivity levels.

Hybrid working models, employee wellbeing, and sustainability: what do future workplaces look like?

We've seen a substantial shift in the considerations of office design in the last few years. Momentum towards more flexible working, supporting wellbeing and psychological needs, and reducing potential environmental impacts is continuing to grow. And it shows no signs of slowing down.

Companies have vastly different priorities in the workplace, and business leaders expect different things today than even just five years ago. For instance, a business that prioritises wellbeing and sustainability will have a workplace design built around those values, enhancing comfort for staff and boosting energy efficiency for the planet.

The top workplace and office design trends for 2025

By their nature, trends are susceptible to shifts in public opinion and new evidence. Fortunately, these workplace design trends are largely rooted in wider cultural changes, which makes them ideal for those who want to create a working environment that's fit for today and tomorrow.

1. Sustainable environments

Sustainability has been on the minds of facilities managers for a long time. And this year it's no different. It's never had a broader definition or as much influence as it does now. Emerging research shows more than two-thirds of businesses will increase spending on sustainability performance by 2030, with 72% saying they're willing to pay more for an office with strong sustainability and green credentials.

Gen Z in particular have higher expectations of their workplace being sustainable, so designing spaces with this in mind is crucial. Of course, more goes into creating sustainable environments than just adding recycling bins. Whether you're looking at new construction, a simple refurbishment, or want to improve an existing space, there are several sustainable initiatives your business can undertake.

Circular economy

There are certifications you can look out for, including LEED and BREEAM, to analyse the sustainability credentials of any products during fit out, ensuring you are using low emission materials from the ground up.

In Australasia, for instance, Zip Water's all-in-one HydroTap was the first product in its category to obtain an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which is internationally recognised and compliant with LEED, BREEAM, and Green Star.

Operational carbon

Operational carbon is the emissions produced by a building during use; this is where everything from recycling to energy usage comes into play. More companies are taking the initiative to reduce their operational carbon, whether it's by installing solar panels, using e-vehicles or improving insulation.

One simple change you can make to improve the sustainability of your workplace is installing a HydroTap. Single-use plastic bottles are a huge and unnecessary polluter, and office workers are a particularly guilty contributor.

Removing the need for plastic bottles at all, by introducing a high performance filtration water system into the office, will take you one step closer to achieving more sustainable office design. Introducing readily available, pure-tasting boiling, sparkling, and chilled water – with a higher filtration level than its bottled counterpart – to the workplace does more than encourage employees to reduce their environmental impact. It can also improve employee health and productivity.

2. A versatile, 'broken plan' layout

Versatility is everything in modern office design. It's a change that FMs will find difficult to avoid, as the demands of a hybrid working model and accommodating all employee needs require nothing less than complete versatility.

Office layouts will inevitably change. Hybrid working demands flexibility from a workplace, with remote workers creating the need for rooms dedicated to video calls, while also requiring a variety of working areas – from the collaborative and inspirational to the functional and focused – for when they are in the office.

Understanding how different spaces can be best used to enhance employee engagement, productivity, and wellbeing is an interesting challenge for FMs. The answer? A broken plan layout, which is inclusive for all, thanks to a mixture of different zones, spaces, and working environments.

Meeting rooms and collaborative spaces

Putting the needs of remote employees aside for a moment, encouraging collaboration in-person is still an important consideration. Traditional meeting rooms still have their place, but shouldn't be relied upon as the sole area for collaboration in the office.

Breakout spaces should sit alongside conference rooms, huddle rooms, and whatever else workplace trends demand to encourage employees to communicate and build a sense of community at work. In addition, more informal areas for spontaneous collaboration and to have impromptu ideation sessions can help boost productivity.

The rise of the video booth

By now, we all know the difficulties of trying to conduct a video call in a busy office. When people on both ends of the call struggle to hear each other because of background noise, it can be immensely frustrating.

Hybrid work and external meetings continue to drive demand; improvements to technology have made conducting work this way a viable option, and one that many employees increasingly rely upon. Small spaces built for the purpose of hosting calls are becoming essential.

While collaborative, open-plan spaces are still key to workplace design, we can acknowledge the need for spaces that are designed to adapt to remote working, new technology, and virtual collaboration.

Flexible desk arrangements

Hot desking is not new, but the need to promote movement among office employees hasn't changed. For many, a significant portion of their working lives is spent sitting down. This can cause all kinds of health issues long-term, and is generally detrimental to the health and wellbeing of employees.

An easy solution is to provide employees with standing desks, giving them the option to switch between standing and sitting throughout the day. Flexible desk arrangements also encourage communication, help build relationships, and promote collaboration.

3. Inclusive workspaces

Employee health and wellbeing are the driving force behind many workplace trends. Inclusive workspaces that take into account the needs of all employees are less of a workplace design trend and more of a necessity as awareness grows. And change needs to happen: one-third of workers surveyed said inclusivity was limited or non-existent at their work, with 20% believing their workplace is truly inclusive.

Facility managers should be looking to create calming spaces and quiet working zones that promote wellbeing. These areas help neurodivergent or less able employees feel more comfortable at work. While breakout spaces give staff the chance to take a break when they need it, helping to make your workspace inclusive and enabling employees to gather together and bond.

Focused work areas

Reinforcing the need for flexibility in the modern workplace, collaborative workspaces must be balanced with areas dedicated to focused work. Providing a dedicated space for solo work that requires intense concentration, and allowing employees to choose where they work, is essential for boosting productivity.

Wellbeing spaces

From breakout areas to yoga spaces, there are several ways to improve staff wellbeing through modern workplace design. Making the effort to create areas that are purely meant to improve the working lives of employees will improve general morale, and help people feel valued.

One example is by embracing features commonly found in the hospitality industry to improve employee wellbeing and build a stronger sense of local community. Relaxed, café-like zones with cosy seating areas and premium drinking water options like the HydroTap offer employees welcoming spots to unwind or engage in casual conversations. These amenities promote social interaction and provide a refreshing break from daily tasks.

HydroTap delivers pure-tasting filtered chilled, sparkling, and boiling water in an instant, encouraging employees to stay hydrated. Good hydration has been linked to reducing risk of depression and anxiety, as well as improving productivity levels and general mental function.

Natural lighting

Fluorescent lighting has been the go-to practical lighting solution in offices for decades, but with attention drawn to the negative effects it has on employee wellbeing, this is beginning to change.

Natural light helps our bodies to produce vitamin D, improves our focus and sleep patterns, and generally makes us happier. Offices flooded with natural light will have a happier and more productive workforce than offices relying solely on fluorescent or LED lighting. Larger windows and glass walls will become more of a priority in office environments moving forward.

4. Industrial meets natural

Minimalistic design is still popular in many workplaces; unsurprisingly, as a cluttered space can create stress and harm our ability to focus. The industrialised look, where exposed brick, wood, and metals are typically the primary materials used in a room, is often the style of choice in minimalist workplaces.

It's practical, modern and bang on trend; industrial-chic offices aren't going away. But the importance of bringing the natural world into the office is leading towards a combination of the modern industrial look with more natural elements.

Biophilic design continues to grow in popularity, as well as living walls, house plants, and glass walls that allow natural light to flood through, which work to improve the quality of life for employees. This change does more than make the office look good – it helps people working there to feel good as well.

5. Bright colours and artwork

Neutral tones have dominated the office colour palette for years, and they have ruled supreme for a reason. These colours work to create a calming environment that helps people stay focused and reduces stress. Bright colours have previously fallen out of fashion, but they're starting to creep back into office design.

Colour psychology has been written about extensively – just as neutral tones are calming, bright colours can be energising, inspire teams, and foster creativity. A pop of colour, particularly in creative or collaborative spaces, can have a surprising influence over brain function. 

These colours should be used sparingly in an office, however, as too many bright colours can be distracting and harm productivity. It's worth remembering that not all people will feel the same way about every workplace design trend – if you're planning on painting an entire room neon orange, it might be worth asking the staff first!

A great way to get some more colour and inspiration into a space is through art. Placing art on the walls of the office makes your office feel trendier and a more pleasant place to work.

Transform your workplace with design-focused partners

By applying the workplace trends listed here that best suit your working environment, you will be getting the most out of your office space, and ensuring you have a happier workforce.

While these trends may evolve in future, the core ethos behind them will remain the same. These design changes are an investment in the future of your company, putting you on the front foot when it comes to recruitment, retention, and productivity.

Some of the required changes may be a complete overhaul, but others are simple. No modern office or high-performance environment is complete without an advanced water filtration system.

Find out more about the benefits of introducing a Zip HydroTap to your office today and why it's essential to work with design-focused suppliers and partners. Get in touch today to discuss your requirements.