How Did 2020 Transform Office Interiors?

12 / 02 / 2021

2020 was marked by the coronavirus. And what else? How did the coronavirus outbreak transform the office environment, and what other trends emerged? Let’s look back on the past twelve months from a design perspective. Not only did interiors have to face new challenges, but they were also affected by green trends, sustainability and retro wave.

Here are eight trends that defined 2020 in terms of interior design.

1. Offices and Coronavirus: Adapting Space to Video-Calling Needs

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all meetings took place in the online world. Those who did not know their way around Zoom or Google Meet learned to use these services very swiftly. While Zoom was used by ten million users a day in 2019, there were over three hundred million of them in April 2020.

This seemingly trivial issue intensified the need to adapt the space to the necessary technology. Suddenly, it was essential to address power points, acoustics, proper lighting and shading elements, eliminating undesirable light. A representative environment and view angle are a whole another story. The Internet is full of videos capturing inappropriate shots that completely discredited the entire conference or interview.

A representative environment is vital both for the company and when working from home.

2. Spotlight on Ecology

The trend of sustainability and environment-friendliness has been reinforced. Upcycling, recycling, using new materials – it all has been resonating in the fashion industry for quite some time. No wonder these ideas are being increasingly promoted in interior design as well. They are mostly adopted by large companies, which is reflected in the choice of products. There is an inclination towards local designers and brands that manufacture products in the spirit of new standards. An emphasis is put not only on materials but also on the efficient production and life cycle of items.

Dutch manufacturer De Vorm produces furniture made from recycled plastic bottles.

3. Retro Interior Styling

Wired glass, shaped acrylic glass and small formats have experienced a renaissance. Similarly to upcycling and recycling, reverting to the use of retro materials results from a broader social situation. Retro style has been reflected in fashion and music and extensively used by architects and interior designers. Modern and retro elements have become so interwoven that the boundaries between them disappeared. Consequently, it is currently possible to combine almost anything, and it is still considered trendy and contemporary.

4. Colours in Interiors

Interiors in the universal shades of grey and white are a thing of the past, and people were more and more willing to experiment with colours. This is linked to the re-emergence of retro style, which involves a diverse range of colours in addition to “old-new” materials. Painting the entire room in a single colour or shade was also popular.

Tip

Are you choosing colours for your interior? First, consider whether the selected shade or combination will not pall on you soon. The same rule applies to the selection of natural structures, such as wood or stone. If you are not sure, contact us, and we will design an ideal interior tailored to your needs: kamenik@premieri.cz

The article on the interior trends of 2020 continues here.