The way we work is ever-changing. Five years ago, most of us worked from home Monday through Friday. Now, we see a mixture of office-based schedules, hybrid working, and the rise of four-day weeks.
But that’s not all. We’re seeing far greater attention on mental health and wellbeing, and sustainability is a widespread priority among both employers and employees.
These are some of the key office and workspace trends that we expect to dominate in 2025. Keep reading to learn more about what’s in store for companies and workers.
One of the main office trends we predict for 2025 is wellness-focused interior design. The physical layout of the workplace will prioritise employees’ health and wellbeing at work.
This prediction comes from the staggering rise in unemployment and long-term sickness in the UK caused by poor mental health. Earlier this year, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) analysis revealed that 4.2 million working-age Brits are out of work and claiming health-related benefits.
Mental health and behavioural disorders are the primary conditions causing unemployment. Concerningly, the IFS predicts that number could rise by almost 12.5% in the next four years, potentially leaving 5.4 million people out of work by 2028.
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To try to reverse this trend, we expect to see more wellness-focused offices with dedicated quiet zones where workers can relax, recharge, and focus in a calm space. There will also be more plants in the office that clean the air, reduce stress, and add colour to the working environment, helping boost employees’ productivity and overall happiness.
Lighting will be another important feature. The brightness, colour, quality, and even light temperature can significantly affect our mood and health. Large windows that let in plenty of natural light during the day will play a crucial part in the future workplace.
Finally, office gardens and corporate green spaces are on the rise. Our workday shouldn’t be confined to a desk; regular movement, a change of scenery, and fresh air significantly impact both mental and physical health. So, in 2025, we anticipate more offices with outdoor spaces, promoting mindfulness, physical activity, and productivity.
Fixed desks and rigid office layouts are a thing of the past. Going forward, offices and workspaces will be flexible and adaptable with dynamic workstations that suit hybrid working patterns, which is becoming the norm for office-based businesses.
Pre-pandemic, working from home in any capacity was relatively unheard of. By 2022, however, ONS statistics show that a quarter (25%) of Brits worked from home at least some of the time.
This trend is set to continue in 2025 and beyond. In a British Chamber of Commerce survey of over 1,000 businesses, most of which were SMEs, 47% of UK employers said they foresee their staff undertaking a hybrid working style.
Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our data shows that hybrid working is now part of the fabric of the modern workplace,” expressing the nation’s intention to embrace hybrid working arrangements.
Therefore, it’s highly likely that offices in 2025 will feature dynamic workstations. Forget endless rows of desks or cubicles; we will now have hotdesking options, private suites, and communal meeting areas. Offices will look a little something like this:
Similar to a co-working space, there’ll be something for everyone. Those who want to get their heads down can simply grab a desk. Those who want to host a private conference can do so in dedicated meeting rooms. And those who are more productive over a cup of coffee with their teammates can do so in a breakout area.
In addition, connectivity and collaboration will remain a priority, so there will be plenty of tech and facilities that allow people to work together both digitally and in person. This variety will not only support hybrid work but will also allow employees to thrive in their preferred environment, where they can feel confident and perform their best.
Sustainability in business has become incredibly important. Consumers are generally more environmentally focused, and those priorities extend to the brands they choose to shop with. So, it’s now crucial for companies to adopt ecological cultures, values, and practices.
Employees are also looking to join eco-friendly organisations. The Future Workplace Report by Oktra found that 61% of Gen-Z and Millennial employees in the UK consider sustainability to be crucial to their job satisfaction.
It’s clear that there is a significant desire for businesses to embrace sustainability. It’s not only vital for brand awareness and customer acquisition but also for talent attraction and retention.
In response to this, we think that offices in 2025 will concentrate far more closely on sustainable facilities. Buildings are likely to include more recycling stations, energy-saving solutions (e.g. automatic lights and taps), and recycled materials around the office, such as reusable cups and plastic-free cleaning products.
In the last couple of years, artificial intelligence (AI) has been a hot topic all over the world. Despite initial reservations, the use of AI has been growing as business leaders have become more knowledgeable and confident in its potential to improve efficiency and productivity, and reduce costs.
This trend shows no signs of slowing. We anticipate that it will become an even more prominent office trend in 2025.
But it won’t quite be ChatGPT writing your content or automatic CV scanners cherry-picking your ideal candidates. We predict far more advanced solutions like cutting-edge security systems and sophisticated meeting room booking systems. With the help of refined AI to access real-time and more accurate data, offices will be far more agile and innovative.
We also can’t completely rule out the possibility of AI assistants in the office (a.k.a robots). It may sound a little far-fetched, but modern technology is moving incredibly quickly. Earlier this month, Tesla announced its latest project, the Tesla Bot, a general-purpose humanoid robot.
The robot is still under construction, but the prototype is already capable of performing basic tasks and chores as well as communicating. Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, said the robot will cost between $20,000 and $30,000, which isn’t a ludicrous price tag for such a ground-breaking concept.
Considering how profound technological advancements are becoming and their relatively reasonable costs, we could plausibly start seeing these robots in offices sooner than we think. They could greet visitors, hand out refreshments, take meeting minutes, and much more.
Last but not least, we predict a substantial rise in demand for serviced offices in 2025. Unlike traditional offices, these are short-term, move-in-ready workspaces that offer convenience, affordability, and flexibility. Given the hybrid working trend we discussed earlier, serviced offices are ideal for facilitating agile, dynamic working styles.
Despite steady inflation, commercial rent remains high in the UK, especially in attractive locations like London, where it costs as much as £150 per sq ft to run a business. For start-ups and SMEs, these price tags make prime business spots simply unattainable.
However, serviced offices are far more cost-effective, making these bustling cities far more accessible for small businesses.
Serviced offices offer much better value for money, too. They come furnished and are complete with all the tech any team might need to have a productive and collaborative day at work.
Impressive amenities will also make serviced offices a desirable workplace in 2025. From front-of-house assistance and daily cleaning services to breakout areas and pet-friendly facilities, serviced offices come with everything any business might need from day one of moving in—all at no extra cost.
At 71-75, our serviced offices embrace a variety of modern workspace trends, giving businesses of all sizes the very best in the heart of the capital. With bookable meeting rooms, spacious private offices, communal zones, and green spaces, our tenants can choose where and how they want to work.
Book a tour and discover your home in our professional, sustainable, and harmonious serviced offices.
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