An emerging trend in workplace environments is called “resimercial” office design. Resimercial is, essentially, a blending of residential comforts mixed with the functionality of traditional commercial office space. Why has this become such a popular choice for businesses? Primarily because introducing elements of comfort (usually found at home) into the workplace environment helps increase employee satisfaction and retention. Resimercial office design also works well in existing work environments; meaning you can add resimercial elements to your current office space without having to completely tear down and redesign and your space.
Let’s take a deeper dive into what resimercial décor is, what it might look like, and how best to incorporate it into your workplace.
What Makes a Space “Resimercial”?
There are (basically) three main elements of resimercial office design to consider:
- Comfort-Driven Design
- Materials, Textures, and Lighting Choices
- Flexible Layouts for Common Spaces/Personal Workspaces
Resimercial Office Design is Comfort-Driven Design
Instead of focusing solely on the functionality of a space, resimercial office design considers the comfort that space will provide its occupants. Office staff spend an average of 40+ hours each week in a work setting. Some even more. The idea is to create spaces which “feel” like home—with a more relaxed and intimate environment. Especially in common or shared/flex spaces such as conference rooms, lounges/breakrooms, collaboration areas, hot desking areas, training rooms, and call centers.
This can include things like softer, more comfortable seating, indirect lighting, as well as living elements such as plants or simulated foliage.
Foliage? Really?
Yes, really. Real or simulated nature elements such as greenery, water, and sound improve group problem solving and communication. A 8-month study conducted by Texas A&M University found that workplace environments which contained foliage (such as plants and flowers) showed a 15% increase in generating original and creative ideas when it came to problem solving. A second study conducted by Cardiff University’s School of Psychology concluded essentially the same results.
The importance of comfort-driven design cannot be overstated… where there is comfort, there is focus. Where there is focus, there is productivity.
Materials, Textures, and Lighting
Resimercial office design should feature a variety of textured surfaces. Fabrics, laminates, glass, natural or artificial wood or faux stone or tile surfaces are all ideal. This helps create a diverse, tactile environment for employees to enjoy instead of just a visually pleasing one.
Lighting options in a work environment are nearly limitless these days. Especially now that LED lighting has made it smaller, cheaper, and better. Have multiple options of layered lighting (a technique that uses multiple light sources to create a well-rounded lighting décor) with softer, warmer tones to choose from.
And it should be stated: never underestimate the importance of natural lighting whenever possible. Sunlight is still the best light there is for productivity and mental health.
Flexible Spaces
Flexible means versatile. Meaning you should find ways of repurposing a single space quickly for more than one purpose when/if the need arises. This can be accomplished with the clever use of modular and mobile furniture (which is easy to move or remove) practical vs. intimate lighting, or tables which can double as co-workstations with removable desk dividers and mobile filing cabinets.
Key Furniture Elements to a Resimercial Space
- Ergonomic Lounge Seating is a great place to start. Instead of hard, plastic task chairs, consider plushy, modular sofas, wingback chairs, or lounge chairs designed for reclining and relaxing next to accent/end tables. Think soft fabrics instead of vinyl. Something that feels nice to sit in as well as looks
- Acoustic Panels come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Wall panels, ceiling baffles, hanging art, etc… they are both aesthetically pleasing to look at, as well as helping to reduce ambient noise in open spaces. Perfect for keeping notification chirps, ringing phones, and employee conversations to minimum decibels.
- Multi-Textured Walls and Worksurfaces are a terrific way to combine an eclectic look and feel to an office. Slat walls, thermally fused laminates, glass, whiteboard, and tackable fabrics can all be mixed and matched by color or motif to create an inviting and comfortable space in which to work or collaborate.
- Tables and Desking come in all shapes, colors, and sizes these days. Sit-to-stand desks are great for preventing aches and pains from sitting all day. Tables can be both decorative and functional as worksurfaces or for presenting to a group. Coffee tables, collaborative tables, huddle tables…all can have multiple looks and textures as well as function and purpose.
- Lighting, as was mentioned earlier, should be layered with varying degrees of softer, warmer tones.
- Natural Elements such as plants, planter boxes, water features, natural/outdoor lighting, white noise, and even candles and air diffusers with subtle scents are all ideas to consider.
- Storage Solutions such as locking organizer bins, wardrobe cabinets, and mobile filing cabinets are ideal for storing work item as well as personal items.
How to Get Started with Resimercial Office Design
Work with a professional! This cannot be stated strongly enough. Save yourself time and money by working with people who know how to bring the essential and comfort elements of resimercial office design to into your workspace. SKUTCHI Designs employs a team of specialists who are experts, with decades of experience, who are ready to work with you.
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