In the era of remote work, many are questioning the advantages of returning to the office, particularly regarding collaboration and social interaction. Faced with evolving work patterns and rhythms, companies must completely rethink their workspaces.
According to the 2025 Actineo barometer , produced by the French Furniture Association, the layout of professional offices directly influences the well-being and happiness of employees, their sense of belonging to the company, their commitment and their motivation.
The 2025/2026 trends therefore favour environments that are both aesthetic and functional, giving pride of place to well-being, flexibility and sustainability.
Design as a lever for well-being and performance in the workplace
Long focused on performance, companies are increasingly prioritizing well-being at work .
This is not limited to the ergonomics of furniture. Today, design and neuroarchitecture are radically transforming professional spaces to influence the emotions, concentration and engagement of employees, while enhancing brand image.
A well-designed environment to boost motivation, concentration and productivity
According to a 2013 survey by Gensler , a harmonious professional office increases employee satisfaction, productivity and collaboration.
The layout, acoustic comfort, and circulation within the space directly impact the concentration and motivation of teams. Leesman's study and his report, "The Workplace Reset," identify several essential yet often overlooked physical factors in this regard, such as quiet work areas, noise control, temperature, lighting, partitions, and the distance between workspaces.
For example, overly open or poorly controlled environments can increase stress and impair concentration due to constant interruptions. Noise management is therefore becoming a major challenge, especially in open-plan offices. Among the major trends for 2025/2026, we are seeing the emergence of numerous acoustic solutions, such as acoustic wall panels, sound-absorbing ceilings, thick carpets, heavy curtains, green walls, and soundproof booths. All of these solutions offer workers a quieter environment, conducive to concentration, comfort, and efficiency.
Visual elements that improve quality of life at work
Derived from sensory design, several visual elements contribute to influencing the quality of work life:
Natural light
This is particularly true of natural light, which has many benefits:
- A 23% increase in concentration and a 30% reduction in eye strain, according to a CNRS study .
- According to Cornell University, there is a 20% increase in productivity and a 25% decrease in stress when combined with plant elements.
To optimize the brightness of a workspace, you can knock down partitions or reduce the height of the separations between individual offices.
Colors and patterns
The choice of colors is also paramount and must be based on psychology and a harmonious palette. In 2025, the trending colors are natural and comforting , such as sage green, terracotta, or beige tones… These soft and soothing shades promote concentration and reduce stress and eye strain.
For creative spaces, you can add a few touches of bright color.
Consider wallpaper or posters with geometric patterns on one wall. Graphic patterns are making a big comeback in 2025 trends, giving your interiors a modern and dynamic look.
Sustainable materials
Choosing the right materials for your workspace is also essential. Natural and sustainable materials are preferred to create a calming atmosphere while reinforcing the company's environmental commitment. This year, wood, stone, organic fabrics (linen, cotton, wool, hemp, etc.), and rattan are must-haves for furnishing professional offices.
Furniture and decoration
When we talk about design, we naturally think of walls and layout, but we mustn't neglect furniture and decorative elements like rugs, curtains, and lighting. The 2025 trend is once again towards natural colors and materials, but these also provide a good way to add a more dynamic pop of color.
Plants
Consider adding plants . Potted plants, planters, and green walls help regulate humidity and purify the air. Furthermore, they create visual and acoustic barriers and allow you to reconnect with nature.
Incorporating plants into professional spaces can increase well-being, productivity and creativity by approximately 15%, and also reduce absenteeism by around 10%.
Art
Often underestimated, art in the workplace is not limited to its aesthetic function, but also influences employee morale. Indeed, works of art help to humanize spaces, stimulate interaction, and foster a sense of belonging.
Tip: Favoring multi-sensory environments, combining visual, auditory and tactile stimuli, promotes better immersion and positively influences well-being and cognitive efficiency.
When planning becomes a tool for performance and attractiveness for businesses
This holistic approach to design supports not only collective performance , but also the attractiveness of the company .
A workspace design aligned with your values strengthens your employer brand. In turn, this fosters employee loyalty and engagement , as well as reducing turnover and absenteeism .
Your workspace thus becomes a real lever for competitiveness and reputation with regard to talent to be recruited, clients and partners.
Major trends in professional office design in 2025/2026
Modularity and flexibility: the rise of hybrid offices and flex offices
By 2025, hybrid work, adopted by more than 70% of companies, will become widespread and will require a modular and flexible layout. To respond to this evolution, workspaces must become versatile and dynamic .
The traditional fixed office is thus giving way to more agile spaces , capable of evolving with the pace of teams and projects. For example, mobile partitions, sliding panels, and modular furniture can be used to transform an open-plan office into a meeting room, a collaborative zone, or a concentration area in minutes, without constraints.
However, modularity is not limited to design. Plug-and-play technologies also facilitate the reconfiguration of workstations according to projects and team size.
The advantages of this spatial agility inherent in hybrid offices are numerous:
- adaptation to a new way of working,
- improvement of efficiency and quality of working life (QWL),
- reduction of real estate costs by up to 30%, of carbon footprint and of resource use.
With no assigned desk, flex offices fit perfectly into this trend. Each employee chooses a space according to their needs at a specific time:
- a deep work zone for concentration.
- collaborative space for team projects,
- a relaxation area to unwind or exchange ideas in an informal and creative way.
This “à la carte” organisation makes it possible to support the diversity of tasks and work rhythms, but also to strengthen conviviality and belonging to the company.
Design tips: While meeting spaces, sensitive work areas, or confidential spaces need acoustic protection from soundproof partitions (bubbles, booths, movable partitions, absorbent panels), design shouldn't just focus on insulation. It should also encourage spontaneous encounters and coworking spaces to strengthen communication and collaboration.
Biophilic design: nature as a driver of well-being and creativity
Today, the professional office is designed to restore the connection between employees and nature , in line with slow-working .
The biophilic approach is based in particular on the principles of neuroarchitecture, which studies how shapes, light, colors and textures influence our brain.
A study conducted by Harvard University shows that environments incorporating organic shapes and fluid spaces reduce stress by 15% and stimulate creativity.
Biophilia is not limited to plants, but is based on a multisensory experience . Natural materials, daylight, muted sounds and nature-inspired colors all contribute to creating biophilic spaces that promote concentration, calmness and motivation.
In 2025 and 2026, this trend is booming and relies on innovative elements, combining connected green walls, furniture integrating planters, adaptive natural lighting systems, sounds of nature and olfactory experiences thanks to essential oil diffusers…
Design tips: Orient work areas towards natural light and favor well-integrated living elements rather than an accumulation of plants. The goal is not to imitate nature, but to recreate its calming effects.
More and more companies are relying on WELL certification, an international standard that recognizes buildings designed for the health and well-being of their occupants. This approach assesses several criteria, including air, water, and light quality, access to nature, and the ergonomics of spaces.
Sustainable design: more eco-friendly offices
The other major trend in professional office design is sustainability . This is part of an ethical approach , where the choice of materials and furniture takes on meaning.
Companies are now integrating their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) policy into every stage of design.
In practical terms, this involves choosing:
- sustainable materials (FSC wood, bamboo, linen, hemp, organic cotton, cork, natural linoleum), local, recycled or recyclable,
- Committed suppliers , holders of the Cradle to Cradle or European Ecolabel,
- as well as by creating energy-efficient spaces .
Eco-designed, demountable, repairable, or upcycled furniture is becoming the norm in the modern office. At the same time, energy technologies are contributing to this transition with intelligent systems for managing lighting, heating, and ventilation. The sustainable office aims to be both responsible and economical .
Design must no longer simply make spaces beautiful, but also sustainable and reversible. In addition to reducing the carbon footprint, this approach enhances the company's image, strengthens the sense of belonging and the identity of the place, and improves the health and well-being of employees .
Labels and certifications play an important role in this responsible approach, the best known of which are:
- BREEAM certification (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design),
- the HQE (High Environmental Quality) certification, more widespread in France.
Design tips: Choose local furniture and sustainable materials rather than standardized solutions. Combine them with natural and soothing colors, such as beige, sand, moss green, and clay, and with tactile textures for a raw and authentic, unpretentious look.
Smart Office: Technology at the service of comfort and performance
Technology is increasingly making its way into workspaces to make them more intuitive, fluid and sustainable .
These “smart offices” are capable of automatically adapting to users' needs while optimizing energy management. This trend addresses two major objectives: optimizing space in flexible offices and creating a seamless user experience where technology and ergonomics serve the workers.
Sensors (lighting, air quality, temperature), automation and digital tools are becoming allies for well-being and performance.
Although omnipresent, technology must remain invisible.
The design tip: Opt for a clean, minimalist aesthetic, dominated by anthracite gray, deep blue, and matte black, combined with brushed aluminum and glass surfaces for added brightness. Consider using smart furniture, touchscreens, and digital signage integrated into the walls.
Custom design: inspiring furniture that reflects the company's image
Furniture is no longer just functional; it structures and inspires.
Sculptural meeting tables, modular elements (partitions, benches, bookcases), ergonomic seating, furniture with integrated functionalities (acoustic panels, planters or integrated sockets) and modern lighting reinforce the visual identity of the place.
The trend is moving towards maximum personalization to meet the specific needs of each organization and design spaces that reflect the company's image. Custom-made furniture thus becomes a vehicle for identity as much as an element of comfort and aesthetics.
The challenge of this type of design is the harmony between shapes, modularity and ergonomic comfort.
The design tip: Fluid, organic lines and hybrid furniture, blending residential and professional design, harmonize with warm, natural tones and natural materials such as light wood, bouclé fabric, and vegan leather. Add a few colorful details to reflect your company's branding, and you're all set! Work with local artisans or designers to create unique, sustainable pieces that align with your CSR values.
Inspiring examples of professional office layouts combining modularity, biophilia and well-being
Here are some examples of emblematic projects that illustrate how design can transform workspaces, making them more flexible, natural, and conducive to performance:
Microsoft – Treehouse Meeting Space (Redmond, USA)
The Treehouse Meeting Space at the Microsoft Campus in Redmond, USA, is an immersive concept built amidst the trees.
Located in the heart of the forest, this workspace features a cafeteria and meeting spaces housed in cabins suspended nearly 4 meters above the ground. Wi-Fi coverage extends throughout the site, and tactile surfaces are available to improve accessibility for visually impaired and blind individuals.
This workspace incorporates vegetation, natural light and recycled or locally sourced materials to create a calming atmosphere and encourage employees to reconnect with nature.
Second Home (Lisbon, Portugal)
Located in the Mercado Da Ribeira in Lisbon, Portugal, Second Home is an iconic coworking space for biophilic design .
With its 1,000 plants installed in a 1,115 m2 open space bathed in natural light, this is surely the greenest coworking space in Europe. Here, the plants serve to reduce noise, improve air quality, and separate the different areas.
The organic shapes of the furniture , including undulating tables measuring 70m x 10m, designed by SelgasCano, along with the optimized natural light, promote a feeling of well-being and openness to nature.
Finally, these huge open-plan offices facilitate team collaboration.
Şişecam Offices (Istanbul, Türkiye)
The offices of glass manufacturer Şişecam Offices , in Istanbul, Turkey, constitute a state-of-the-art workspace .
Its flexible and refined layout combines versatility, fluid circulation, noble and natural materials (glass, wood and stone).
Spanning 3,500 m2 and able to accommodate up to 1,500 people, the space gives special importance to natural light and vegetation to meet biophilic criteria .
In addition to versatile workspaces, the complex offers many services for employees, such as a catering area (1,250 m2), a library, a museum (155 m2), as well as a dry cleaning service and a hair salon.
The whole embodies a sustainable and elegant approach to modularity.
Google Bay View Campus (California, USA)
Located in Silicon Valley, California, USA, the Google Bay View Campus is designed around the principles of biophilia and sustainability .
Equipped with 50,000 photovoltaic panels shaped like dragon scales, the campus operates on 90% carbon-free energy . For ventilation, it simply uses outside air.
Each office is bathed in natural light, automatically regulated, and offers a view of the outside.
With its open spaces, natural ventilation, views of nature, and intelligent lighting management , this campus promotes:
- health and job satisfaction,
- productivity,
- as well as environmental sustainability.
Havéa (Paris, France)
In Paris, Havéa Group incorporates a design focused on quality of life at work .
It offers social and relaxation areas , designed as havens of respite. Indeed, performance also depends on disconnecting. Providing informal spaces for employees improves their well-being, satisfaction, productivity, and team cohesion.
This flexible office , bathed in soft light , encourages concentration, creativity, and conviviality while reflecting the company's human values. This open and airy space includes an open work area, a chill-out corner, and a lunch area.
Positioned to define the space and its functions, a custom-made box table can accommodate up to 12 people for informal meetings. A mini-office system with side shelves creates individual workspaces for better concentration.
What budget should be allocated for fitting out professional offices?
The main expenditure items
When planning to furnish professional offices, the main expense items are:
- the layout (partitions, floors, ceilings),
- furniture (desks, chairs, storage, modular furniture),
- lighting, ventilation and air conditioning,
- acoustic solutions,
- embedded technologies (sensors, connected devices),
- decorative and plant-based landscaping,
- the finishes, the coverings and the carpentry,
- design, architecture and/or project management fees.
Price ranges depending on the level of finish
A complete layout of workspaces requires a comprehensive view of the budget.
However, costs vary depending on several factors , such as the surface area, initial condition, scope and complexity of the work, choice of materials and finishes, location and ambitions of the project.
On average, the figures are between:
- 200 and 500 €/m² for a standard fit-out (floor coverings, paints and decoration), i.e. between 40,000 and 100,000 € for offices of 200 m2.
- 450 and 800 €/m² for an intermediate fit-out , i.e. with the renovation or refurbishment of the electrical system, plumbing, heating installation, i.e. between 90,000 and 160,000 € for offices of 200 m2.
- 800 and 3,000 €/m² for a high-end or custom-made layout , i.e. between 160,000 and 600,000 € for offices of the same area.
Here is a breakdown of some costs by category to better understand price variations:
- Interior design (partitions, floor painting):
|
Type of work |
Average cost per square meter |
|
Interior painting |
€20 to €35 |
|
Flooring |
€20 to €250 |
|
Partition installation |
€60 to €150 |
|
Electrical renovation |
€100 to €210 |
|
Air conditioning installation |
€80 to €150 |
- Furniture:
|
Furniture type |
Average price |
|
Private office |
€150 to €600 |
|
Office chair |
€100 to €500 |
|
Storage cabinet |
€200 to €800 |
|
Meeting table |
€300 to €1,200 |
|
Couch |
€400 to €1,500 |
Levers for optimizing your budget
To optimize your office design budget , there are a few simple tips, such as:
- reuse or refurbish existing furniture,
- prioritize recycled or sustainable materials (long-term savings),
- focus on modularity (easy and low-cost reconfiguration),
- Buy local to limit transport costs.
- prioritize environmental certifications for long-term savings,
- plan the phasing of the work to spread the costs over time.
How to successfully design your professional office space?
Successfully designing a workspace relies on a balance between planning, visual consistency, and user experience .
Adopt a “right-sizing” approach: neither too much space, nor too little
Good layout depends not only on design, but also on the correct size of spaces .
Adopting “right-sizing” allows the surface area and density of spaces to be adapted to the actual uses of the company, according to the number of employees present simultaneously and the necessary functionalities.
An office that is too large generates unnecessary costs in terms of design, but also in terms of operation (heating, maintenance, etc.), while a space that is too small is detrimental to concentration and well-being.
The objective is therefore to find the balance between comfort, flexibility and profitability , in line with the company's working methods.
As such, hybrid offices and modular solutions make it possible to optimize every square meter and costs.
Designing spaces for mixed and evolving use
Hybridity and modularity allow the space to evolve according to the time. They are considered from the planning phase of the office design or renovation project.
The same space can serve several functions (meeting, deep work, relaxation, collaboration, creativity…) thanks to the use of mobile partitions, modular furniture and informal spaces.
Think about fluid connections between areas rather than overly rigid partitioning, in order to encourage movement and collaboration.
Modern offices are no longer static and must adapt to daily rhythms and needs.
Choose your design style according to the company culture
Your office design should reflect your company culture and values . The layout is a valuable way to assert your organization's identity and strengthen employees' sense of belonging.
Colors, materials, textures, furniture and decorative objects reflect the personality of your company.
Several trendy interior design styles stand out in 2025/2026:
- Scandinavian: for a zen and luminous atmosphere. This style brings calm and serenity to workspaces thanks to its simple lines and natural materials.
- Recycled/upcycled: For sustainable and committed design, we focus on second-hand furniture and recovered or sustainable materials.
- High-end: with elegant finishes and iconic pieces for stylish and characterful workspaces.
- “Start-up”: creative and modular, with industrial and playful touches, for a space conducive to creativity. For example, the industrial style is perfectly suited to start-ups with its large windows, open spaces, raw materials (metal, wood) and the understated colors (grey, black).
- “Just like home”: to enhance conviviality through comfortable furniture, soft textiles and warm decor.
- “Like a hotel”: Recently, many offices have been getting a hotel makeover. They're incorporating the hallmarks of hospitality with sofas, designer armchairs, cozy lounge areas, and personalized services. This “hotel-like” approach offers comfort and a welcoming atmosphere to employees.
According to a Leesman study, offices that accurately reflect company culture increase staff satisfaction by 20% and significantly reduce turnover.
Involve employees from the design phase
From the initial design phase, consulting your teams allows you to understand their expectations precisely and to design spaces tailored to their daily needs . Furthermore, this participatory approach strengthens engagement and a sense of belonging.
For example, you can implement an internal survey, participatory co-creation workshops, and user testing to identify everyone's preferences regarding space layout, decoration, lighting, and ergonomics. Do they need areas for creativity, relaxation, collaboration, or concentration?
Always consider employee well-being by focusing on natural light and lighting, acoustics, ventilation, and greenery. The choice of colors and materials also influences emotional perception and cognitive abilities. Be sure to consult with your staff on this matter.
The most successful projects are always those that involve users from the outset of the design process. Yet, all too often, organizations make unilateral decisions that don't align with established practices or employee expectations.
Working on visual consistency
While gathering everyone's opinion is essential, the project must meet a certain aesthetic coherence .
Work from an overall design charter, incorporating the choice of materials, colors and furniture.
Focusing on sustainability and an eco-responsible approach
For ethical, ecological and economic reasons, consider the eco-responsible approach .
We focus on durable or recycled materials and furniture, and we use technologies to optimize our energy consumption.
Measure and adjust continuously
The layout is not static; it must be able to evolve over time, in line with the company's needs . Therefore, you must continuously measure user satisfaction to identify areas for improvement.
In this capacity, you can use measurement tools such as internal surveys, feedback, or occupancy sensors.
This iterative approach optimizes relevance and return on investment.
Conclusion
Today, the professional office is no longer just a place of work; it is becoming a living and adaptable space . It must inspire, engage, and connect.
From modular spaces to the integration of nature, each trend addresses specific needs. Regardless of the style chosen, it must meet the expectations of the entire team, combining comfort, well-being, and performance, while also reflecting the company's image and values to strengthen engagement and a sense of belonging.
FAQ Professional Office Layout
What is the impact of design on well-being at work?
Design influences employee well-being and comfort through several elements, such as lighting, noise, colors, ergonomics… A successful design will have a positive impact on staff energy, motivation, satisfaction, concentration and productivity.
How to integrate biophilia into the design of professional offices?
Natural light, neutral tones, organic patterns, natural materials and vegetation are all ways to integrate biophilia into workspaces.
What are the main office design trends for 2025/2026?
The main office design trends for 2025/2026 are modularity and flexibility, biophilia, a sustainable approach, integrated technology, and bespoke design. Various styles are popular, such as Scandinavian, industrial, recycled, high-end, and cocooning.
How can modularity improve team performance?
Modularity allows the space to be adapted to specific needs at any given time, by changing the configuration without constraint. This optimizes the use of space, energy, materials, and costs, while improving teamwork and performance.
