In today’s fast paced professional world, office spaces and interior design are gaining importance fast. As employees spend a large part of their day in the office, studies have shown that the office decor has major effects on the morale, motivation, moods, productivity and efficiency of people. In order to create a professional space that brings out the best in all, companies have started to pay more attention to certain trends in interior design that have proven to reduce stress and boost morale and creativity in employees. Here are some office decor trends on the rise in 2022, ushering in a new era in office decor: 

Open And Flexible Layout

Traditionally, offices would have a fixed layout that was divided into cubicles for individual employees and offices for meetings and managers. However, that type of layout would often induce feelings of claustrophobia and stress. Today, more and more offices are adopting an open layout, where there are no exact cubicles. Rather, employees have access to each other, while also having their own space. This not only facilitates communication among employees, but also gives the office an open and free atmosphere. A lot of offices also opt for well-placed partition walls to achieve a balance between openness and privacy. 

Natural Lighting

Most traditional offices contain harsh, fluorescent lights that can become too harsh after continued exposure. Lack of natural lighting can lead to employees feeling tired and stressed. Similarly exposure to too much artificial light can lead to headaches and eye problems. Incorporating natural light into the office space is becoming a great solution to these problems. Not only does natural lighting have a visual appeal, but it also makes the employees feel more positive and refreshed. Having large windows, translucent partitions and walls, and reflective surfaces in the office are great ways to get maximum natural light inside. Furthermore, skylights in false ceilings are also a wonderful option to bathe the room in light while also making it look aesthetically appealing. 

Sound Absorption

A workspace with numerous employees is bound to create a certain level of noise. Excessive noise, resulting from conversations, phone calls, machine noises, etc. can not only disrupt the employees, but also lead to bigger problems. Studies have observed that higher noise levels are associated with lower productivity and lower morale as well as mood swings. Thus, modern offices are opting for design elements that control noise pollution. Sound absorbing panels are quite common and are made from various materials that can absorb sound waves and prevent them from being reflected into space. 

Nature Inspired Elements

It is a proven fact that being closer to nature has multiple benefits for human bodies. Not only does it help people take in more oxygen and be physically fitter, it also has a range of mental health benefits. Offices are now looking to nature to find design elements that can optimise the workspace. Indoor plants, wooden furniture, stone walls, green and blue colour schemes, water features, flower arrangements, are all creative ways in which nature can be incorporated in the office design to make employees feel more motivated and relaxed. These elements also significantly improve the aesthetic of a place and make it classy and comfortable to look at. Another way that offices are embracing nature is through the use of sustainable, eco-friendly and recycled materials for design and construction. 

Why EcoPro?

EcoPro manufactures eco-friendly fibre cement boards that can be used in multiple aspects of office interior design. These boards, apart from being better for the environment, are also extremely strong, durable and long lasting. They are also resistant to moisture, fire and water, and help in controlling acoustics and temperature. While providing a whole host of benefits, EcoPro boards are affordable and easy to use. Here is why you should use EcoPro fibre cement boards for your office decor:

• These boards are very versatile and can be used to create various design elements inside the office, from mezzanine floors to partition walls. 
• These boards are capable of absorbing sound and therefore make excellent sound absorbing panels, keeping the office noise levels under control. 
• False ceilings made from EcoPro boards can be perfect to incorporate lighting elements such as skylights or also LED light fixtures that are popular today. 
• EcoPro partition walls are easy to install and customisable, meaning that they can be adopted for any kind of open and flexible office layout. 
• These eco-friendly boards will also usher in the era of sustainability and responsibility in the office space. 

Natural light in interior design

Natural light or sunlight is an important factor in any interior design, especially for homes or offices, where people spend a maximum amount of their time. In modern society, most work and leisure takes place indoors, meaning that people usually miss out on sunlight during most of the day. Having an adequate amount of sunlight is essential for the proper functioning of the human body. Apart from being a source for Vitamin D, sunlight has also been linked to improved mood and energy levels as well as healthier sleep patterns.

In order to ensure that one does not miss out on any of the benefits of natural lighting, it is essential to design spaces in such a way that can optimise the available light and make it a part of indoor life as far as possible. This can also help in reducing use of artificial lights, which also comes with its own benefits. Spending a large amount of time under artificial lights can be detrimental for one’s health. Eye strain, migraines and mood disorders can be intensified by over-exposure to harsh artificial light. Furthermore, use of natural light whenever possible will save electricity and reduce light bills, which is a great advantage.

While choosing to incorporate natural lighting in your interior design, you must also ensure that it is being utilised in an appropriate manner. The glare of the sun should not be too intense, otherwise that can also result in discomfort and heating issues. Here are some ways in which you can use natural light, while also containing it well:

Choose focal points

One of the best ways to incorporate natural light in a space is through the use of well placed focal points that let a large amount of light in. Skylights are the best examples of such a focal point. A skylight is a window on the ceiling of a structure that allows light to filter in vertically. Skylights are perfect for letting in an adequate amount of light inside, while also making the room look brighter and more pleasant. The kind of skylight used in a space can depend a lot on the size of the room and what it is used for. Rooms that need to be well lit at all times, such as meeting rooms, libraries, living areas, or even dining rooms, can benefit greatly with skylights. However, smaller rooms or personal areas like bedrooms might not suit skylights since the amount of natural light might be excessive.

While choosing a skylight, it is important to understand the use of the room and the kind of light you want inside. For instance, a north facing skylight will give lots of sunlight all day long, while a south facing one will lead to more diffused lighting. Similarly, if a room needs to be well-lit in the morning time, you should go for an east-facing skylight while rooms that are used in the afternoons or early evenings can opt for a west-facing one. Furthermore, the shape and size of the skylight will depend on the overall interior design of the space and the amount of light you want to let in.

Use patterns and shapes

The use of shapes and patterns is perfect to contain natural light, while also creating interesting interior looks. Perforated walls, lattices, patterned light openings and windows are certain elements that will let lots of natural light in, but at the same time, reduce its intensity so that it is not too overwhelming. Furthermore, the patterns and shapes created by these elements lend the room an ethereal and unique look.

There are numerous ways to incorporate these lighting patterns in the interior of a room. The kind of pattern you choose, its size, and its placement are all dependent on the kind of room it is, the size of the room and the overall interior design look you want to achieve. Many materials such as wood, glass, fibre-glass, etc. can be used to create such creative light openings. The kind of aesthetic you wish to achieve will dictate all these choices, since each material and placement can yield widely varying effects.

A modern technology that is fast becoming popular for creating shapes and patterns for natural light is CNC cutting. In this technique, a computer programme allows a pattern to be cut on different types of materials that can then be used in the interior design. Such CNC technology is easily applicable to various materials such as wood, fabric, fibre cement, metal, etc. and lends a classy and pleasing aesthetic to your home.

Diffuse the light

A great way to incorporate natural lighting without it being too intense or bright, is by filtering the light evenly through a surface. Letting in light partially over a large surface can create a warm, comfortable look which is well-illuminated but at the same time, not unnecessarily bright. For such a look, smoked or textured glass, fabric partitions, facades, etc. can be utilised to create a diffused look that is a perfect balance.

A diffused, hazy use of natural lighting is mostly used in large buildings or institutes, where one or more walls are transparent and made from glass, to let in a lot of light. However, this trend can also be used in homes, in rooms like the living room or dining room to create a glow. The direction in which the transparent opening is placed and the kind of material used in it will determine how much light is being let in and the kind of effect it achieves. This all would depend on what the purpose of the space is and what kind of overall interior aesthetic you wish to achieve.

EcoPro Boards for Natural Lighting

There are various ways in which natural light can be incorporated in an interior design to improve aesthetics as well as increase the health benefits of sunlight. Given here were some of the best ways to creatively include natural light through the use of elements like skylights, patterned cut outs, light diffusion, etc. EcoPro’s sustainable cement fibre boards are the perfect material to complement your ideas to manage natural light. Our cement fibre boards are sustainable, durable, affordable and easy to install. They can be customised according to your needs and therefore be used in a variety of ways. These boards are especially suited for use through patterned walls or interior elements that can be strategically placed to let optimum amount of light in. Through modern technologies such as CNC cutting or laser cutting, these cement fibre boards can fit your vision and interior design dream perfectly, all while also being an eco-friendly option for your home.