Office & Commercial
Office interior design: how to design an office people actually use
· 2 min read · SG Concept Architecture
A productive office is one that offers clean air, plenty of daylight, quiet focus areas and shared spaces that bring people together. Research shows that office design is not just a matter of image: it measurably affects employees' thinking performance, sleep and commitment to the company.
Why does air quality come first?
In a controlled experiment by Joseph Allen and his team at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, participants' cognitive test scores were 61% higher in well-ventilated "green" office conditions, and 101% higher when carbon dioxide levels were also lowered (Allen et al., 2016). For interior design this means choosing low-emission paints, adhesives and furniture as much as the right mechanical system.
Daylight and windows
In a Northwestern University study, people working in offices with windows received 173% more white light during working hours and slept on average 46 minutes more per night (Boubekri et al., 2014). That is why desks are placed along the window line in planning, and meeting rooms and storage towards the core. Glass partitions help carry light deeper.
Open plan or private offices?
The answer is a balance of both. According to Gensler's 2024 survey of more than 16,000 office workers in 15 countries, 94% of workers in the best offices can choose where to work within the office; the most engaged employees spend 36% of their time working alone (Gensler, 2024). In other words, a good office offers not one type of desk but different spaces for different work.
- Focus spaces: phone booths, quiet work rooms
- Collaboration spaces: project tables, small meeting niches
- Social spaces: kitchen, coffee corner, lounge
- Representation spaces: reception and client meeting room
How does brand identity show in an office?
An office is the first message a company gives to its clients and candidates. Telling the brand's values through material, colour and light lasts longer than hanging a logo on the wall. In the VeNatura Office project, we rethought a corporate office with the warmth of a hotel lobby through arched ceiling rings and cream tones.
Conclusion
Office interior design is not about increasing desks per square metre; it is about designing a place people want to come to, where they think well and can produce together. If you would like to rethink your office, see our interior design service.
Frequently asked questions
What matters most in office design?
Air quality, daylight, acoustics and spaces for different ways of working. These come before aesthetics because they directly affect performance.
Can an office be renovated while it is in use?
With a phased plan, usually yes. Noisy work can be scheduled outside working hours and at weekends to avoid disrupting the workflow.
From the Journal
All articles →- Office & Commercial
· 3 min read
Café and restaurant interior design: how to design a place guests want to stay in
Flow, seating, acoustics, lighting and brand identity: how to think about guest experience and operational efficiency together in café and restaurant design.
- Office & Commercial
· 2 min read
Showroom and retail design: how to build a space that puts the product on stage
Entrance, circulation, light, materials and display: the decisions in showroom and retail interior design that affect sales and brand perception.
- Guide
· 3 min read
Bathroom renovation guide: the right order, from waterproofing to fixtures
The most expensive mistake in a bathroom renovation is made where you cannot see it. Waterproofing, falls, plumbing, ventilation and fixtures, in the right order.