The working environment of today looks very different even when just comparing it to a few decades ago. Ever since the idea of coworking spaces began in 1995, modern office design has begun moving away from traditional formats, and the popularity of companies like WeWork augmented the appeal of unorthodox spaces in the office. It helps that hugely successful business leaders such as Google and Meta also promoted offices with lifestyle elements to promote employee satisfaction. It’s less about taking down the partitions, but more adding modern furniture that brings style and comfort to the workplace.
One of the key elements of this modern office design is soft seating. Here, carefully-selected modern chairs instantly offer inviting seating options that make the office environment more relaxed and welcoming.
The many roles of modern office soft seating
There are other benefits than aesthetic when choosing soft seating. Rather than just being decorative, there are functions that a business can achieve or enhance when modern chairs are introduced to spaces. Here are some examples:
- Reception: Create a welcoming impression to visitors and guests, and comfort while they wait. One can make it as prestigious, slick or vibrant to convey the business brand tone.
- Pantry: Offer a cafe-like atmosphere that attracts employees to dine in the office, while fostering bonding as colleagues chat and catch up.
- Meeting rooms: Modular soft seating options can not just cater to different group sizes, but alternative moods to various meeting purposes to encourage engagement.
- Quiet lounges: Made for those who appreciate quietude to work, modern chairs can add comfort and improve productivity.
The most popular types of modern office soft seating
The marketplace has catered to the growing office trend and there are many options now available for businesses looking to add some character to their workplace. Start your hunt by looking into these categories:
- Lounge chairs
Lounge chairs are oversized chairs for one person, usually featuring a deep seat and extra cushioning or cushions to provide an ultra-relaxing seating option. With their design, they tend to encourage longer periods of sitting, which is why they are great for reception areas and waiting rooms. However, for these temporal spaces or ones with more traffic, you might wish to consider upholstery that is less prone to damage and is easy to clean, such as polyester, leather, nylon, and acrylic.
Lounge chairs can also be used in – you guessed it – lounges for relaxing into. Opt for designs like the iconic egg chair or Haven arm chair high back for a cocooning effect, or something with more pitch to encourage those mid-day naps to stay productive. Even meetings can be made casual with the right lounge seats. The Tarry wing lounge chair gives enough ergonomics but also a comfortably upright position to keep the discussions flowing.
- Sofas and loveseats
Sofas and loveseats are a popular option for workplaces, especially when you’re trying to send a message of community and collaboration. Already a common fixture in homes, sofas and loveseats come readily in a variety of sizes and styles, from sleek to cosy to playful.
This soft seating option can fit anywhere from two to ten, and these days can also come in modular designs to allow for assorted configurations. A sectional sofa can be extended to accommodate more people, or adjusted to an L-shape for a more intimate seating area. This flexibility also allows them to adapt quickly to room specifications, which makes them good investment pieces that can last even as the office moves.
There is also a trend towards curved sofas and statement pieces that spark more intimacy and interest, and they can be placed at liminal spaces to add visual excitement.
- Ottomans and benches
Ottomans and benches project a more casual air when used as soft seating. By taking away the back and arm rests, the design of this modern chair also suggests a more temporary seating option. They are great for lobbies and at places where individuals have to wait for a short while, such as outside a restroom or interview rooms. They are also space-saving options for smaller waiting rooms and some designs even come with hinged or removable top lids to provide extra storage.
Smaller, single seater versions are known as poufs and can be used as footstools or fun extra seating with their mobility. Introduce them to places of collaboration and meetings to inject some character.
- Bean bags
Bean bags have come back in a big way since their invention in the 1970s. Their organic shapes and availability in striking colours and materials make them the definitive piece to set a fun tone to any space, and often speak to creative settings. As such, adding them to rooms for brainstorming and creative pitching is a good fit for the bean bag.
Today’s bean bags also come with design enhancements, and a popular trend are oversized bean bag chairs that are sewn with a certain structure to keep its shape. These innovations have made them less “messy”or “childish” – common misconceptions of beanbags – and even make some of them more comfortable than conventional soft seating due to their pliable nature. If you’re looking for informal additions, bean bags are great options for livening up the room.
Choosing the right soft seating
As explained above, the modern furniture of today for the office comes in a large variety of shapes, sizes, design and materials. Out of these categories, there are also unconventional options such as hammocks.
To choose the right soft seating, one must first determine the function of the room it is going to be placed in. Will its users be there for a while or are they just pausing in the space? Ideally, one should offer comfort to the former. Based on this, one will need to consider the traffic to assess wear and tear. This will help narrow down the types of material used for the pieces.
You’ll next want to consider the mood you wish to portray. Is it something more luxurious or prestigious? Then pick more individualistic configurations and materials like genuine leather. For more intimacy and a casual air, choose those with soft curves and are finished in fabric. Today’s materials can be processed in a multitude of ways, so colours and prints can always be readily introduced in many options.
Overall, modern office soft seating are versatile elements to introduce design and function to the workplace, and can instantly add character to liven up the room. Even adding a few key pieces can quickly adjust the tone of the space and transform it to a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for employees and visitors alike, and make for a memorable office experience.
Make your office environment a little more inviting with soft seating options from DSolutions.
