‘Resimmercial’ Design
This past June I attended my first NeoCon, a commercial interior design trade show that takes place each year at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, Illinois. It was an experience filled with inspiration, new ideas, and hours and hours of walking!! As I wandered through the 4.2 million square feet of showrooms, I discovered that there was an interesting theme taking place. It was this concept of combining residential + commercial design elements within the workplace.
Referred to as ‘Resimmercial’, this idea incorporates the familiar, comfortable elements of home into the office, addressing our growing need for comfort and well-being in the workplace.
Here are the key features of ‘Resimmercial design’:
1 – Warm & soft materials & finishes. Wood, wood and more wood! From workstations & desks to boardroom tables and accent furniture wood was being used everywhere to warm up the office interior. Other warm & inviting materials commonly used were felt, cork, and even velvet!
2 – Casual, collaborative spaces. The idea of taking the home office out of your home and bringing you back into commercial space. Done with casual, relaxed seating areas and interactive collaborative spaces. Many of the vendors also showcased the concept of providing space for amenities within the office. I saw many coffee lounges, and social spaces that resemble your living room.
3 – Residentially inspired furniture pieces. Say goodbye to square edges and harsh corners, the ‘Resimmercial’ office has lots of tables with curved edges, and meeting room furniture that looks like it belongs in your dining room. Tired of the typical metal filing cabinets and metal shelving, why not introduce office storage that looks like it belongs in your living room?
So if you looking to warm up your office interior this winter consider introducing some of these ‘Resimmercial’ design elements into your workspace. Let’s make your office feel more like home.
Janine
