The Influence of Work from Home
Bringing the Comforts of Home to the Office
This past year there was an uptick in companies asking employees to return to the office, often with a hybrid model still in place. That trend has manifested in the corporate interior design world as a desire for flexibility, modular furniture and tech-forward meeting zones. (See December's WIRE issue A Year in Design for more on 2025 trends). How companies are responding to those trends can dictate the frequency of their employees venturing into the office as many people find themselves more productive while working from home.
The desire to be comfortable while working has had an impact on office layouts and furnishings as designers strive to find a balance between corporate design and residential comforts. This concept is often described as Resimercial, but the key aspect is the softening of the corporate aspects of design.
This can be achieved by viewing an office space in terms of the different types of activities taking place to accomplish the work rather than just a space where work is being done. Different functions exist within those activity zones such as focused tasks, collaborative tasks, social tasks and team building. Now that many offices are now offering a hybrid work schedule, a lot of these tasks now also need a technology component.
Taking inspiration from residential design, we can equate these tasks with different spaces within a home and how an individual might utilize each space. Many people have a desk at home and find it a great place to work on focused tasks, while others may choose to sit on the couch, but the key element in each scenario is the ability to isolate. By providing quiet areas for focused tasks, whether at a desk or in a lounge chair, many offices have seen a growth in productivity by giving employees the opportunity to choose where they sit. This has, in turn, changed the way many offices are set up. With the removal of assigned seating, every employee no longer needs a desk every day which allows for more soft seating opportunities to be integrated throughout the floor plan.
The same applies to collaborative tasks; while a conference room may seem a great place to exchange ideas, it can often feel very formal and stifle spontaneity due to the traditional arrangement of one large table surrounded by chairs. Soft seating 'living room style' collaborative spaces with the flexibility to rearrange as needed are more desirable because they offer a better environment for true collaboration.
The shift away from tables and task chairs in meeting rooms to soft seating options that can be rearranged has caused a couple of design problems: Where should the screen go? Where is the power coming from if things are being rearranged constantly? And should the space still have the ability to be reserved? Pending the activity and size of the group, the introduction of mobile screens along with power banks have answered many of those questions while providing a more productive setting within a room without requiring a floor core. Many companies have also come up with hours during the day when the room is not able to be reserved, opening the space up for spontaneous meetings.
Another similarity between working from home and working from an office is that most of the socialization happens in the kitchen or breakroom. Catching up over a cup of coffee or having a meal together is one of the most common ways to interact with our families, friends, and colleagues. Breakroom designs are now leaning towards less formal seating options with movable seating instead of built-ins, smaller table sizes, and more comfortable chairs to accommodate groups of all different sizes to interact within the space.
There are many other design factors that have been influenced by the ability to work from home and hybrid work, but the main takeaway is that the desire for flexibility remains the key. Whether it is the ability to pick and choose when to work from home, where to sit when in the office, or even the ability to pick a non-traditional meeting space that feels more like a living room than a board room; the ability to make those choices is much more important now.
Interested in reading more about the rise of 'resimercial' office design? Check out this article from Mindspace.
ACCESS PASS
We’re excited to share that Access Pass Membership applications are officially open for 2026!
The Access Pass program is designed to support individuals who may not otherwise be able to become members due to financial reasons. Through this initiative, 100% of your annual membership dues are covered, giving you full access to our local and national member benefits. If you’re looking to get more involved, expand your network, and grow within the A&D community, this is a great opportunity to take that next step.
📅 Applications for 2026 are now open—we encourage you to apply and take advantage of everything Access Pass has to offer.
👉 Apply here: Access Pass Application
BUILDING LEADERS BREAKFAST
Join IIDA New England on May 7, 2026, at the UMass Club One Beacon St. Level 32 in Boston, MA, for the Building Leaders Breakfast — celebrating the leaders who drive progress and shape the design industry.
Part of IIDA’s national Leaders Breakfast tradition, BLB honors designers as visionary business leaders and changemakers, bringing together established voices and emerging innovators to highlight the intersection of design, commerce, equity, and sustainability.
2026 Theme: Getting Sh!t Done Without Coming Undone with Katie McDonald
A no-nonsense, energizing keynote on crushing burnout, rethinking “doing it all,” and managing time and energy with purpose and clarity.
📅 Honoree submissions are open and will close February 15, 2026.
👉 Submit nominations here: 34th Annual Building Leaders Breakfast
UPCOMING EVENTS
Be sure to check in with the IIDA New England event calendar for upcoming events offered in our community. Here's a sneak peek at some upcoming events:
IIDA NE Ski Trip // Friday, January 9: Last call for registration!
Sponsorship Drive Closes // Friday January 16
Not By Design // Wednesday February 4: Our Part 2 workshop with CenteredLead on Unconscious Bias, this time in-person! Event will be held at Allermuir’s new showroom at 22 Batterymarch Street!
IIDA NE Spark Yoga // Thursday, February 5
Designer Monologues the Podcast from IIDA New England with your host Brett Berry is officially LIVE! On this show, we share the stories behind the design of repurposing, developing, and reshaping our communities. Incubated from the minds and skills of New England’s talented design community, you’ll hear how visual inspiration can come from nature, our history, current trends, and more as we take you on a story-telling journey behind design.
Check out all of the episodes here!
Stay tuned for the next President's Message in March!
Do you have an idea that you would like to share with the design community or see highlighted here in The Wire? Share your ideas here.
Stay tuned for the next Sponsor Spotlight!
Follow IIDA New England on social media and visit our website to keep up with the latest and greatest!
