If We're a Hybrid Company, What Does That Mean for Our Workspace?
A woman waves at her camera as she logs onto a work call in a cozy kitchen.
When workspaces shift to a fully hybrid setup, it's easy for the space itself to start working against what the team actually needs. Some will tell you that designing for a hybrid office isn't really different from designing for a full time in-office setup.
We'd disagree.
Hybrid spaces call for their own design strategy, as it requires things that just aren't necessary when everyone's in the office five days a week. Granted, that doesn't mean every hybrid office should look the same, either. The right workplace for you depends on your team, how often they're in the office, the type of work they do, and your specific organization's goals. If your workspace is adjusting (or needs to), here's what deserves your attention, and what our design team would have in mind when planning the space.
A team of five collaborates around a table, some standing and some sitting, focused on a project.
1. Consider your team's structure before your headcount.
Most people first consider how many employees they have, and this is especially the case when you're all in office full time. For hybrid office setups, you also need to consider how many people show up on your busiest day. Those are usually two very different numbers. However, that doesn't automatically mean eliminating dedicated workstations for the sake of a flexible desk setup. For some hybrid organizations, keeping assigned desks can strengthen employees' sense of belonging, provide consistency and comfort, and even contribute to retention by giving them a workplace they can call their own. For others, especially when only a portion of employees are typically in the office at the same time, a mix of dedicated workstations, reservable desks, and collaborative spaces may be a better use of space and budget. The right balance depends on how your employees work and what will best support both their experience and your business goals.
2. Once people are in the office, figure out what they need there that can't be provided at home.
Many hybrid organizations find employees come into the office primarily to collaborate, making meeting spaces, shared areas, and gathering spots increasingly valuable. Others may still require a greater emphasis on focused individual work. Understanding how your employees use the office should drive those decisions.
3. Hybrid tech takes on a central role in connecting the team.
There are technologies designed specifically to support hybrid work that wouldn't necessarily make sense in a fully in-office environment. If your workplace includes shared workstations, booking systems can help employees reserve space when they need it. Docking stations and integrated meeting technology make it easy for employees to work effectively from any appropriate workspace, whether collaborating in person or joining virtually.
4. Privacy still matters without limiting you to a cubicle.
Not everyone needs a full private office, but everyone needs quiet sometimes. That's where things like call pods, demountable walls, and clearly separated meeting vs. private zones come in. It gives people options without building out a full traditional layout.
5. Just because you need new furniture doesn't mean that everything else needs to be tossed.
Hybrid work will likely create new furniture needs, but that doesn't mean everything has to be replaced. A good partner helps you reinvent what's still workable and replace what needs a refresh. There's also furniture for hybrid offices built specifically for flexibility, but beware, not all of it is as easy to change as it looks on paper. A good question to ask is: can one person adjust it themselves, quickly? If not, know that it'll be used as a group item rather than for individual work.
6. Choose a partner who sticks around and can adapt with you.
You'll hear people say everything's fine as is, and you'll hear people say the whole space needs an overhaul. The real answer is usually a phased, manageable change as you figure out what actually fits. As your workplace evolves, the space can evolve with it. If something feels like it could use a change once you're using it daily, that's normal, and it's exactly why you want flexible furniture and a partner who sticks around to help you figure out what's working, instead of dropping off your furniture and disappearing.
Don't settle for a pre-packaged plan for your space that doesn't account for your unique needs. Every organization is different. Our role is to understand how your employees work, what your business is trying to accomplish, and recommend the right mix of dedicated workstations, shared desks, collaboration areas, and private spaces to support those goals.
Currently Transitioning to a Hybrid Setup?
If these quick tips apply to you right now, let's talk! Whether you're just looking for advice on how to go about the process when the timing is right, or you're ready to move on it now, we'd love to help you create a space that works for your team's setup and exceeds your hopes for your workday experience.
