Offices opened up and people returned to their drab old desks. However, companies have started to adopt a more flexible and hybrid work system that also includes a fair share of working from home. In such a situation, we not only need well-designed commercial offices, but also home offices. And a great way to make sure we have a productive and efficient workplace is to add them with sophisticated and ergonomic furniture designs! These pieces of furniture must not only be comfortable, but also ergonomic and aesthetic. And we’ve curated a collection of furniture designs that meet all of these criteria. From a wall desk that transforms from a work of art into a functional table to an IKEA-worthy minimalist folding desk, these furniture designs are all you need to create the ultimate office.
1. The Flow wall desk
The Flow Wall Desk is great office furniture for small spaces. It’s the kind of piece of furniture that is both functional and decorative while maintaining a rather simple design philosophy and being sustainable too!
Why is it remarkable?
The Flow Wall Desk is something that could fulfill all of these requirements for a piece of furniture. “Stowed” and folded, it looks like a work of art on your wall with its minimalist, geometric shapes. Initially it’s a flat canvas and when you unfold it it looks like a “spiral caterpillar” and you realize that it turns into a desk on which you can work, read or write in your journal.
what we like
- Multifunctional design
- Consistent
- Features a flat pack shape
What we don’t like
- Folding and unfolding the desk whenever you need it means we cannot have a constant setup.
2. coffin office chair
Are you someone who absolutely loathes your hopeless job at the company, then we may have found the chair for you! Shaped like a coffin, this wooden chair recently took the internet by storm. A Twitter user shared it on Sept. 7, and everyone who’s downright sick of their job took full notice.
Why is it remarkable?
The conceptual coffin chair perfectly represents all the dreaded emotions employees feel throughout their workday. It mirrors the sense of doom one experiences when one has to endure another pointless meeting that could have been an email.
what we like
- Inspired by Rene Magritte’s painting The Balcony (1950)
- He perfectly captures the feeling of having a dead end job
What we don’t like
- It is an uncomfortable idea to translate into reality
- There’s no snuggly padding to get comfy on
- Not the most practical design for an office in reality
3. The working laboratory
Narbutas has teamed up with Italian design studio Baldanzi and Novelli to create a mobile office partition called Worklab. It serves as a multifunctional component for workplaces and combines several elements such as a media wall, mobile workplace, whiteboard, room divider and shelf.
Why is it remarkable?
The highly customizable furniture design is available in a wide range of colours, finishes, accessories and side panels available in perforated metal or upholstery. The two combine to create an intriguing visual elevation of the workspace. It has been equipped with casters so you can easily move it from one place to another in the office wherever needed. It features a pretty portable design! It creates a private space or provides a separation between rooms.
what we like
- Adds a multifunctional element to offices
- Robust + durable
- Blends effortlessly into different spaces
What we don’t like
- Not the best option for offices with space constraints
4. The ZooZoo Collection
Adding an element of warmth will surely help employees settle into their new work routine after working from home for more than a year. And a great furniture collection could really help with that – like Narbutas’ ZooZoo collection.
Why is it remarkable?
Designed by Annie Lee for workplace furniture brand Narbutas, the ZooZoo collection features an intriguingly tall coffee table and matching stool. The elegant coffee table is 27.2 inches high with a metal base and smooth top. The coffee table is available in two sizes and the metal frame can be customized to the color of your choice. The collection also includes a range of matching poufs, available in a variety of colors and fabrics. The stools are accompanied by upholstered seats.
what we like
- The entire collection is available in one or two colors, so it fits into different interiors
- The poufs can be neatly stowed under the coffee tables and also have practical storage niches for books, folders and other items
What we don’t like
- The design is more comfortable for temporary use as it is not ergonomic or posture friendly for long working hours
5. Chatpod 700
Office cubicles are an excellent addition to modern office space, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. They create private spaces to work in and allow you to really focus on your work. And the Chatpod 700 is one such stand, claiming to be the most sustainable office stand on the market.
Why is it remarkable?
Made entirely from recycled materials like discarded cardboard, sawdust, rubber, and plastic bottles, the Chatpod 700 prides itself on its sustainable composition, and with good reason. Designed by Jeffrey Ibañez for Impact Acoustic, the office stand was created to be ideal for team meetings. Accommodating up to four people, it serves as an extremely quiet spot, well-suited for team meetings where you need to switch off from the rest of the office.
what we like
- Most sustainable office stand on the market
- Serves as a quiet and isolated workspace
What we don’t like
- Aside from being super sustainable, it’s pretty similar to other office cubicles on the market
6. Iko
The “Iko” is conceived as “a floating sphere, a focused capsule, a sanctuary for the senses”. Designed by Ivo Andric, the Iko is a far cry from the traditional chairs you usually come across. It is influenced by a weaver bird’s nest, and the small hanging cocoon creates a neat and cozy space for lounging, where you can take a break from the office.
Why is it remarkable?
Iko is made from a few well-curated materials. Its outer frame consists of machine-made and hand-finished wooden elements with inner cores of metal rods. The staves provide rigidity, the wood gives Iko its noble appeal, and the negative triangular spaces are filled with wool-coated acoustic panels that absorb sound.
what we like
- Almost every aspect of the Iko (except for the metal) is designed with natural materials
What we don’t like
- Although it is designed for a cozy space, it is not suitable for a common room or an open plan office
7. The FLO concept
The FLO concept aims to be much more than an ordinary swivel chair. It tries to take on a more visually complete and expansive form and is made up of different parts that you have to assemble yourself. But once set up, it looks like the chair came from a factory!
Why is it remarkable?
This design allows the eyes to follow the contour of the chair like running water, hence the name. Perhaps almost as a side effect, the overall design of the chair appears futuristic and reminiscent of an office utopia. The slender shape and twisted structures of the armrests and the curved shape of the backrest give it an almost otherworldly look that would definitely not fit into today’s office environments.
what we like
- Visually striking
- The structure of the chair is actually designed to provide more stability and durability, especially when reclined
What we don’t like
- The palm rest and backrest are not adjustable to suit the individual needs of the user
8. The folding table
An excellent desk is essential to a productivity-enhancing office space. Our desks should not only be clean, but also ergonomically and functionally designed. And given the space issues most modern homes face today, we can also add “space saving” to the checklist. And one such design that I came across recently is the Flip Desk!
Why is it remarkable?
The problem of space constraint is really an important issue in today’s modern homes. Therefore, it is always an excellent idea to have a dedicated workstation that not only increases your daily productivity but also takes up a minimum of space in your home. And this is where the flip desk comes in. Designed by Zurich-based designer Charles O. Job for Dutch design brand Vij5, this minimalist and sturdy desk promises not to take up any floor space.
what we like
- Space-saving design
- Minimal and contemporary aesthetic
What we don’t like
- The desk does not offer any aesthetic solutions for the closed state
9. The HÅG Capisco chair
The ergonomic office chair HÅG Capisco Chair is an innovative chair design that has been equipped with a variety of active seating options that ensure you don’t have to sit still all day! It fits perfectly with standing desks or height-adjustable desks. It is available in twelve different upholstery options as well as three different color options.
Why is it remarkable?
The chair works well for all types of people. Whether you’re a fidgety personality who loves to move, or someone who enjoys stretching and practicing yoga, this chair works perfectly for everyone! It supports every sitting position you may be in – whether you’re sitting backwards, sideways, kneeling, cross-legged, crouching, or more.
what we like
- Height Adjustable – 15″ to 40″
- Supports a maximum weight of 250 pounds
What we don’t like
- The chair’s whimsical shape may not suit every office decor
10. The Zedo Desk
Our desks should not only be clean, but also ergonomically and functionally designed. One such desk that I recently came across is the Zedo Desk.
Why is it remarkable?
Designed by Paolo Pampanoni for workplace furniture brand Narbutas, the Zedo desk is great for injecting some personality and character into a drab old corporate office. It can be used as a single desk or linked to multiple other Zedo desks. The flexible desk system features striking metal hardware and colorful accessories that allow you to create a workspace that suits your personal taste and needs.
what we like
- As ideal as Zedo is for office space, it could work great in your home office too
- You can combine it with the Polytone-L chair, also by Narbutas
What we don’t like
- The aesthetic of the Zedo Desk is strictly minimalist – adding individuality will be a task