2026 Office Trends Predicted to Transform the Workplace

With an increase in flexibility with working from home, a growing number of employees are beginning to miss out on those everyday work interactions that can help reduce loneliness and create a sense of belonging. As well as this, offices moving away from the traditional model of one person being assigned the same desk each day, allows employees to engage with different colleagues, form new relationships, and become familiar with people they may not otherwise interact with. Interaction between employees is vital for maintaining a strong bond between teams and colleagues and can prevent people from becoming lonely in a world of ever growing technology.

Offering a variety of workspaces within the office that encourage employees to move around can spark spontaneous conversations and strengthen connections across teams. Flexible environments such as breakout areas, shared desks, quiet zones, and collaborative spaces create more opportunities for informal interactions throughout the day. Providing a premium coffee solution / open kitchen space in the office can spark conversation and encourage interaction amongst employees.

Supporting the health and wellbeing of employees will be an important step in maintaining and encouraging employees to work on-site. Providing functional drinks, such as water rich in vitamins and electrolytes, is just one way workplaces can bring health benefits into the office. Being fully hydrated can improve brain function - maintaining concentration, alertness, memory, and focus - therefore it is beneficial for employees to have access to a drinks machine which focuses on smart hydration. This also shows employees that they are valued in the workplace, which can increase employee appreciation and subsequently employee wellbeing too.

Providing support and information about mental health can show employees that they are cared for, while also offering solutions for staff who may be struggling with their wellbeing. Mental wellbeing is just as important as physical wellbeing in the workplace, and it is predicted that 2026 will see an increased focus on workplaces considering this.

Sustainability is an ongoing focus in workplaces. Now more than ever, it is vital that workplaces focus on their carbon footprint and the way offices operate. Swapping from a Nespresso machine that produces a high level of landfill waste from its pods - and is replaced every 2–3 years - to a bean-to-cup, built-to-last machine is one way offices can take a step towards a more sustainable future.

As well as this, there is an increase in biophilic design in and around workplaces - with people encorporating greenery and nature based design into the workplace. Examples of this are green walls, indoor plants and natural ventilation.

Veganism goes hand-in-hand with sustainability, and especially in January (with Veganuary), many more people take steps towards dairy-free milk solutions. This means it is vital that workspaces provide vegan milk options, as well as vegan snacks alongside traditional non-vegan options.

AI and other forms of smarter technology are inevitably going to integrate into modern workplaces. Rather than feeling threatened that AI will replace us, it is predicted that AI will become a new ‘teammate’ in the workplace - reducing time spent on mundane tasks and allowing more time for creative work. The human touch will always remain important in almost every field.

However, the risk of feeling isolated in a digital office space is very prevalent, making it increasingly important to focus on human interaction and teamwork. Smarter technology will never be able to replace the daily friendly conversation you may have with colleagues while standing by the coffee machine, waiting for a drink, or catching up before heading into an in-person meeting. Maximising these interactions is vital for maintaining a sense of belonging in the workplace.

An exciting technological advancement workplaces may see is smarter drinks solutions. Functional hydration, in particular, is a growing industry, and implementing drinks taps such as TopHealth - which can track and control vitamin and electrolyte intake - is expected to become far more popular.