3 Commercial Interior Design Trends that Bring Flair to Renovations in Nassau County and Suffolk County, NY
Designing interiors for commercial properties means an artistic marriage of efficiency and aesthetics, but the space must also be cost-effective and offer a unique and engaging experience to its users. This applies whether the property is designated for retail, hospitality, professional, medical, residential, or mixed-use. Here are 3 commercial interior design trends that bring flair to renovations in Nassau County and Suffolk County, NY.
1. Sustainability: a Green Approach to Interiors
Sustainability is one of the core values of many brands. Natural light and extensive use of plants and natural materials such as cork (or natural-looking materials) dominate naturalistic design themes.
Years ago, windows were minimized because they were energy-inefficient and represented dramatic swings in cooling and heating costs. Today, new advances in window design mean that glass is as energy-efficient as any other exterior material; and the added psychological bonus of ample natural light makes windows even more important in contemporary commercial interior design. Photovoltaic glass is finding its way into many renovations. This type of glass features solar cells incorporated directly into the window surface, allowing windows to generate energy instead of wasting it.
Where lighting is needed, LED fixtures are replacing fluorescent, halogen, and incandescent bulbs. Instead of opting for new furnishings, many companies are choosing to reupholster existing furniture to reduce their impact on landfills. Flooring, too, is often being restored rather than replaced.
2. Alignment with the Brand Message
Interior design is as much about storytelling as it is about a practical place to do business or to reside. The mix of colors, materials, furniture and fixtures should be chosen to represent the brand – making the space fit the brand rather than forcing the brand to change in order to accommodate a specific design theme.
Color psychology has long been important as a way to set the mood for a space: either vibrant or tranquil, energized or calm. This trend continues, with soothing spaces more in favor for all types of businesses and residential facilities. Along with plants, dominant colors favor natural tones of green with accents of ivory or soft greys to soften the look.
Where a vibrant atmosphere is needed, dramatic, large-scale patterns, and especially geometric patterns, are not only eye-catching but set a positive and energized mood in a space. The use of bold patterns helps a business express the brand’s personality if the brand wants to come across as anything but boring or conservative. Of course, certain spaces such as legal offices or residential facilities may opt for smaller-scale patterns that appear calmer and more sophisticated.
3. Health and Safety
To enable social distancing, reducing clutter is essential. This means ensuring that a space has ample storage for items that were previously kept in public spaces (for example in retail, this could mean having less inventory on the floor to reduce the amount of floor space taken up by displays); and easy access to sizes not displayed on the floor. In an office setting, this could mean a dedicated file room so that office spaces remain as spacious as possible. The outcome is a space that looks clean, professional, and elegant: and speaks volumes about the brand.
Even with social distancing, the days of isolated cubicles are over. Office spaces are embracing an open concept with plenty of natural light and layouts where desks are separated by transparent panels that boost the brightness - and therefore the mood - of the space. This approach feels more collaborative and enhances a team atmosphere, and the decluttered look also contributes to the ability to socially distance yet be in the same space.