Designing a workspace your team will love with office wall panelling

Remember the office cubicles of the 80s? Our workspaces aren't just rows of desks anymore; they’re places of brainstorming sessions, calls and meetings, focused work, and places where we welcome both clients and collaborators.

But our environment has to encourage the sheer range of activity that happens in an office; that’s a lot of heavy lifting for one environment. 

There’s no doubt that working in a beautiful interior motivates us to not only come into the office but also to be more productive when we get there. That’s why panelling has become such a popular choice. Providing that aesthetic lift that makes a space feel well-designed, but also functional by providing noise-reducing qualities. 

So, where should you use it? 

The impact of the environment on work 

The design of an office might seem secondary to what actually happens there, but when you spend hours in the same environment, the details really do matter.

Comfort, lighting, colour, greenery and the overall cohesion of a space can all contribute to how people experience their workplace. In fact, research from the American Society of Interior Designers found a relationship between employees' satisfaction with their physical workplace and their overall job satisfaction.

A study by the American Society of Interior Designers found that employees who liked their workspace environment were 31% more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. 

That doesn’t mean every office needs an expensive redesign. Small changes that make a workplace more comfortable, considered and appropriate for the way your team actually works can make a difference.

Wall panelling is one way to introduce some of that character without filling the office with additional furniture or decoration.

Good areas in the office for panelling 

Before getting started with decorating, think about what you need from each part of your workspace. 

For example, in collaborative areas, texture and panelling can help distinguish them from rows of desks. In quieter spaces, certain acoustic panelling products can help with sound absorption. And in client-facing areas, a feature wall can make the space feel more finished without adding clutter. 

We’ll take you through some of the distinctions below. 

1. In the reception for optimal first impressions

Reception is the first glimpse many clients, candidates and collaborators get of your workplace, so it's worth giving them something more interesting than a blank white wall.

A panelled feature wall behind the reception desk can add warmth while providing a natural backdrop for your company name or logo. It provides neutral decorative impact without the need for lots of other decor like bookshelves and wall art. 

For a softer look, try warm wood tones or neutral panels or if your brand is a little bolder, this is a good place to experiment with some colour.

2. In your meeting rooms and booths for sound control

Meeting rooms have to work particularly hard; one minute it's a two-person catch-up; the next it's a video call or a full-team meeting. This multi-functional room has to feel aesthetically versatile too. 

Equally, if acoustics are a concern, choosing acoustic wall panels specifically designed with sound-absorbing properties can help reduce reverberation and make conversations easier to hear.

Panelling can make smaller booths and meeting spaces feel zoned rather than simply carved out of the main office.

3. Behind desks to give work zones some definition 

Open-plan offices can easily become one large expanse of desks. Using panelling behind particular work zones is a simple way to give different areas their own identity without physically dividing the room.

It can also make a bank of desks feel less stark, particularly when you introduce warmer wood tones or a little colour.

This works particularly well if your office needs different zones for different teams, but you want to maintain an open feel.

Make your office work for the people in it

A good workspace doesn't have to look like a design studio, but it helps if the space feels well-decorated for the people using it. 

Think about where your team needs to concentrate, collaborate, talk, take a break and welcome visitors, and utilise panels where it makes sense to. Office wall panelling can help give each area its own character while creating a more cohesive look across the workplace.

Explore Panels by Sofia's office panelling to find wall panelling for your next office refresh.