Predictions for 2026: Designing Workplaces People Choose
Workplaces are heading into a new chapter, and the future looks a lot more thoughtful. Instead of asking people to adapt to the space, companies are asking the space to adapt to the work. The result is a workplace that feels clearer, more supportive, and a little easier to move through.
We pulled together our predictions for what 2026 could bring. If we’re right, the workplace may feel more flexible, more intuitive, and maybe even a bit more enjoyable. Let’s take a look at where things seem to be heading.
AI Becomes a Space Planning Co-pilot
AI is stepping into a more practical role by giving teams clearer insight into how their workplaces are actually being used. In 2026, AI supported planning tools will pull together data from occupancy sensors, room booking patterns, badge activity, and even environmental readings like noise and light levels.
With this information, AI can highlight specific patterns: rooms that are booked far more often than they are occupied, zones that stay empty most of the day, areas that consistently get too loud, or circulation points that slow people down.
From there, AI-powered planning software can model different layout scenarios and show how small changes might improve flow, balance quiet and active areas, or strengthen collaboration. Because the insights update continuously, organizations can make thoughtful adjustments throughout the year instead of waiting for a major renovation.
Workplaces designed to adapt will get the most out of these tools. Flexible furniture, movable elements, and clear zoning make it easier to apply what the data is telling you and keep the environment working well over time.
Organic Interactions Shape Mentorship
Some of the most valuable moments at work are the ones no one schedules. A quick question. A small piece of coaching. A brief conversation that gives someone clarity. These moments have always mattered, but hybrid work has made them harder to come by and more important when they happen.
In 2026, we expect organizations to focus more on creating environments where people can easily cross paths and share knowledge without relying on formal meetings. It is about supporting the everyday exchanges that help people grow.
Layouts that encourage proximity, offer natural pause points, and create opportunities to connect will help these interactions happen naturally. Workplaces that create room for these moments will build stronger connections and support learning in a more human way.
Hotel Desking Grows Up
Hotel desking has been around for a while, but expectations are rising. In 2026, shared desks need to feel predictable and genuinely easy to use. It is less about fitting in every possible seat and more about creating an intentional experience people can rely on.
A major shift will be greater consistency across all shared desks. Standard monitors, standard accessories, standard ergonomics. Every spot should feel familiar so no one is guessing which desk has the working setup.
Clear zoning for focus, collaboration, and calls, paired with supportive storage and simple wayfinding, will help hotel desking feel organized rather than chaotic. When shared seating works well, it becomes a natural part of the day instead of something people have to navigate.
Biophilia Becomes a Performance Tool
Biophilia is moving from a visual flourish to a tool that actively supports how a workplace feels and functions. In 2026, nature inspired design will focus less on adding greenery and more on creating healthier sensory environments. Plants and natural systems will be used to soften acoustics, balance humidity, and create calmer zones in areas that tend to feel overstimulating.
We expect to see workplaces using biophilia to fine tune the environment in ways that make a noticeable difference. Green clusters may be placed to improve sound quality in open areas. Humidity balancing plants may show up in spaces that feel dry or stagnant. Light filtering plant walls may help create softer transitions between bright and dim zones.
Biophilia will not just decorate a space. It will help regulate it.
Third Spaces Take Over
Work happens in far more places than a desk. Lounge seating, quiet nooks, and cafe style areas have become essential because they support the informal conversations, focused thinking, coaching moments, and everyday interactions that keep teams moving.
In 2026, third spaces will become more intentional. As companies take a more selective approach to expanding their footprint, flexible areas inside the workplace will carry more weight. Expect zones built for different types of work, supported by thoughtful seating, acoustics, and lighting. A mix of quiet pods and simple café style spots will give teams the ability to shift quickly without needing more space.
As organizations look for strategic ways to use space, these adaptable third areas will carry more weight. When teams can move naturally into the kind of space they need, the day flows with less friction and more momentum.
What to Prioritize in 2026
If there is a thread running through all of this, it is that people work best in spaces that actually work for them. The workplaces that thrive in 2026 will focus on:
Flexible layouts that shift smoothly as teams and projects evolve
Environments that make everyday mentorship and quick connection easy
Shared desks that offer a consistent, reliable setup every time
Third spaces designed with clear purpose and placed where people will actually use them
Biophilic elements that fine tune acoustics, humidity, and overall comfort
When workplaces are designed around real work modes, they do more than look good. They genuinely help people move through the day with more ease. Companies that design with intention will build spaces people choose again and again. And who knows, maybe a year from now we will be able to say we called it.
