Clerkenwell Design Week once again brought together some of the most exciting names in commercial interiors, furniture and workplace design.

From softer, resimercial-inspired spaces and acoustic pods to integrated planting and warmer material palettes, this year’s event highlighted how workplace expectations continue to evolve alongside the way we work.

At CDW26 we explored the latest ideas, products and trends shaping commercial spaces. We caught up with suppliers, noted plenty of inspiration and these were some of the themes that stood out most to us.

Resimercial design was everywhere

One of the clearest themes across this year’s show was the continued shift towards softer, more residential-led workplace design. Curved seating, residential-style textures and relaxed lounge layouts featured heavily throughout many of the showroom spaces we visited, like Hillcross’s bespoke luxe velvet display.

Products like Frovi’s Big Softie seating and Bodie from Boss reflected a growing demand for workplaces that feel more welcoming and less corporate. These types of environments support informal collaboration, breakout working and employee wellbeing while creating spaces people genuinely want to spend time in.

Innovation through integration

It’s clear the popularity of acoustic panelling and wall features has led to innovation in the category. Open-plan offices can benefit from acoustics becoming integrated into lighting, furniture and meeting pods, further helping to zone spaces without walls. We saw such products from Ekko and Spacestor where collaboration becomes better balanced with concentration as sound is dampened, focus is improved and productivity gets a boost.

Biophilic design becomes easier than ever to enjoy with JDD’s integrated planters that feature lighting and watering for optimal, low-maintenance greenery solutions. This means real plants can thrive anywhere in a workplace, mitigating limited natural light levels often found in central spaces, meeting rooms or washrooms.

Warm and welcoming

Texture, warmth and earthy colours throughout mark a clear departure from cold greys and stark whites. Tactile fabrics and softer textures adorned seating from JDD, providing a warm welcome for reception and waiting areas or a moment to decompress for break-out spaces.

Warm neutrals and terracotta tones often complemented wood finishes beautifully, furthering the resimercial-leaning trend for flexing between collaboration, quiet work, meetings and social interaction.

Product highlights from CDW26

It was great to catch up with Social Spaces, fresh from the recent opening of their new showroom and with an expanded portfolio thanks to their recent acquisition of Morgan. Their inviting Soul modular lounge collection and striking Loft meeting space perfectly reflected the continued move away from traditional corporate workplace design.

Broadview Materials showcased the latest in advanced materials and finishes for a second time at CDW. We learnt about FENIX, Arpa’s extremely opaque, soft touch and anti-fingerprint material range that even has the capability to heal superficial micro-scratches through heat. The extensive selection of colours, finishes and textures provided plenty of inspiration for future fit-out projects.

Sustainability remained a strong theme throughout the event. The latest addition to Burmatex’s carpet tile portfolio is their surface trace® tile, crafted with Universal Fibers’ groundbreaking carbon-negative Thrive® matter yarn. Its random lay design is going to be a dream for our fit-out team!

KI gave us a behind-the-scenes look at their latest ergonomic seating innovations, designed to encourage movement throughout the day. We were able to marvel at their latest addition, The Sutton, crafted with KI’s renowned durability, 30% recycled materials but with the aesthetics of a classic mid-century classroom chair. The colour palette was a highlight and would sit right at home in any commercial or educational setting.

While workplace trends continue to evolve, the strongest ideas from CDW26 all shared something in common: creating spaces that work better for the people using them. There’s definitely a focus on drawing workers ‘back to the office’ by making spaces feel somewhere people actually want to be.

Whether through improved acoustics, softer environments, adaptable furniture or more considered material choices, the focus remains on designing workplaces that support collaboration, wellbeing and flexibility in equal measure.