Using Metal Laminates to Create Appealing Office Spaces

Many employers are now mandating a return to the office for staff who had previously been working remotely, either full- or part-time. To help employees embrace the transition, many forward-thinking companies remodeled their office spaces to make them more aesthetically appealing. Gensler, one of the world’s most prominent architectural firms, surveyed over 14,000 workers across the globe and discovered that almost 40 percent of employers had redesigned their offices during the pandemic.

This attention to the work environment is particularly important, given the current labor shortage and the difficulty many companies are experiencing in finding and retaining staff. In fact, the workforce is undergoing a process of evolution with the arrival of younger employees with different priorities than their predecessors. 

For Gen Z — the segment of the workforce now in their early 20s — a pleasant and contemporary working environment can be an incentive to spend time in the office. Studies show that they are mindful of their working conditions, and companies that provide attractive and flexible office spaces have the advantage. However, this interior design approach isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s also a quality of life issue, something also highly valued by “Zoomers.” 

“We’re seeing a surge in what I call ‘hospitality-inspired’ workplaces. Companies are borrowing design elements found in hotels and restaurants to make offices more appealing and draw people in,” notes Meghan Howell, Creative Director at Formica Corporation.

Consider the Designer’s Choice

For these modern office environments, materials like Formica DecoMetal^® can be ideal for creating memorable designs that attract office workers. DecoMetal is a material consisting of metal foil laminated onto a phenolic core and available in a multitude of beautiful finishes and textures. It’s been used in several successful redesigns where the updated décor made for a more appealing and impressive environment for both staff and visitors.

In 2024, the DecoMetal Laminates line added five new designs, offering more options than ever to design these spaces with a bit of glam. The popular Metallic series expanded with Metallic Gray, Metallic Gilt and Metallic Black, which are ideal for creating distressed metallic effects for various environments. In addition, the Rubbed series now includes Wax Rubbed Brass and Oil Rubbed Brass, offering new colorways for delivering a glamorous yet subdued look to an office space.

Bring the Workplace Up to Date

In one such project, DecoMetal^® M9958 Antique Rubbed Copper was used on the front of a coffee bar area. “It rivals any luxury hotel lobby,” Howell says. “The material’s inherent elegance elevates the space from a simple break room to a destination within the office where people want to gather and collaborate.”

A law office in Texas is another shining example of how Formica DecoMetal^® was used to completely update a 1970s-era decorating scheme. A Dallas-area firm, Wright Group Architects, was engaged to give the décor an overhaul.

The design concept was to create a fresh, contemporary look, which involved stripping the walls down to the studs and removing the omnipresent old-fashioned wood trim. The result was a neo-industrial space with exposed fixtures and ductwork but with some elegant, eye-catching touches. The company’s logo was metallic black and blue, and when the designer discovered DecoMetal^® laminates, she knew she had hit the jackpot. For this project, she used Brushed Black Aluminum DecoMetal^® on the lobby wall and reception desk. The result is an attractive, up-to-date, contemporary space that won a Muse Design Award.

Howell also speaks of an ad agency that used DecoMetal^® to create remarkable visual impact. “When you enter the space, the wall panels signal that this is a forward-thinking, innovative agency that values premium quality,” she says. “The material works as a silent but powerful statement on the agency’s attention to detail and commitment to excellence.”

In another notable project, the designers at FGM Architects in St. Louis decided to practice what they preach. Citing Formica as a go-to brand in their client work, they also chose it as integral to the design of their own new regional office near the famous Gateway Arch. The office décor is intended to be a “statement piece,” using DecoMetal^®  in Oxibronze as a themed branding element. It’s featured on the entryway walls and on the reception desk, creating a warm and elegant feel. When staff or clients enter the suite, they feel as though they’ve arrived at someplace extraordinary.

While cubicles are on their way out, modern workspaces that offer a degree of privacy are evolving and growing in popularity. When flexible office partitions and walls are covered with DecoMetal^®, the look can be shimmering, stately, inviting, calming, elegant, inspiring — you name it — but what it definitely won’t be is boring and commonplace.