20 ideas for furnishing an open-space office

Read also: Workplace + S.Project: interior design that goes beyond strict formality

Eating and spending time together are also part of a good quality of life at work. A kitchen, a fridge for a packed lunch and a coffee machine can turn a break into a moment of connection; even an impromptu aperitif could make more sense than yet another meeting on the agenda. Finally, a rug adds warmth and the sense of comfort that should never be missing from a space. The office is not trying to replace the home, but for many people it has become a second home. So let’s make it as stimulating as possible and capable of encouraging productive, respectful relationships. Objects can help achieve this too. 

Desk — Diemmebi, Slim, design Angelo Pinaffo

Slim by Diemmebi is a desk that does not attempt to dictate once and for all how the work should be organised. Designed by Angelo Pinaffo, it was conceived with precisely this idea in mind. The metal structure allows several tables to be placed side by side and configured for different needs, while braked castors make them easy to move. The folding top adds further flexibility, making the desk suitable for meetings, teaching rooms and multifunctional spaces as well. 

Acoustic panels — Arper, Paravan, design Lievore Altherr

In the open-plan office, silence has become a design material. Paravan by Arper, designed by Lievore Altherr, works precisely on this boundary: sound-absorbing panels divide the space without completely interrupting its continuity. The panels can form linear, angular, curved or circular configurations, creating more secluded and protected areas. Shelves, whiteboards and organisers can be added to the system, turning the partition into a genuinely functional element. 

Chair — Quinti, The Season Net, design Alegre Design

We spend much of the day sitting down, yet the office chair is still too often treated as an accessory. The Season Net from, Quinti starts instead with the body: a continuous membrane covers the seat and backrest, while the tubular frame and aluminium armrests complete a system designed for lasting comfort. It has a light presence, with ergonomics that have no need to display their complexity. 

Meeting table — MIDJ, Organic, design Franco Poli

A meeting table does not necessarily require rigid geometry. Organic by MIDJ, designed by Franco Poli, brings fluid, asymmetrical forms inspired by nature into the workplace. The large 300 × 130 cm top is paired with a central base, available in hand-trowelled concrete or metal, while the top itself can be made of concrete or marble. It is a substantial table with a surprisingly soft aesthetic. 

Meeting chairs — Fora Form, BUD 

Around a work table, chairs can also help create a more informal atmosphere. BUD by Fora Form, designed by Skogstad & Wærnes, has a playful presence and an almost domestic character. The low, rounded backrest encourages interaction, while the armrests give support to the arms while working at the computer. Available with a variety of bases and upholstery options, it can also be configured for more dynamic meeting spaces. 

Storage wall — Fantoni, Framework 2.0

Framework 2.0 by Fantoni treats storage as part of the architecture. Lockers, storage units, workstations, dividers and planters form a modular system that can be assembled and reconfigured over time. Rather than a fixed backdrop, it is a structure open to changes in the office, designed to organise the space without making it rigid, with easily reconfigurable components and materials conceived with their end of life in mind. 

Partitions — Dooor

Dooor’s system takes a radically lightweight approach to separation: curved, slender and almost immaterial structures define spaces without building heavy barriers. It is a particularly interesting solution for the open-plan office: the surfaces can suggest rooms, routes and private areas while maintaining a fluid perception of the space. 

Booth — Fantoni, Acoustic Room

Phone calls, video calls and meetings: in an open-plan office, not everything can be shared and not everything should be overheard. Acoustic Room by Fantoni creates protected environments within the shared space, with five size configurations ranging from an individual workstation to a meeting room. It is a genuine room within the room, designed to reduce interference and improve concentration while the rest of the office carries on working around it. 

Pendant light — Artemide, Dusk, design BIG

Light changes throughout the day, and the office should be able to do the same. Dusk by Artemide, designed by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, is a pendant lamp that comes in three lengths, from one to three metres, with a colour temperature adjustable between 1800 and 4000 K. This may seem like a subtle variation, but it can support the transition from concentration to relaxation and from task lighting to a softer atmosphere. 

Desk lamp — Davide Groppi, Ribbon, design Maurici Ginés

It looks almost like a line drawn in the air: Ribbon by Davide Groppi brings light to the desk with an understated gesture that becomes a graphic feature in the room. Designed by Maurici Ginés in 2024, it has matt black aluminium arms connected by a silicone tube and joints that allow the light to be directed. Touch controls operate and adjust the lamp, while power is supplied via USB-C. It forms a small luminous architecture for the desktop.