What is really driving the back-to-office shift in 2026?

In 2026, workplaces are being designed around why people come in, not how often, prioritising collaboration, focus, and connection beyond what remote work cannot offer.

The great return: A shift toward purpose-driven office time

Workplace research shows people are more engaged when office time is intentional. According to AHRI (2025), 75% of Australian workers say being in the office encourages stronger connection with colleagues, while 65% believe it improves collaboration and cooperation.

Rather than using the office for individual desk-based work, teams are prioritising in-person time for shared activity. This shift is changing how workplaces are planned, with greater emphasis on spaces that support interaction, movement and collective work rather than fixed, individual workpoints.

How this shift is reshaping office layouts:

• Desks become a support function, not the centrepiece. Individual workpoints still exist, but they no longer shape the workplace. Space is rebalanced around how people actually use the office.

• Collaboration is planned, not incidental. Shared zones are positioned and scaled to support workshops, teamwork and project activity rather than relying on leftover meeting space.

• Layouts are designed to adapt. Modular planning and flexible furniture allow workplaces to evolve as teams, headcount and work styles change over time.

Rethinking the workplace experience

Offices are increasingly adopting hospitality-led design, shifting away from rigid corporate environments to open-plan spaces that feel more welcoming and comfortable. Thoughtful seating, informal meeting zones and cafe-style spaces encourage people to spend time in the workplace, supporting connection and productivity without compromising professionalism.

In practice, this translates into:

• Ergonomic lounge settings designed for extended working sessions, not transitional use

• Breakout areas positioned as active work zones rather than peripheral spaces

• Open-plan floors layered with varied settings, allowing teams to move between collaboration and focused work with ease.

Supporting focus in an AI-enabled workplace

As AI tools become part of everyday work, employees need spaces that support concentration and reduce cognitive load. Quiet areas are no longer a luxury. They are becoming essential for productivity and wellbeing.

Research from ACTU (2025) shows 51% of Australian workers say they need more skills and training as technology and AI change how they work. The workplace environment must support this transition by offering spaces that allow people to focus, learn and adapt.

Effective workplaces now require:

• Small, quiet zones for focused work

• Acoustic separation between social and task-based areas

• Clear zoning that helps people choose how they work

Sustainability is now a baseline expectation

Sustainability and ESG goals are no longer optional. Businesses are prioritising low-carbon fit-outs and responsibly sourced furniture. Locally manufactured products help reduce transport emissions, improve quality control and support long-term value.

Designing workplaces that perform

At Krost, we work closely with our clients to respond to these shifts in a practical way. Our range of office furniture, supported by local manufacturing, allows us to tailor solutions to the specific needs of each project, supporting flexibility, sustainability and the performance of both the workplace and the people within it.

Cobbleworks: A Modern Oasis

Spread over two levels in the heart of Sydney, Cobbleworks’ recently fitted out offices are a penchant for light, tactility and materiality. Located in an industrial style building, the interiors feature a mixture of original and contemporary style finishes, creating the perfect juxtaposition of architecture and furniture.

Designed to elevate the furniture in the space, black accents mixed with natural stone like finishes are seen on our Keywork counter table, paired with Zorro stools welcoming you upon entry. 

Cohesive in theme, the first office space features the same colourways as seen on our Uno table in the kitchen area, surrounded by Madi chairs. Additionally, in a little nook next to this our Halo counter table with Zorro stools tie in to create a comfortable breakout area for staff. 

Similar in finishes but different in layout, the second office includes Uno counter tables on castors with Zorro stools allowing them to be moved around to facilitate a variety of settings from collaboration to relaxation. 

With a focus on the evolving nature of the way we work and the relationship between the user and their environment in an open plan office, Cobbleworks office provides highly flexible and versatile solutions. Moving throughout this space, our Hugo lounges and Sofi hexagon ottomans in a trendy mustard upholstery come together to form soft seating areas. Our Sofi ottomans are mobile in design, allowing for staff to move and create their own work areas based on their needs and requirements. 

Arched windows frame the building allowing natural light to flood the rooms. Situated underneath these are a variety of seating and coffee table settings, including our Madi chairs paired with the Maya coffee table, Jena chairs paired with the Drum coffee table and Sofi ottomans coupled with the Oscar coffee table, allowing staff and visitors to interact in a casual environment. 

For more focused individual work, the offices feature a mixture of desks with black accents and florentine walnut tops including Benchwork and Swish workstations. Matched with Local acoustic screens, Sparki above desk power, Miro chairs, Balance stools, Globe pedestals and Globe sliding door cupboards for storage, a workspace which enhances productivity, dynamism and employee well being is established. 

The meeting rooms do not stray from the theme used throughout the open plan office. Contrasted against exposed brick and natural timber flooring, our Dart table and Alex chairs combine to create a contemporary environment, perfect for more formal settings. For more informal and collaborative purposes, smaller meeting rooms feature our Halo table and Madi chairs. 

Cobbleworks’ offices consider the different working environments for the modern employee. Providing various settings that focus on connection, collaboration and comfort by the curation of furniture, finishes and aesthetic.