Open plan offices are synonymous with collaboration and creativity, but they come with a challenge - noise.
The buzz of an open-plan office is part of its charm, and that hum of collaboration and shared energy is a big part of what drives business innovation - but headspace for quiet, focused productivity is crucial in helping your employees do their best work with comfort and ease.
Smart office design is the answer.
With careful planning, clever zoning and a deep understanding of workplace acoustics, it’s possible to create spaces where the sound is thoughtfully managed - meaning you can balance connection and calm more easily.
At Design Tonic, we’ve been honing our ability to rise to this particular challenge since we founded the company, harnessing the best acoustic design trends to create out-of-this-world offices that blend stylish looks, exceptional functionality and employee wellbeing.
Here’s how we reduce noise - while bringing plenty of that signature Design Tonic flair!
Acoustic solutions hard at work - Design Tonic X White Rose Education, Churchview Dental and The Hawke Suite at Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Acoustic Solutions: Art meets Engineering
Acoustic solutions are the unsung heroes of noise control, and they’ve long been a firm favourite of the Design Tonic team, used to great effect in projects ranging from offices to medical settings to sports hospitality.
Whether suspended from the ceiling, mounted on walls or freestanding, by absorbing sound waves and reducing echoes and reverberations, they create a quieter, more focused environment - and their functionality in no way means you have to sacrifice style.
With a huge choice of design options at your fingertips (not to mention customised looks, like the fully branded ceiling solution we designed for the Media Suite at Leeds United), their functionality doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice even one ounce of style.
In fact, we see acoustics as an opportunity to make a statement.
From the bold (like the fabulous meeting room pendant lights at White Rose Education) to the sleek (like the eye-catching acoustic ceilings at Churchview Dental and YCCC), these solutions easily double as striking decorative elements that bring personality to any open plan office space - while keeping noise levels in check.
Design Tonic X Phoenox Textiles
Cubiform Dividers: Modular and Multi-Purpose
Cubiform dividers are a minimalist’s dream, and another Design Tonic favourite because we just love blending form and function!
Sectioning off areas while retaining openness and flow, they’re so much more than just a partition.
With plenty of space to add display items like books, ornaments and planting, they’re an eminently versatile design element, as beautifully demonstrated by the units we used to break up the open plan layout at Phoenox Textiles - think of them as a sculptural statement with a practical purpose.
Where are they best used?
Because they break up sound waves and create visual interest without closing off the space, they’re perfect to define zones for quiet work, collaborative areas or semi-private meeting spots - and are just brilliant in open plan offices where you need to pull light through into dark corners.
Glass: Tranquil Transparency
The classic solution to balance openness and noise reduction, glass is still the go-to material for dividing interior spaces in a sleek, modern way - and without blocking light or views.
Modern glass technology also brings excellent soundproofing, making it especially ideal for boardrooms and quiet zones.
And for those worried about visual privacy?
Frosted manifestations (like those at 26 Digital, above) and etched glass offers all the privacy you need, while still allowing light to flood through - great for screening off exec offices, huddle rooms and breakout zones from more focused spaces.
The natural warmth of slatted wood panels
For those looking to bring a natural feel into their office space, one brilliant biophilic element is timber.
Few materials combine the beauty and functionality of wood - and when it comes to noise reduction, employing the warmth and texture of timber to break up a large space is a great-looking and effective way to dampen sound.
Of course, slatted wood needn’t be confined to dividers either.
The versatility of timber (and the talents of our team!) have seen us create a whole range of striking wooden features - including the wall and ceiling panels for GoodMove shown above.
Love to see what we can create for your open plan office? Speak to the team today
Design Tonic X Surfachem, Search Labs and White Rose Education
Greenery: A natural noise buffer
Designing with plants is a cornerstone of commercial interior design, and it’s been a huge part of the Design Tonic toolkit since day 1.
Greenery isn’t just visually soothing (with all the wellbeing benefits that brings), it also absorbs sound, making it ideal for any open-plan offices.
Whether you incorporate a living wall, hang greenery in high-traffic areas or use it to top dividers to add softness, planting instantly elevates the look and feel of any space - the perfect trifecta of form, function and wellness.
The Boardroom at Design Tonic HQ
Plush Textures: To soften the edges
The simplest way to take the edge off office noise?
Mix plenty of cosy, plush texture into your office space - from beautifully upholstered seating to textured drapery, curtains and floor coverings, as seen in our very own Design Tonic boardroom above.
These soft textures can transform acoustics by reducing sound reflection and absorbing ambient noise, working to create a sense of calm and quiet while making your office feel welcoming and stylish.
And of course, they also bring a layer of comfort and luxury to your workspace that also helps your employees see it as somewhere they want to spend more time.
Where do plush textures shine? They have a place throughout your office, but they’re especially effective in breakout areas, boardrooms, quiet lounges and collaborative nooks - anywhere you want to invite connection and ease.
Sound-Masking: The future of Office acoustics?
For those who love to know what’s coming next? Here’s a future interior trend set to make a mark on open plan office design in 2025 and beyond - sound masking.
Based on the theory that sometimes, the best way to reduce noise is to add more of it - but strategically - these sophisticated systems introduce a subtle, unobtrusive noise into the background that makes speech and other sounds less distracting.
The science behind sound masking - explained…
Because our brains are wired to focus on changes in sound patterns, like the rise and fall of nearby conversations, sporadic noise like phone calls and typing have been shown to be far more disruptive than constant, even sound.
Sound masking works by filling the auditory gap, making it harder for the brain to latch onto and process these other distracting noises - basically blending them into the background and enhancing privacy, like soft music in a restaurant setting.
And how do we apply sound masking in our real life offices?
Sound masking is one part of a holistic approach to noise management which, when combined with the other solutions listed here, creates an open plan office environment that beautifully balances collaboration and concentration.
Watch this space!
