By Chelsea Babin

Cubicles fell out of fashion and open offices took their place. Pool tables are trendy now but, in a few years, they may be hard to find in any office. Popular office design trends ebb and flow and, in 2017, these 5 trends are expected to dominate cutting-edge offices that are looking to increase productivity and attract top talent. Here are the pros and cons of 2017’s biggest office design trends.

1. Cloud Based Storage

Pros: If you’re a talented Cloud professional this news is a definite pro! Even if you’re not, as long as you’re no fan of filing, giant filing cabinets taking up space in the office, or a need for a server room this growing trend will excite you.

Cons: If you’re in an office space that was built to accommodate filing rooms, massive copiers, and other on-site data storage there may be a large empty area left abandoned in the office. If this space isn’t repurposed your office may feel too large for the amount of business and success your company has which could cause potential employees or clients to second-guess their decision to work with you.

2. A Variety of Seating Areas

Pros: From long communal tables to large circular couches to desk clumps, a variety of seating areas can cater to the specific needs of telecommuters, collaborators, and more! If you wear a lot of hats in your current position, having a variety of seating areas available to you may help inspire you and help you adapt to different work modes.

Cons: The more variety needed, the more space needed. If a company is just starting out or doesn’t have the budget to pay for extra space and a variety of furniture this trend may be out of their reach. And, if you’re a fan of separate workspaces this may not be the kind of office you’d prefer to work in.

3. Adaptable Desks

Pros: If you want to fight the many diseases caused by sitting all day you might love the trend of adaptable desks! Many of these desks come in standing form or treadmill form. Additionally, if you prefer to move around the office rather than having one dedicated work space you might enjoy the “wireless” desks that let you clump together with collaborators or go off and work on your own depending on what you need to do that day. These desks can improve your productivity and comfort levels if they’re suited to your work style!

Cons: If you don’t need an adaptable workspace because you tend to do the same kinds of things every day this so-called perk may not benefit you at all. And, of course, moving desks or desks with moving parts are more likely to break down more often.

4. Smaller Meeting Spaces

Pros: Having smaller, diverse meeting spaces helps keep every meeting from feeling the same. Plus these cozier settings make meetings feel less formal which can inspire better brainstorming and help shorten the length of each meeting.

Cons: If your office has large collaborative teams it may be difficult to accommodate everyone at once which may result in repeat meetings. Additionally, some of the furniture used to create smaller meeting spaces can feel a bit cubicle-like which may not suit your work style.

5. Natural Elements

Pros: When there’s more natural light, plants, and other natural elements it helps provide mental relief throughout the day and reduces stress. Additionally, some studies have proven that natural elements help encourage learning and improve emotional wellbeing.

Cons: Natural elements are less durable so you may be the person stuck watering the plants or cleaning up after the water feature that occasionally leaks.

These 5 office trends will be incredibly common in 2017 and they all have pros and cons. Look out for these changes to your current office or look for them in offices where you’re interviewing for a new job. Additionally, if you want to impress clients, you may suggest these office improvements to your bosses.