London is a real melting pot of cultures, businesses, and art and design, including architecture, music, and, of course, commercial interiors. With so many different kinds of brands, restaurants, hotels, universities, etc., across the city, it’s no surprise that interior design is also so eclectic and diverse.
From the executive boardrooms of Canary Wharf to the creative studios of Shoreditch, each borough has its own vibe when it comes to workplace look and feel. So, if you’re on the hunt for a London office design company or the right local office fit out partner to transform your workspace, getting a feel for these local design trends can help you create an environment that genuinely reflects your location and culture.
In this blog post, we take a virtual tour through some of London’s most bustling boroughs to explore how different areas are shaping and designing their office spaces.
The City of London: where heritage meets high-tech
The Square Mile (AKA the historic and financial epicentre of the Big Smoke) has always been about balancing tradition with innovation. This is reflected in the diversity of office interiors across Central London and beyond, into its surrounding boroughs.
Helping history shine through
For example, many businesses close to iconic landmarks like the Bank of England or St Paul’s Cathedral find themselves in buildings with rich heritage and historical interior and exterior architectural character.
Many of the businesses, brands, and commercial landlords in these historical buildings often want to respect and even accentuate this heritage by preserving or recreating original Victorian or Georgian features such as exposed brickwork, high ceilings, and original flooring. Think exposed services and pipework paired with period features, creating that industrial-luxe aesthetic that has been a long-standing trend in offices, bars, hotels, coworking spaces, and commercial properties.
Glass partitioning is also a long-standing design trend in many central offices across London, creating a sleek, modern look with practical space-zoning benefits, while avoiding the visual blocking of original features.
This approach to design is all about respecting architectural roots whilst still introducing modern updates such as ergonomic furniture, cutting-edge workplace tech, and contemporary modes of work.
So, when you’re working with a London office design company in this area, you can expect plenty of chat around heritage considerations and how to work sympathetically with listed buildings whilst still getting everything you need from a modern office. It’s about creating spaces that feel both prestigious and progressive.
Canary Wharf: Sleek and unapologetically corporate
Canary Wharf office fit outs are all about that sleek, contemporary look. Think floor-to-ceiling windows making the most of the River Thames views, minimalist colour palettes with bold accent features, large boardrooms, and state-of-the-art video conferencing tech as standard.
Flexibility is another key element steering office fit out and design in this borough. Hot-desking, touchdown spaces, and activity-based working are commonplace, which means office furniture and space layout need to support these agile and adaptive ways of working.
Read more: What is activity-based work and how do you facilitate it? >>
With landmarks like One Canada Square setting the bar for modern architecture, businesses are embracing open-plan layouts divided by plenty of breakout spaces, collaborative areas, quiet focus zones, and spaces dedicated to relaxation and rejuvenation.
Sustainability is an essential part of office design and refurbishment in Canary Wharf fit outs too. Lots of businesses are pushing for BREEAM and WELL certifications, bringing in smart building tech and energy-efficient systems right from the start.
That’s why London office fit out partners who understand corporate sustainability requirements, like the team at Penketh Interiors, are such an invaluable addition to these projects.
Shoreditch and Hackney: Creative, quirky, and full of character
Shoreditch or Hackney are the beating hearts of London’s creative district. Office design here is cool, quirky, innovative, and a long way off its corporate neighbours. Reclaimed materials, upcycled furniture, exposed surfaces, neon brand manifestation, and lighting that looks more like an art installation are the norm here.
The tech and creative industries that call this area home have refined what we sometimes describe as the ‘urban warehouse’ aesthetic. Old industrial spaces near Brick Lane or around Old Street are being transformed into buzzing workspaces that celebrate their raw, industrial bones through design that spotlights them, rather than concealing them. Original features like concrete floors, steel beams, and factory windows are enhanced with vintage furniture, statement lighting, and bold pops of colour that boost brand identity.
Collaboration spaces are super popular in Shoreditch offices, as our social settings and townhall type areas. You’ll find breakout areas with bean bags, on-site cafés, in-house bars, games rooms, and multi-functional settings with bleacher-style seating.
The neighbourhood’s artistic heritage (check out the street art around Redchurch Street if you’re nearby) inspires office fit outs that aren’t afraid to have fun and inject loads of personality.
Camden and King’s Cross: Industrial with a community focus
Camden and the redeveloped King’s Cross area share similar design DNA, encompassing industrial heritage styles reimagined for modern working. The area around Coal Drops Yard and Granary Square inspires local office fit outs on how to breathe new life into old spaces.
The trend here is all about celebrating that industrial architecture whilst making spaces feel warm and welcoming. Think a lot of exposed ductwork and pipework painted in feature colours, polished concrete floors softened with textured rugs, and modular furniture that can be moved around as needs change.
What’s really interesting in this borough is how much focus there is on community-minded design. Lots of offices around here include shared amenities, indoor-outdoor settings (making the most of canal-side spots), and spaces designed for spontaneous interaction with coworkers and other businesses alike.
Westminster and Victoria: Prestigious, polished, professional
Around landmarks like Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, office design leans toward more traditional styles, but some with contemporary twists. The trend here is what could be described as ‘elevated corporate’, where quality materials, sophisticated colours, and attention to detail reflect the prestige of the area while still being functional and professional.
Businesses near Victoria Station and along Victoria Street are investing in luxury finishes such as marble reception areas, bespoke joinery, and speciality lighting. There’s still flexibility in layouts, but it’s done in a more refined way than you’d see in the casual creative studios of Shoreditch.
Spaces in this part of the city are designed to impres,s but privacy matters more here too, so while open-plan designs are still popular, you’ll see more substantial partitioning, acoustic solutions, and private offices for senior members of staff.
South Bank and Southwark: Creative meets corporate
The South Bank, which stretches from the London Eye to Borough Market, has developed its own distinctive office design style over the years. This area now tends to attract businesses that want to feel creative and dynamic without fully immersing themselves fully in the uber-trendy, ultra-creative Shoreditch scene. This has developed a distinct look and feel when it comes to office interiors throughout this area.
The design language trend here is what we would describe as a kind of ‘creative corporate’, finding a sweet spot between established corporate brands and ultra-casual startups. Exposed ceilings and industrial elements are popular, as they are throughout most of London, but here, they’re matched with more unique furniture choices and customised colour schemes.
With so many cultural venues nearby, including Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, and the National Theatre, office interiors here tend to treat commercial design as more of an art form, leaning more on cultural references than other districts of the city.
Riverside locations near Southwark or Gabriel’s Wharf mean lots of offices also make the most of the surrounding views, doing whatever they can to capitalise on natural light as part of their fit out. Floor-to-ceiling windows, open sightlines, and strategically positioned meeting rooms are often part of the space configuration and furniture considerations here.
The benefits of working with a London office fit out partner
The best projects start with understanding both your vision and your location’s unique character. That’s where having an experienced fit out partner really comes in handy.
Whether you’re in a Georgian building in the City, a former warehouse in Hackney, or a glass tower in Canary Wharf, the key is finding a London office design company that understands the nuances and local differences.
A great fit out partner won’t just roll out a standard template or cookie-cutter approach to rendering your new space. They’ll help you create an environment that feels right for your specific London location whilst ticking all your functional and regulatory boxes.
Read more: Recent building regulations: What it means for your London office >>
Your office should reflect both where you are and who you are as a business. That’s what makes London’s inclusive and diverse approach to workplace design so exciting, because there really is a style to suit every business in every part of the city.
Did you know Penketh Interiors now has a London-based office? We still have our homes up north, but you can now also find us in Farringdon.
Call us on 0207 362 4798 to tell us more about your next workspace transformation down south.
