Walk into almost any office in 2025, and you’ll see the same familiar setup—open-plan workspaces, sleek white desks, neutral tones, glass-walled meeting rooms, and the obligatory breakout area with soft seating and a coffee machine. Whether you’re in London, New York, or Singapore, the layout and design feel almost identical. But why? How did we end up in an era where every office looks like a carbon copy of the next?

The Open-Plan Revolution

One of the biggest reasons offices look the same today is the dominance of the open-plan layout. Once seen as a progressive, collaborative way of working, open-plan offices became the default design for businesses worldwide. Companies embraced them because they:

  • Maximize space – More employees can fit into an open layout compared to private offices.
  • Encourage collaboration – The theory is that fewer walls lead to more spontaneous conversations and teamwork.
  • Reduce costs – Fewer partitions and enclosed offices mean lower construction and maintenance expenses.

Over time, this led to a uniformity in office design. Regardless of the industry, most companies moved away from traditional closed-door offices and adopted the same open-plan look.

The Influence of Co-Working Spaces

The rise of WeWork-style co-working spaces in the late 2010s also shaped modern office interiors. Flexible workspaces became the norm, featuring:

  • Minimalist, modern furniture
  • Hot-desking areas instead of assigned seats
  • Shared lounges and casual work zones
  • Glass-walled meeting rooms

As businesses saw how these designs worked for startups and freelancers, they copied them for their own offices. By 2025, even large corporate firms started looking more like co-working hubs than traditional offices.

The Pandemic’s Lasting Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic changed how people work, but it also standardized office design even further. Companies redesigned their spaces for hybrid work, leading to:

  • Fewer personal desks – Hot-desking replaced fixed seating since fewer employees were in the office full-time.
  • More collaborative areas – Meeting rooms and breakout spaces increased as offices became places for in-person teamwork rather than individual work.
  • Tech-friendly environments – Video conferencing booths and quiet pods became essential to accommodate remote workers dialing in.

These changes weren’t unique to one company—they became global trends, making offices everywhere look and function in the same way.

Corporate Minimalism & Cost Efficiency

Another major reason office interiors look alike is simple: cost. Many businesses prioritize affordability and practicality over uniqueness. This results in:

  • Neutral color schemes (white, grey, beige) – They appeal to everyone and don’t go out of style.
  • Basic furniture (white desks, black chairs) – Easy to source, replace, and scale across multiple locations.
  • Standardized lighting and flooring – Industrial lighting and grey carpet tiles are cheap and durable.

The Downsides of Same-Looking Offices

While these office designs are efficient, they can feel soulless. Employees often complain about:

  • Lack of personality – Every office feels like a copy-paste template.
  • Noise and distractions – Open-plan spaces don’t suit everyone.
  • No sense of belonging – Hot-desking makes people feel like visitors rather than part of a team.

Will Offices Ever Look Different Again?

Some companies are now pushing back against the generic office look by incorporating biophilic design (more plants, natural materials), unique branding, and flexible spaces tailored to employee needs. But for now, in 2025, walk into any office, and you’ll likely see the same familiar layout—efficient, minimal, and nearly identical to the one next door.