3 pointers: tastefully bringing kawaii style to open-plan offices

Kawaii style in interior design – key takeaways:

• Kawaii is an aesthetic style from Japan based on all things cute: pastel colors, soft round lines, and plush puffy shapes. Its rise signifies a desire for more kindness.

• There’s actually scientific sense in bringing some “cuteness” to the office space. Cute things are stress-relieving. They can boost productivity by making us more perceptive. They bring joy to the mundane, giving us the feel-goods.

• 3 pointers for leveraging kawaii design in the office space: pastels, plush seating, and human-sized spaces.

What is kawaii?

Kawaii is an aesthetic style from Japan based on all things “cute.” Pastel colors. Soft round lines. Plush puffy shapes. The culture of cuteness, if you will. For a memorable visual, think fluffy mascots with big heads, bulging eyes, chubby cheeks, plump bodies with round bellies, and childlike smiles.

Kawaii is a cultural phenomenon.

Since the ‘70s, kawaii — cuteness — has become a facet of Japan’s national identity. Today, its influence can be seen in fashion, media, and design worldwide. We see a little kawaii in such ubiquitous modern characters as the puppy-dog-eyed emoji, for instance.

Kawaii’s rise signifies a desire for more kindness.

Some say kawaii reveals a collective yearning for kindness. For a sweet escape. Scroll through a few kawaii interiors, and a “sweet escape” is just what you’ll find. It seems kawaii is big because its distinct charm — its wholesome, harmless vibe — is welcome in an uncertain world.

Kawaii is much more than pretty pink. It’s bubbly and whimsical. There’s something playful and refreshing about it. For some, it’s nostalgic of childhood. The aesthetic’s popularity dovetails serendipitously with the emphasis on ‘play’ we see from forward-thinking workplace strategists. On the whole, what’s happening is an appetite for more joy in the minutiae. Kawaii’s emphasis on comfort also gels perfectly with the advent of resimercial in corporate design

– lends Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Very peri, quite kawaii.

We even see echoes of the trend in Pantone’s color of the year choice: very peri. A lovely semi-pastel periwinkle blue with a violet red undertone. In the words of Pantone’s team, “Very Peri helps us to embrace this altered landscape of possibilities.” Sounds a bit like the sweet kawaii escape, right?

Cute things can boost productivity.

Cool enough, there’s actually scientific sense in bringing some ‘cute’ to the office space. Cute things turn on our protective instincts. As a result, they make us more concentrated, thoughtful, and conscientious

– offers Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

Professor Hiroshi Nittono explored this phenomenon in his renowned research. He and his team observed “narrowed attentional focus induced by the cuteness-triggered positive emotion.” They concluded that cute objects could be used as emotional motivators, making us more attentive on the road or, say, in the office.

Cute things also make us feel good.

Anything that triggers our caregiving response (a primal impulse — the desire to protect) gives us the warm-and-fuzzies. So in a way, kawaii stirs up our humanity. Of course, on a fundamental level, everyone wants to feel good. All relevant considerations because when we feel good, we do better work.

Cute things can be stress-relieving, too.

Think about how puppies and kittens melt stress. Cute things bring our focus into the now, putting worries in the background.Nittono’s research proves this interesting phenomenon.

So how about we soften the office with a hint of kawaii?

Since cuteness can do a lot for us. It can boost productivity. It brings joy to the “trivialities.” It gives us feel-goods and helps reduce stress. But how do we tap into the “cult of cute” for a modern workspace?

Three simple pointers: pastels, plush seating, and human-sized spaces.

1.    Pastel paradise — kawaii but professional

Pretty, understated tones make the characteristic kawaii “feel.” The palette is gentle. And though baby pink takes center stage in the traditional kawaii interior, a slightly more sophisticated palette works wonderfully in the modern workplace. A pleasing mix of faded and neutral shades will do.

Muted, feminine colors are a good starting point. Pair various pale tones with complementary whites and grays. Bolder blacks and metals do well as accents. Though the look is feminine in its essence, playing up the darker colors can make for a satisfyingly charming space to delight employees

– says Mateusz Barczyk, Senior Brand Manager, Hushoffice.

2.    Plush soft seating for breakout areas & work lounges

Round, stuffed, oversized shapes are a central fixture of kawaii design. This general shape works well in the office, too, in the form of soft seating. Soft seating is a bona fide way to make the workplace more inviting, more kawaii-calm. It gives the resimercial warmth that’s become popular.

3.    Make the office’s zones human-sized & cozy

A trademark of kawaii is comfort. A sure way to improve comfort in an open-plan space is to divide large areas into smaller, more welcoming sub-spaces. Human-sized and cozy is the goal. The best solutions for this include space dividers, high-backed booths, and privacy pods.

Make your kawaii office endlessly adaptable with work pods.

Pods are mobile. So they make the office tinker-able, giving it building-block-like adjustability. This allows employees to participate in the space’s design, tweaking it to their liking. It’s an almost kawaii-esque element of play, only it results in a more functional office for everyone.

Check out the Hushoffice collection of work pods for inspiration.

Kawaii style in interior design – summary:

• Kawaii is a design and aesthetic style from Japan based on all things cute: pastel colors, soft round lines, and plush puffy shapes. Its rise signifies a desire for more kindness.

• There’s actually scientific sense in bringing some “cuteness” to the office space. Cute things are stress-relieving. They can boost productivity by making us more perceptive. They bring joy to the mundane, giving us the feel-goods.

• 3 pointers for leveraging kawaii design in the office space: pastels, plush seating, and human-sized spaces.

Kawaii style in interior design – frequently asked questions

What is kawaii style in office design?

Kawaii is an aesthetic style from Japan based on all things “cute.” Pastel colors. Soft round lines. Plush puffy shapes. For a memorable visual, think fluffy mascots with big heads, bulging eyes, chubby cheeks, plump bodies with round bellies, and childlike smiles.

Why bring cuteness to the workplace?

Cute things can boost productivity by making us more perceptive. They can bring joy to the mundane. They can give us feel-goods. And when we feel good, we work better. They can be stress-relieving too, which is of benefit in a challenging work world.

How do I create a kawaii-inspired workplace that’s professional?

Three simple pointers: pastels, plush seating, and human-sized spaces.