Materials determine durability, aesthetics and even staff health in office design. Choosing the right materials — and combining them skilfully to bring out each one’s strengths — creates a workspace that is both attractive and built to last. Below are the eight most common office design materials, with their properties and applications.

Prefer to settle on a style before choosing materials? Read industrial-style office design alongside this article.

Why does material choice matter?

Materials affect the office’s style, aesthetics, durability, health safety and even energy performance. The wrong material can release harmful substances, deteriorate quickly and drive up maintenance costs; the right one keeps the space attractive, durable and economical over the long run.

An office space combining several materials: wood, glass and metal

The 8 most common office design materials

  • Wood: the oldest and most widespread material — flexible, durable and naturally beautiful. Natural timber is luxurious but costly; engineered wood is economical with a wide range of finishes, suitable for most furniture items.
  • Granite: highly durable, easy to clean and available in many colours; commonly used for lobby floors, reception counters and washrooms. Expensive, but it conveys luxury and endures over time.
  • Glass: near-indispensable in the modern office — for partitions and screens, creating open, airy, connected space. Tempered glass also insulates against sound and heat and is durable.
  • Acrylic sheet: a glossy, premium-looking surface that is easy to shape and reasonably priced; often substitutes for glass in decorative items and creates distinctive accents.
  • Stainless steel: fits every style — durable, fire-resistant, hard to break, with a subtle reflective surface; not overly expensive and easy to apply across many furniture pieces.
  • Terracotta tiles: a rustic, warm, friendly look; well suited to feature walls and green office concepts.
  • Retro tiles: shapes, colours and patterns inspired by the 1920s–1970s; they create accents that blend the classic with the modern.
  • Green materials: rattan, bamboo, reed, sedge and indoor plants — championing green living and bringing a light, nature-connected feel.

Office furniture details in wood and natural stone

How to combine materials harmoniously

An attractive office rarely relies on a single material. The safe principle: choose one or two dominant materials (usually wood and glass), then add stone, metal or retro tiles at deliberate points such as the reception counter and meeting rooms. Also weigh health safety (low-emission materials) and acoustic and thermal performance to lift working productivity.

A brick feature wall and natural materials creating an office accent

Choose the right materials — and build them correctly

Good materials only perform when fabricated and installed correctly: joinery built at the right moisture content to prevent warping, glass fitted with proper safety hardware, stone fixed with the right adhesive to prevent delamination. Having in-house factories means joinery quality is controlled from the production stage rather than left to outside subcontractors.

AIC works to a single-point design-build model, with over 10 years in the trade (since 2016 under the predecessor Nhan Viet; AIC was founded in 2019) and two in-house factories (1,200 m² and 600 m²) to standardise joinery and finishing quality. From a floor plan, AIC can produce a BOQ estimate within roughly 4 working hours so a business can size its budget; projects are handed over with a warranty of up to 24 months. See our office interior design and build service and the article on engineered wood types in interiors.

Frequently asked questions

Which materials are most cost-effective for an office?

Engineered wood and acrylic usually optimise cost better than natural timber and granite while still looking good. An effective approach is to use premium materials at key touchpoints and standard materials everywhere else.

Which materials are safest for staff health?

Favour low-VOC materials, wood certified to low-emission standards, water-based paints and natural materials such as rattan and bamboo. This matters because staff spend many hours a day in the office environment.

Is glass really suitable for every office?

Glass is highly versatile and suits most styles, helping create open space. However, consider privacy (frosted glass, applied film) and heat control if the office takes strong sun, to avoid overheating and glare.