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Most offices have lunchrooms, but they aren’t normally at the top of the priority list when designing a new office space. However, a well-designed breakroom can make a big difference in the day-to-day work lives of your employees. Functional, good-looking lunchrooms can increase how often employees utilize the space, decreasing their desire to go out for lunch and enabling them to make healthier, less expensive eating choices.

Tables

One of the first things you’ll want to decide when designing your breakroom is what type of tables you need since tables can take up quite a bit of space in the room. Standard height cafeteria tables with attached or separate chairs are great options for large, open spaces. If you have a smaller room, you may consider smaller café tables that take up less physical and visual space. Lunchroom tables come in a huge assortment of styles and sizes, so you should have no problem finding the one that’s right for you.

Chairs

If you do not select a table with built-in seating, you’ll need chairs to go with your tables. Choose a collection with matching tables and chairs, or go with something totally different. If you select café tables, make sure you get stools of the correct height to ensure your employees are comfortable while seated. Choose from folding, stacking, mobile, and nesting chairs that are easy to move around and store when needed. Remember, armless chairs will make it much easier for users to get up close to the table to eat. 

Magazine Racks

Offering magazines to employees in your breakroom is a great way to keep them happy on their lunch breaks, especially for those who may have forgotten to bring their own reading material. Choose either a wall-mounted or freestanding magazine holder, and keep it well-stocked with the latest issues of the magazines your company subscribes to.

Message Boards

Message boards are a great addition to any lunchroom because they help get company messages across to employees much quicker when placed in a room that employees frequent. Because your employees will be utilizing your beautiful new lunchroom regularly, they’re sure to walk by your message board often, provided you place it in an easy-to-see spot.

Waste Receptacles

Although they aren’t the most glamorous items you’ll buy for your lunchroom, waste receptacles are essential. Before making a purchase, decide where your trash cans will be placed in your lunchroom and measure the space. You’ll also want to determine how many garbage and recycling bins will be needed right away since you can usually get a discount when ordering multiple receptacles at the same time.

Refrigerators

Don’t forget the refrigerator! The size of your company and the size of your lunchroom will determine how large or small of a refrigerator you’ll be able to get and how many you’ll need. Whether you need a large fridge/freezer combo or would rather equip your space with multiple small refrigerators, you have plenty of options.
Breakrooms
Design & Innovation

More From NBF

Now Trending: Outdoor Breakrooms

The breakroom has the potential to be the best space in your office, depending on what you do with it. Keep it plain and sad looking, and your employees aren’t likely to want to sit in it for very long. But provide an innovative and inspiring space, and your employees will thank you for the reprieve from the hours of sitting at their desks.  

One up-and-coming trend in office design is creating break areas outside, which is especially welcome when the weather gets nice again after a long winter. So think outside the cube, and take these tips for creating a great outdoor break area!

Location, Location, Location 

The first and possibly most important step toward adding an outdoor breakroom is choosing where it will go. Your business may or may not have much say in this matter, but if you do, choose a location with plenty of natural sunlight. Catching some rays can be a great mood booster for employees taking breaks outside, and it can leave them feeling energized and ready to tackle the afternoon workload. Consider adding umbrellas in case they need a break from the sun. Of course, you may also want to add some furniture to some shady areas to keep employees comfortable on those particularly hot summer days.

Get the Right Furniture 

You won’t be able to use just any old breakroom furniture in your outdoor area. Choose chairs, tables, and other furnishings specifically designed for outside use. These products can withstand harsh outdoor elements like rain and direct sunlight, and you can even keep many outside year-round. Depending on how large the space is, you’ll want to provide chairs and tables for employees to eat lunch at, plus a lounge area for chatting and even holding outdoor meetings.

Go for the Green 

It’s easy to find outdoor furniture that’s not only weather-resistant but eco-friendly as well. From benches and picnic tables to waste receptacles and outdoor boards, hundreds of products are made entirely from recycled materials. These are great for the environment and great for you since most are made from materials such as recycled milk jugs that are completely maintenance-free.

 

How Do I Get My Employees to Use Our Breakroom?

If your employee breakroom is underutilized, it could be because it lacks an updated, modern look and the comforts of home that employees enjoy. Most employees spend their days staring at a computer screen, so when they take what is often their only break of the entire day, they want to be inspired. That’s tough to do when you’re surrounded by blank walls and ugly furniture. Here are some things you can do to update your breakroom and boost employee morale.

Swap Out Your Old Furniture

You’ll never get a completely updated look in your breakroom without swapping your furniture with the newest styles. The look you choose is up to you, but pick a theme and stick with it. For a modern look, the Barista collection is a great choice. Whatever option you choose, keep the look consistent throughout your breakroom.

Coordinate Your Color Scheme

Once you’ve chosen the right furniture, complement it with a coordinating color scheme. From the color of your walls to the theme of your décor, ensure nothing clashes. A harmonious look will tie the whole space together and create the feeling you’re going for.

Offer Convenience and All the Charms of Home

If you make your lunchroom look less like an office and more like a home, your employees will want to spend more time in it. Incorporate home amenities such as televisions, lounge seating, and reading materials to create a comfortable atmosphere everyone can enjoy.

Encourage Employee Collaboration

Some of the best business ideas happen on the fly, so encouraging employees to hang out together over lunch is not only great for their morale, but it can be great for your bottom line. 

You can create a collaborative environment via large tables that provide space for multiple employees, a lounge area that resembles a home living room, or a water cooler that encourages employees to run into each other and chat while filling up their glasses. Likewise, you may also consider incorporating a designated quiet area in your breakroom for employees who want to get some reading done or recharge in peace.

Get the Look for Less: Breakrooms on a Budget

Get the Look for Less: Breakrooms on a Budget

Outfitting an office on a budget takes a lot of research and careful planning to secure the best deal while still getting what your business needs. If it's a beautiful breakroom you're after, plenty of affordable options exist to make your lunchroom look sharp and professional. Read on to learn more about our recommendations for achieving an expensive look for less in your office's breakroom.

Minimalist Look for Less

Want something a little more modern? Clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic at a minimalist price point can be tricky to come by. Fortunately, the Barista collection has the right office furniture to meet your needs. 

You can purchase chairs and stools with or without padded seats for comfort, and the coffee bean or vanilla bean wood back is just right for bringing a modern edge. Breakroom tables in a wide assortment of sizes mean you can create a complete table and chair set for less than $1000.

To incorporate an edgy, modern appeal throughout your breakroom, add chic throw pillows and area rugs to lounge areas and bold, abstract prints to the walls. A large statement clock or gallery wall is ideal for that large, blank wall you’ve been meaning to decorate.

Outdoor Look for Less

Who doesn’t love furniture that can go anywhere, any time? The best way to stretch your business dollar is by incorporating multipurpose office furniture into your breakroom. The best way to do this? Consider indoor/outdoor tables and chairs that can do double duty any time of year. 

These tables and chairs can be used indoors or outdoors, so you won’t need separate pieces of furniture for the different areas of the office. Simply move the breakroom furniture outside when the weather is nice and back in when employees would rather not venture out. Most importantly, many indoor/outdoor chairs and tables are priced well enough for nearly any budget.

Décor will differ depending on the indoor or outdoor application, but we recommend incorporating greenery into both spaces. The right landscaping on your office’s outdoor patio can create an upscale look on a small budget, and incorporating faux plants in your indoor breakroom will give employees a glimpse of greenery even when they don’t want to go outside.

 

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