Break out areas are an increasingly popular feature in modern offices, and it’s not hard to see why. These multifunctional working spaces can be designed to meet firms’ specific needs and they are great as a means of facilitating collaborative working.
Traditional meeting rooms often get booked up well in advance, meaning it can be hard for workers to have spontaneous discussions and brainstorming sessions if. Break out zones provide a handy alternative.
If you’re keen to create an area like this in your office, here are some top design tips to bear in mind.
Choose a suitable location
First and foremost, it’s important that you choose a good location. Ideally, the area should be separated from your main office so that when people have discussions there, they don’t disturb other workers.
Also, the spot you select for your break out zone must be a suitable size. You might not want to take up too much valuable square footage, but there is no point in trying to squeeze this space into an area that is too small. This could restrict the number of personnel who are able to use it at any one time.
Invest in display equipment
Because effective communication is at the heart of break out zones, it’s a good idea to invest in some effective display equipment to enable your staff members to share their ideas. For the best results, try to take full advantage of the impressive technology now on offer. You might want to invest in special units that employees can connect their laptops, tablets and other devices to. These systems enable people to display and disseminate information on screen in an instant.
As well as hi-tech solutions like these, some more traditional display equipment can come in handy. For example, flip charts and whiteboards can prove useful and they are inexpensive too.
Create a relaxed and comfy environment
Break out areas should be comfortable and relaxed, so good seating is a must. You can be a little more playful with the products you choose for this part of your office too. Rather than going for traditional chairs, you might want to purchase fun, colourful seats that are specially designed for less formal settings. You could also introduce some oversized cushions to the space for those who want to sit on the floor.
Rather than using regular desks, think about incorporating coffee tables. These items have a more chilled out look and feel, making them perfect for brainstorming sessions.
Consider refreshments
To help keep your workers’ energy levels up, it’s worthwhile incorporating refreshments into this part of your office. You might decide to include vending machines selling drinks and snacks. Water dispensers and coffee machines are also likely to prove popular among your employees.
You could think about offering free fruit in this room too. Keeping a bowl topped up with apples, bananas and oranges doesn’t have to cost you much money, and it could help to boost employee morale.
Set the right mood with carefully chosen decor
To complete your break out zone, you’ll need to make sure it benefits from the perfect decor. Some vibrant colours could work well in the space, especially if you’re trying to encourage creativity. It’s also worth thinking about including some inspirational artwork.
Another great touch is to introduce a photo wall where you and your personnel can display snaps of work nights out and other events. Extra touches like this can help to foster a sense of community between your workers, which can further enhance collaboration.
Stocking up
When you’re searching for items to fill your break out area, you can head to firms such as Furniture At Work™. It specialises in providing seating, tables, display equipment and more.
