Tired of passing by a lackluster break room with no signs of life or respite from the demands of work? We’ve got you covered with tips to create a break room that suits your office space and ideas to make the most of it.
Break rooms offer a positive change in scenery and serve as a hub for socialization, productivity and relaxation at work. When designed correctly, they help create a positive environment that boosts employee morale and improves work performance. The best part? You don’t have to break the bank.
We’ve compiled budget-friendly break room ideas to help you spruce up your office and promote a healthy workplace culture. Get ready to transform your break room into a space that leaves employees refreshed and inspired.
Break Room Design Ideas for Your Office Space
The key to a successful break room transformation is making the most of the space you have. Whether your office is small, mid-sized or large, here are employee break room ideas that suit your needs.
Small Offices
When it comes to a smaller break room design, careful planning will help you take advantage of every inch of your space. Start by prioritizing the essentials. A comfortable couch, a few chairs and a table are functional pieces that will encourage employees to socialize or relax.
You’ll also want to include an area for employees to grab coffee or a snack. Providing convenient refreshments offers a wide range of benefits like increased energy and the opportunity to engage with others. If there’s room, add a magazine rack or bookshelf. Offering reading material shows employees it’s okay to get their minds off work.
Lastly, bring your small space to life with innovative materials and thoughtful use of color. If you need somewhere to start, Texture Plus offers a wide range of original materials that add depth and visual appeal to the walls, making your break room feel more dynamic and welcoming.
Mid-size Offices
Optimize your space by prioritizing comfort, collaboration and positive energy. Start by offering a range of seating accommodations with varied heights and styles. From high stools to cozy armchairs, diverse seating will invite employees to partake in different interactions like a quick catch-up, enjoying lunch together or connecting for a short meeting.
Further inspire collaboration by investing in fresh and modern furniture. While pieces should undoubtedly be comfortable, visually appealing furniture will help create an inviting atmosphere employees want to spend time in. Consider the room’s light sources too. Natural light and a good view can enhance the experience in your break room and help create a positive mood.
Additionally, choose a design theme that aligns with your company’s culture and values. Thoughtful consideration of wall panels and décor can help elevate the space, encourage creativity and create a positive feeling in the workplace.
Recreate this look with Texture Plus’s Antique Select Brick Faux Wall Panels – Interlock
Large Offices
Large break rooms provide exciting opportunities to create versatile and multifunctional areas that cater to a wide range of needs. Larger offices can accommodate cafés, cafeterias and booth seating, offering diverse dining options to enjoy meals.
Take advantage of your space by including casual meeting spaces and opportunities to socialize. Incorporating lounge areas and game zones provide employees with a place to decompress while fostering a sense of community. If possible, porches, terraces and outdoor seating can promote employee health, as there are many benefits to natural light exposure and fresh air.
Lastly, think about designing a modern office break room that can transform into an onsite location for town halls or large company-wide meetings. Considering all these aspects in the break room design phase will help create a dynamic space that promotes collaboration, satisfaction and overall well-being.
8 Essential Break Room Upgrades Employees Will Love
Take your break room to the next level with these eight essential upgrades. From furniture to refreshments, the best employee break room ideas offer something for everyone.
1. Provide Free Coffee
Free coffee benefits employees and the company alike. Providing coffee and other essentials like cups, milk, stirrers and sugar will save employees the hassle of making their own morning brew or having to stop somewhere on the way to work.
This perk will promote punctuality and help employees get started on the right foot. Plus, access to free coffee throughout the day will help employees recharge, stay energized and remain productive.
2. Stock the Kitchen
Offering free snacks and refreshments goes beyond satisfying employee hunger and thirst — it’s a way to show you genuinely care for them. Provide options that support different dietary restrictions and nutritional needs to ensure everyone feels included and valued.
The kitchen is a great place for employees to socialize and get to know each other. Giving them a reason to head to the break room will ignite conversation, lead to productive brainstorming sessions and spark a sense of camaraderie that can strengthen relationships and teamwork.
Recreate this look with Texture Plus’s Historic Brick Faux Wall Panels
3. Invest in Comfortable Furniture
Just like in your home, comfortable furniture is always a worthwhile investment. In addition to promoting relaxation, it enhances the aesthetic appeal of your office break room design. Purchasing essential furniture like a couch, chairs and a table to eat at is a must. These functional pieces help create a welcoming environment where employees can socialize, unwind and recharge when they need a break.
Recreate this look with Texture Plus’s Ledgestone Select Faux Wall Panels
4. Create a Quiet Relaxation Corner
Whether it’s a nap zone or a couch, designate a corner of your breakroom for quiet relaxation. Offering space for employees to decompress will show you truly value their well-being. Try providing earplugs or relaxing music too. When employees can legitimately relax, they will return to work with more energy and be more productive.
5. Offer Activities and Entertainment
Help employees get their minds off work by investing in a TV, games, or other activities for your break room. Non-work activities like darts, foosball, board games, video games or puzzles can help break up the workday and encourage team bonding. Just be sure to offer options for employees with different tastes and preferences. Not sure where to start? Try asking your employees what kind of entertainment they’d be interested in.
6. Don’t Forget to Decorate
The break room should be a place people want to spend time in. Create a positive ambiance by investing in paint, decorations, art and plants. If you’re looking for budget-friendly breakroom décor ideas, incorporating natural textures like stone and wood via faux wood panels can have a calming effect while adding visual appeal.
Recreate this look with Texture Plus’s Cinder Block Interlock Faux Wall Panels
Level up your space by adding functional decorations too. Bulletin boards or chalkboards can keep employees informed about company-wide happenings or events. Plus it’ll encourage them to draw, write notes and communicate with one another.
7. Shake Things Up
Keep things fun and interesting by hanging seasonal decorations, offering new snacks, and hosting occasional friendly competitions. Mario Kart break, anyone? Or how about a cookie swap? Finding ways to continuously improve and make the most of your break room will create a sense of excitement and allure all year long.
8. Welcome Team Contributions
At the end of the day, your break room is for your employees. Don’t be afraid to ask for employee break room decorating ideas and other feedback. See what they think of snack options, seating areas and activities.
When developing a modern break room design everyone will love, remember the best staff break room ideas stem from collaboration. Asking for employees’ opinions will help them feel their opinions are valued and culminate in a space they can’t get enough of.
10 Budget-Friendly Break Room Activities to Improve Workplace Culture
Creating a positive workplace culture doesn’t have to be expensive. Check out these ten break room ideas on a budget, so you can make the most of your space without breaking the bank.
1. Weekly Questions
Help employees get to know each other by breaking the ice with a question of the week. Post the question somewhere everyone will see it, like the bulletin board or your breakroom fridge and encourage participation by placing sticky notes and pens nearby.
Start by keeping it simple. Try asking a ‘this or that’ question, like Cats or Dogs? And let your employees know where everyone stands by sharing a tally of the answers at the end of the week. Don’t be afraid to ask more thoughtful questions too. Asking about new year’s resolutions, summer plans or favorite memories can create opportunities for conversation and relationship-building.
2. Company Clubs
Why not try bringing together those with a shared passion in the workplace? Consider starting a cooking club, coffee club, crafts club or any group your employees may get excited about.
Hosting monthly, weekly or quarterly meetings in the break room will encourage employees to gather and get to know each other. For example, kick start a cooking club by inviting employees to partake in a quarterly potluck where they bring a favorite appetizer or themed dish. Or start a coffee club where members can try new local blends (or compare two options in a taste test) at the beginning of every month.
3. Snack of the Week
Mix up your snack selection by offering unique items every month. Seeking out snacks from local vendors or foreign companies can excite the taste buds and give employees something to look forward to.
You can encourage employees to share their favorite snacks too! Food is a universal language. Inviting everyone to share their favorite bites can start a conversation, open employees’ eyes to foods they may never have heard of and give them a good reason to break up the work day.
4. Photo Zone
Nothing gets the conversation rolling like a good photo. Pick a theme and encourage employees to print and post a picture in the break room every month. From pets to childhood photos and images of their favorite place, a photo zone can help employees share what’s important to them and get to know each other beyond traditional water cooler talk.
If you’re up for more of a challenge, try creating a DIY photo booth too. Hang a colorful background and bring in props so employees can snap a fun picture during their coffee or snack break. Starting a collage in the break room will create a fun, livelier environment.
5. Fun Games
There’s nothing like the power of friendly competition. Board games are great team bonding activities that help employees de-stress. Invest in games that involve different numbers of players or see if employees are willing to bring in games they may have lying around the house.
If you’re looking for something more active then table games like foosball, ping pong or mini-basketball hoops are also an excellent way to get employees’ minds off work. Just be sure to ask your team what they enjoy most so you don’t waste money or valuable office space on games that may go unused.
6. Team Lunches
Encourage employees to spend time with one another by organizing team lunches. Order in, invite everyone to bring something they’ve prepared or plan a potluck. Leveraging shared break time to create a sense of comradery in the break room can foster communication between departments and inspire longer, more thoughtful conversations.
7. Health Initiatives
Sitting at a desk for long periods isn’t great for your health. The break room is a great place to inspire your team to stay active and keep moving. If you have the space, provide simple workout equipment, offer classes like yoga or zumba, or promote wellness challenges employees can do together.
Creating a shared health goal, such as a weekly or monthly steps challenge, is a great way to team-build. Take advantage of your bulletin board to track progress and encourage employees to support each other along the way.
8. Arts & Crafts
Help employees unwind by tapping into their creative side. Promote arts and crafts by providing supplies like colored paper, markers, paint and anything else you can find. Making it easy to create easy crafts in the break room can be a great way to bring employees together and, as a bonus, you’ll have some hand-made decorations for your office.
9. A Message Board
Message boards and bulletin boards are an entertaining way for employees to connect without being in the break room at the same time. Encourage employees to ask their colleagues a question of the week, share exciting news or communicate with one another. This blank canvas can really put the fun in functional.
10. Mix & Mingle
Schedule events that encourage employees to meet new employees or engage with members from different departments. Brainstorming solid workplace break room ideas doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Meetups can be casual or focused on a chosen theme or activity to help break the ice.
For example, host a board game event, trivia night, bake-off or monthly birthday celebration to recognize your hard-working employees.
Conclusion
Use these ideas to help you design a modern break room that suits your office space and allows your employees to make the most of it.
From small employee break room ideas to large corporate spaces, thoughtful design and the strategic placement of furniture and amenities are key to creating a place where employees can unwind, connect and recharge.
If you’re ready to transform your breakroom, visit Texture Plus for affordable, easy-to-install faux wall panels that create an aesthetic employees will enjoy for years to come.
