The break room is not simply somewhere to grab lunch and spend time on your smartphone. It's a place to stretch your limbs, enjoy a well-earned escape from your workload, and connect with coworkers on a personal level.
It's also where overworked brains—and strained eyes—have an invaluable opportunity to power down between tasks, which is actually a critical part of managing a crazy work schedule and remaining productive throughout the day.
So is it time to retire those aging armchairs, replace those care-worn couches, and truly acknowledge the importance of your company's most important shared space? Here are a few factors to consider before you buy break room furniture.
Couches in the workplace
Choosing a couch for the break room is not the same as choosing one for your home. For instance, seating in shared spaces is likely to experience much heavier daily use by people of all shapes and sizes. That means durability and build quality become prime concerns, as does your choice of material.
You want your seating to be comfortable but you also want it to last, so try to achieve a balance between luxury and sturdiness. With this gorgeous mid-century modern sofa from Modway, you can do just that. Its slender legs create subtle sophistication, but don't be fooled: this handsome three-seater has a very impressive 1,200lb capacity.
For added resilience and peace of mind, look out for couches with wipe-clean, color-fast materials. Flash Furniture's Diplomat series offers leathersoft upholstery, which combines leather and polyurethane for softness, durability, and effortless cleaning.
Vinyl is also a great choice for wipe-clean maintenance. This loveseat by Regency is a particularly good choice for break rooms with its swiveling tablet arms, inset cup holders, and convenient under-seat shelving.
And don't forget the dimensions. Coworkers are constantly moving in and out of shared spaces like these, so your break room will need much more open floor space than your living room at home. Make sure your new couches aren't so large that they will block access to doorways, cupboards, and appliances.
Armchairs fit for the office
Although many of the same concerns about couches apply to armchairs, their smaller stature gives you greater opportunities to mix and match—and make a strong style statement in the process.
If it suits your company's style, consider an eclectic mix of club chairs, beanbags, and ottomans. Your break room may start to feel less like an afterthought and more like a stylish gastro pub—and who wouldn't want to unwind and socialize in a space like that?
Of course, the benefits are not limited to aesthetics alone. If you create a diverse blend of comfortable seating, there'll be something for everyone. Not feeling the bonded leather tub chair today? No problem. Just grab your laptop and settle into the chrome and vinyl lounge chair instead.
More comfortable ways to dine at work
If you have the space, use your couches, armchairs, and end tables to create a lounge area within your break room—but don't forget that most people will primarily use this room to enjoy refreshments. So for every plush leather recliner or brightly colored wingback chair, you have to provide a number of seats and surfaces for people to tuck into their breakfasts, brunches, and lunches.
Break room sets are great for most spaces. This Regency table and chair set, for example, has a modest footprint, stackable chairs, and can be easily wheeled away as and when required. Just remember to place round tables at least five feet apart in order to leave room for chairs and for people to move between them.
You may also be able to vary seating height. Mix in bar-height furniture to give people the chance to stretch out and stay alert rather than lounge, relax, and maybe even lose their train of thought. After all, the break room can be a great place to collaborate—especially over coffee—so it's a good idea to provide at least a couple of seating options that facilitate face-to-face exchanges.
What happens when you get your break room right?
As modern professionals come to expect more from their employers' break rooms, businesses have been presented with a great opportunity to meet and even exceed these expectations with just a few smart furnishing and design decisions.
From plush couches to stylish armchairs, barstools, and conference chairs, this is your chance to show your appreciation for your people and help them create stronger bonds with each other. You may even impress visiting clients—and there's no doubt that an eye-catching break room can be a powerful recruitment tool when applicants arrive for their interviews.