Encourage healthy habits with break room design

In a post-covid space, the focus of office design is becoming much more employee-centric and we are here for it! We always love to create an office design which encourages healthy habits for employees. In fact, the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) states that employees should be taking regular breaks away from their screen to help with fatigue, motivation and eye strain and an effective break room design can help with this. 

Here are 3 design features you could consider for your break room which will put employees’ well-being at the forefront. 

Well-equipped dining hall/ canteen

This is an important aspect to consider if you have a fast-paced working environment. For many, eating lunch at your desk whilst completing tasks can become a bad habit and it is down to the company to promote eating lunch away and taking a well-earned break. Having your lunch in a separate area from your working space can help to maintain concentration levels throughout the day. 

We recommend a kitchen or kitchenette area which is fully equipped with appliances such as a kettle (essential for your morning brew!), toaster and microwave to motivate employees to eat breakfast and lunch. You can also ensure that your fridge is stocked up with healthy snacks, available to everyone. Fruit and veg, protein bars and snack pots are a great way to promote a healthy lifestyle in the office. 

Informal collaboration

Getting along with your colleagues is key when creating a healthy, welcoming and positive place to work. One way this can be encouraged is to create a space for informal meetings or chats within the office. It may be easy to overlook the positive impact a small, informal chat with a colleague can have on mood, but facilitating this with comfy seating, for example, away from desks can be a great way to stir up some team bonding. 

TV and games

As a follow on from our previous point, including a TV or games in your break room can help motivate employees to take a break away from the screen and bond with colleagues away from topics of the job. Things like football tables, pool tables or board games are all popular options. Having a quick game of pool midday can help to break up the day, and allow employees to have a little bit of down time before returning to work refreshed and motivated. 

Ready for a new break room design?

With over 45 years of design experience, the design team at The DL Company can help you create a more employee friendly space. Why not book for your free consultation with our workspace design professionals who can help give expert advice for your next office refurbishment.