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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.

 

Breakrooms

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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.

How to Create a Beautiful Breakroom

A breakroom done right can provide an area of respite for employees. While we all want to be productive, no one can perform at their best without an occasional break. Breaks are, in fact, a necessary part of office life—and breakrooms provide a designated place for a daily retreat. So how do you ensure that your breakrooms are beautiful and restful? 

Breakroom Basics

Every good breakroom has the basics—comfortable lounge furniture, chairs, and tables. Make sure there is ample seating for everyone, and know that natural light and windows will open up the space and enhance employee satisfaction. Try adding a combination of standard and café tables to make the space appear larger.

If you have an outdoor break area, you should also incorporate picnic tables or dual-use indoor/outdoor tables and chairs that are weather-resistant to ensure employees have a safe and comfortable place to sit. We recommend modernizing your outdoor space by incorporating beautiful but durable plastic office furniture. Options for outdoor use will be weatherproof and UV-resistant to prevent color fading.

Function First

We often face the choice of either functional or beautiful—we want to tell you that these 2 characteristics do not have to be mutually exclusive. Keeping your breakroom functional is essential for providing good traffic flow and ensuring there is space for everyone, but a beautiful space will inspire and allow employees to relax during their breaks.

Multipurpose furniture often features beautiful design and real-world functionality. For example, try incorporating lounge seating into your break area that comes equipped with built-in charging. This will provide a beautiful and comfortable place for employees to sit during their break while also allowing them to use their laptops or mobile devices. Other examples of multipurpose breakroom furniture include multiuse stacking and nesting chairs, folding tables, and the aforementioned indoor/outdoor furniture. 

Don’t Forget Décor

Every breakroom needs some office décor. Artwork, when placed correctly, can make a huge impact, especially if your breakroom doesn’t have windows. Whatever you do, don’t leave the breakroom blank and sterile. You want employees to feel comfortable and inspired when they enter this space.

If you don’t have the wall space for artwork, try incorporating real or faux plants. Plants provide an organic element that can help breathe new life into any room. Throw pillows and area rugs in a breakroom lounge can also create a homelike feel that enables employees to escape the mental challenges of the office.

Beautiful breakrooms inspire creative minds. Take the time to make your lunchroom a place where employees want to spend time, and you’ll be thanking yourself for it in the long run.

 

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