How Can an Office Breakout Area Improve Employee Wellbeing?
It starts with a quiet sigh, a tired stretch, another meeting, another deadline. The rhythm of office life can feel relentless. Without space to decompress, it can quickly lead to burnout.
Many businesses underestimate the value of a well-designed office breakout area. Yet offering a comfortable, inviting space to unwind – even briefly – can change how your team feels, thinks, and works. These zones aren’t just places to pause. They’re essential tools for building a healthier, more connected workplace.
At Jade Aden Interiors, we assist businesses throughout South England in designing breakout spaces. These areas help boost wellbeing, lift morale, and increase everyday productivity. In this guide, we’ll explore the key benefits and share practical ideas for making breakout areas work in your office.
5 Key Benefits of an Office Breakout Area
1. Reduces Stress & Supports Mental Health
A breakout area gives employees a change of pace and a chance to reset without leaving the building. Micro-breaks are great for mental wellbeing. They help lower stress and ease decision fatigue.
Design choices make a real difference. NHS England suggests that adding natural light, indoor plants, and calming colours can really reduce stress. Even subtle changes like adding greenery or softer lighting can lift the atmosphere and overall team mood.
2. Encourages Movement During the Workday
Sitting for long periods can impact physical and mental health, yet it remains common in most office environments. A cleverly situated breakout area allows employees to switch between zones. This boosts circulation and sharpens focus.
Having a mix of furniture, like bar stools, armchairs, and standing tables, makes it simple to switch up your posture. This flexible setup aligns well with agile working and supports healthier daily routines.
3. Boosts Social Interaction & Collaboration
Breakout areas are more than places to relax. They’re perfect for casual conversations and spontaneous teamwork. In a comfy space, staff are likelier to share ideas, ask quick questions, and build relationships across departments.
For example, we recently installed acoustic booths and soft seating for Kiteleys Solicitors in Poole. It gave their teams a quiet but open space for quick catch-ups without disrupting focus zones. Breakout areas like these and partitioning systems help balance collaboration and focus.
4. Enhances Focus & Productivity
It may seem counterintuitive, but stepping away from your desk can help you get more done. Taking short breaks in a quiet, welcoming space allows staff to reset and return to tasks with a fresh focus mentally.
This is especially helpful in high-pressure environments where prolonged concentration is required. A good breakout area helps you think clearly, solve problems better, and make decisions more effectively.
5. Increases Morale & Long-Term Engagement
Breakout areas send a powerful message: your wellbeing matters. When employees feel supported and respected, they’re more engaged, which drives loyalty and motivation.
Our office redesign and fit-out services help companies boost team morale by creating informal spaces. Whether it’s a branded lounge corner or a simple, quiet zone, these environments help staff feel more connected to their workplace and its values.
Design Features That Maximise Wellbeing
We recommend the following design strategies in our fit-outs to help teams relax, recharge, and return to their work re-energised.
Create Comfort & Flexibility
A breakout space should feel different from the main office. One that’s more relaxed and more human. Soft sofas, armchairs, coffee tables, and varied seating heights encourage comfort and movement.
Using modular furniture and movable partitions makes it easy to adapt to the space. Whether staff want quiet time, a one-to-one chat, or an informal group session, the layout can flex to fit. The best breakout areas are versatile without losing their calming atmosphere.
Add Sensory & Biophilic Design Elements
Spaces that appeal to the senses are more likely to reduce stress and improve comfort. Try using natural textures, soft lighting, acoustic panels, and layered materials. These will help your breakout area feel inviting.
Biophilic design – bringing nature indoors – has been shown to support wellbeing and focus. DEFRA’s 2023 Green Infrastructure Framework says being around nature can boost mood and brain performance. Adding plants, natural light, and simple materials to your breakout space makes it more relaxing.
Include Zones for Different Needs
A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. The best breakout spaces feature separate zones for different purposes. You’ll find quiet corners for reading, communal tables for lunch, and soft seating for relaxed catch-ups.
Simple visual cues like rugs, lighting, or screens help define each area without needing full partitions. This encourages staff to choose how they engage with the space and increases overall usability.
How to Involve Your Team in the Design Process
Breakout areas are more successful when shaped by the people who use them. Involving your team early ensures the space reflects real needs and builds early buy-in. A short survey or design feedback session can reveal valuable insights.
Do your staff want:
- Quiet zones
- Conversational corners
- More comfortable furniture
Letting them trial layouts or seating options can guide the final design. We frequently share ideas like these in our office design blog. Our team understands that collaboration helps achieve better long-term results.
Real-World Examples That Inspire
We’ve teamed up with businesses in the South of England, including fast-growing SMEs and global brands. They’ve used breakout areas to improve their workspace and culture.
At Sunseeker in Poole, we created a chillout room with sofas, soft lighting, and a drinks fridge. It offered their team a space that felt more like a private lounge than a standard staff room. 4Com, a Christchurch-based client, requested a more branded, collaborative zone. We added booth seating, used natural textures, and created flexible layouts. These changes matched their identity and promoted informal interaction.
Our projects go a long way in showing how such small design choices can greatly affect how employees feel at work.
More Than a Break
Creating an office breakout area is one of the simplest and most effective ways to support employee wellbeing. It’s not just about taking a break; it’s about building space to reset, reconnect, and return with focus.
Whether you’re planning a complete office fit-out or starting with a tiny zone, the right breakout area can make a lasting difference. At Jade Aden Interiors, we design these spaces with your team, goals, and office culture in mind. Limited consultation slots are available.
Book a free design consultation today and create a breakout space your staff will love.