small break room ideasNo matter what industry you’re in, it’s essential to provide an area where your employees can take a break. Your break room does not have to be large, but during long shifts, your employees should have a place where they can grab a snack, store their personal belongings, eat their lunch, or take a minute to recharge their batteries.

But with employees going in and out all day, even the most well-intentioned break rooms can quickly become disorganized and chaotic. This could present a problem, as a messy break room is far from relaxing. It could even have a detrimental effect on your team.

We believe that organizing improves productivity and morale. Luckily, we have several small break room ideas to help you take it from disorganized to relaxing!

The Benefits of a Great Break Room

employee breakroom caseworkAny great employer knows that their employees cannot focus on one task for an unlimited amount of time. Brain breaks are necessary to keep creativity flowing—especially in the workplace.

Giving your employees a place to relax and socialize boosts productivity and employee morale. If your team knows that you care about their well-being, they are more likely to enjoy their jobs and remain dedicated to your team. 

A great break room is an inviting space for your employees to socialize. Encouraging this will create a sense of community that will improve the way your team works together. When your employees feel bonded and comfortable, they are more likely to discuss more creative solutions to company problems.

A small break room is also important when it comes to recruiting new talent. A lot of people in the workforce are searching for jobs that provide perks and comforts. If your company can say that you provide a well-stocked and welcoming break room, you open yourself up to a larger employment pool.

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How to Create a Small Break Room

With real estate at a premium for most businesses, you may be wondering where you would even fit a break room into your existing workplace. To build an enjoyable and useful space, you don’t need much in the way of square footage. These small break room ideas prove that a small employee break room can be just as efficient and inviting as a larger one.

small breakroom caseworkWhile smaller square footage can lead to storage and utilization challenges, a well-researched storage solution plan can combat that problem. Over the years, Southwest Solutions Group® has provided innovative and efficient break room solutions to all types of businesses and government agencies. We have worked with spaces of all sizes to create the break room our clients need.

You should start by considering one of our modular laminate break room casework cabinets. They are completely customizable, allowing you to design the solution you need while staying within your budget. These cabinets will probably take up the majority of a small space, so it is the perfect structure to design your break room around. Once you know how much room your desired cabinets will occupy, you will have a better idea of how much space you have available for additional furniture like chairs and tables.

Another perk of starting with modular casework cabinets is that they allow you to build a kitchenette from scratch without the expense of built-in millwork. You can include things like microwaves to eat up meals or refrigerators to store meals and drinks. They also include cabinets and drawers to store things like silverware, coffee mugs, or water glasses. This helps keep your break room neat and tidy while giving your employees access to the items that they need. They are also moveable if you should ever need to relocate your break room.

How to Make the Best of Your Break Room Space

When you’re keeping essentials like snacks or paper products on hand for your staff, you will need break room storage. This is especially important if you have a small break room that is prone to clutter. From simple shelving to automated cabinets, you can find a variety of storage solutions that will help keep your small break room neat and organized.

Your employees are using this space to relax, but a disorganized break room is anything but relaxing. Installing break room shelving will eliminate the mess and give your employees designated spaces for their items and for items you provide, like free coffee or snacks. A well-stocked and well-organized break room is exactly what your employees need to de-stress from their busy shifts!

break room storage lockersYour employees are also probably bringing personal belongings to work like cell phones and backpacks. To create a safe space for your employees to store their personal belongings while they are working, install storage lockers in your break room. If you have a small amount of space, you might want to consider smaller cell phone lockers

If you have more floor space and your employees need to bring more belongings with them to work each day, consider larger lockers, like backpack lockers, which provide your employees with more space to store things like backpacks or purses. 

Businesses concerned about security will appreciate our keyless lockers equipped with digital keypad locks. We have installed these secure lockers in all types of locations from schools to commercial businesses. Digital keypad locks take out the stress of managing multiple keys for multiple lockers. They can also track locker usage, which is another layer of security for your employees.

Why You Should Choose Southwest Solutions for Your Small Break Room Ideas

We believe in creating an organized and dynamic workplace. This includes your break room!

Since 1969, Southwest Solutions has provided businesses across the country with small break room ideas and innovative break room solutions. We have worked with every industry, from schools and universities to industrial warehouses and manufacturing facilities, to plan, design, and build relaxing break rooms of all sizes.

When you partner with us, we work with you every step of the way. Our experienced and knowledge planning and design team will help you create the best solution for your break room needs. Once it is designed to your satisfaction, our certified factory-trained installers and service technicians get to work building your break room. Most of our installation team leaders have been with us for over 10 years, and our team has over 300 years of service combined.

If you need some help making your break room an organized and inviting space for your employees, contact us today.