If you ask a business owner about breakout areas, there seem to be two main trains of thought. They are either seen as nice-to-haves in addition to employees eating where they spend the majority of their time, at their desk, or they’re essential. We often receive feedback that the breakouts which are incorporated into schemes are one of the most effective, utilised spaces of the fit out.
Which is the truth? In this blog we’ll be taking an in-depth look at breakout areas, what makes them up, what the research suggests and whether they are truly worth the investment.
What Is a Breakout Space, Really?
Simply put, a breakout area is a flexible area of your office space dedicated to informal meetings, relaxation and collaboration. It should be a flexible space and not a single format; it moulds to your team. Depending on how your team works, a breakout space can be all of the following:
- A soft seating zone, utilised for informal catch-ups.
- A hub for collaboration, perfect for brainstorming, including modular furniture.
- A quiet corner for your team to zone out for 10 minutes at the end of their lunch.
- A social space directly next to the kitchen allowing for extra lunch space and important team bonding.
So what’s the common thread between all of these uses? Purpose. A breakout space becomes worth the investment when it provides your team somewhere to go that isn’t a desk, kitchen or boardroom for parts of the day which don’t fit neatly into any of these.
What the Research Actually Says
Sometimes breakout can seem like an afterthought or be dismissed as simply a design trend. The data, however, tells a very different story.
Research from Oxford University’s Saïd Business School tracked almost 1,800 BT call centre workers over six months and found that happier employees were 13% more productive. Crucially, happier workers didn’t work longer hours. They simply achieved more in the time they had. That is a strong case for anything that genuinely improves how people feel at work, and a well-planned breakout space is one of the simplest ways to do that.
Wellbeing gains like this often come down to the details of how a space is designed, and one of the most effective levers is bringing nature into the room. The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace study, reported by Forbes, found that employees working in spaces with natural features reported 15% higher overall well-being, alongside a 6% increase in perceived productivity and a 15% increase in creativity. Breakout areas are often the easiest place in an office to introduce this kind of design through planting, natural light, timber and soft materials, which is exactly why the same research found that offices considering both breakout space and social space saw improvements in concentration, collaboration and confidentiality, not just comfort.
The research suggests that the real benefit to breakout areas is found in improving the well-being of employees. There have been multiple studies linking employee wellness to increased productivity and retention, which makes sense. People who enjoy work and are kept healthy at work are more likely to be able to go in and, more importantly, want to go in.
A Round-Up of Benefits
Wellbeing: Giving employees somewhere to properly step away from a screen, even for ten minutes, reduces stress and supports mental health. This isn’t indulgence. It’s maintenance.
Creativity: Some of the best ideas don’t happen at a desk under fluorescent lighting. A change of environment, softer furniture and a more relaxed setting genuinely change the way people think and problem-solve together.
Collaboration without friction: Not every conversation needs a booked meeting room. Breakout spaces remove the friction from quick, informal discussions that would otherwise get delayed until the next scheduled meeting or not happen at all.
Flexible use of space: A well-designed breakout area rarely does one job. The same space might host a relaxed lunch at midday, an informal client meeting at 2pm and a team brainstorm at 4pm. That flexibility matters, particularly for businesses working with limited square footage.
Retention and culture: Space sends a message. A breakout area shows employees that the business has thought about their day beyond the desk, which matters more than ever when competing for talent.
What People Get Wrong
Unfortunately, not all breakout areas deliver on the promise of providing a space which suits the alternative needs of your employees. The issues we see are sadly all too predictable.
The main issue we see is treating the breakout space as an afterthought. To make the space effective, it should be considered from the start, taking into account your employee surveys. When left later in the process, it can end up being squeezed into whatever corner is left once desks and meeting rooms are properly planned.
Another frequently occurring issue is acoustics. A breakout area positioned next to quiet working zones, or built with hard, reflective materials and no soft furnishings, can create more noise complaints than it solves. We’ve written in detail about why office acoustics fail and how to diagnose the issue properly, and adjacency to breakout spaces comes up as a common culprit.
Finally, some breakout areas are simply underused because nobody explained their purpose to the team. Or on the other hand, no one asked the team what they needed from the space; therefore, it doesn’t suit their needs. If staff don’t know a space exists for informal meetings or quiet thinking time, they will default to their desk out of habit.
So, Is The Investment Worth It?
For most businesses, yes, we would recommend some type of breakout area, as it boosts well-being and, therefore, productivity. Dependent on space and it being planned in from the outset rather than an afterthought. It’s key to remember that a breakout area doesn’t have to be expensive to be effective. What really matters is getting the fundamentals correct. Choose the right location, install the right furniture, select effective acoustic treatment and listen to what your employees need the space to be.
Are you planning an office fit out, refurbishment or just looking to shake things up? We’ve helped businesses across Bristol and throughout the South West optimise their space. If you’re looking to take the first steps, contact us today.