The average person spends an estimated 90,000 hours working in an office or behind a desk. To make that time more enjoyable, productive and profitable, it makes sense for companies to maximize the amenities available to the people they employ. Even something as small as adding a coffee station has been shown to encourage creativity, facilitate collaboration and boost workplace morale, all of which positively impact a business’s bottom line. Just think what an actual kitchen could do! Here are a few tips for designing a multifunctional office kitchen that serves a variety of purposes (beyond serving food) and, therefore, makes the most out of any size budget:
Customize Your Options
What makes a space useful depends on the specific needs of the company designing it. Different companies have different types of office floorplans, different numbers of employees, different goals for the space, and different budgets. For these reasons, designing the perfect office kitchen is not the time for a “one size fits all” approach. An office kitchen able to fulfill the most diverse range of objectives will be the one that has been customized according to the precise requirements of the commissioning company.
Think about the size of both your workforce and the room itself. Consider whether or not your organization requires a full range of food preparation equipment and then tailor your space so the appliances, furniture, storage solutions and other aspects of your design match most of your company’s needs and objectives. Remember, time can and will change every company’s focus, so you’ll want to design a space that allows the easiest future modifications.
Pick a Good Location
Of course, a multifunctional office kitchen must, by definition, be functional in multiple ways. Thus, the best way to ensure the functionality of any kind is to first position your office kitchen in a convenient spot within the office itself. An ideal spot would be central to a majority of workers but still isolated enough that sounds and smells don’t permeate actual working spaces or otherwise serve as a distraction to daily work activities.
Think Outside the Box
Multifunctionality requires creativity. A basic office kitchen provides a place for employees to take a break, grab a coffee and/or eat a meal. A truly multifunctional office kitchen allows for a much broader use of the space. Perhaps the addition of a retractable screen at one end of the room and opting for plush seating rather than wooden opens up possibilities for the space to be used for entertaining clients or having meetings. Likewise, furniture can be used instead of cabinets to hide your utensils, pots and pans, knowing the space will be used for more than just eating. Think outside the box so your office kitchen is as versatile as possible and doesn’t scream “utilitarian,” “boring” or “inappropriate for the task at hand”!
The Key Interiors Advantage
You don’t need a lot of money to design a multifunctional office kitchen, you just need a good imagination. Professional designers like the ones on staff at Key Interiors can help. Our expertise makes us uniquely equipped to recognize the myriad ways an office kitchen might be used in today’s modern world. Please contact us to learn more.
