It is very important to provide your employees with the facilities with which they can work, socialise, and eat in comfort. It is therefore vital that areas such as canteens are well designed, and that they increase morale and provide opportunities for people to spend some relaxing time together during mealtimes and breaks.
This is especially important if your office is located somewhere where it is difficult to go out for lunch – giving them a comfortable canteen space will ensure that they don’t have to eat lunch at their desks, and that they can enjoy a change of environment and relax while eating their meals, and then return to the office refreshed and energised. This will improve the morale of the staff and it can even increase productivity, which is good for your bottom line!
Choosing affordable canteen furniture is, unfortunately, a little more complicated than most people think. It is not just about colour and shape, there are also other factors that need to be addressed by the type of canteen furniture you choose. The layout of the canteen is also of utmost importance. It is important not only to have eating spaces, but also breakout spaces with comfortable furniture, where they can sit and read a book, or enjoy a leisurely coffee. Often, these breakout areas are very useful when it comes to spontaneous brainstorming or discussions while employees enjoy their breaks. They are also useful when it comes to establishing relationships or providing great opportunities to meet other employees or co-workers while on break.
1. Design and comfort: These days, most office managers or business owners invest in furniture that is ergonomically designed. Ergonomic design takes the interaction between the physical body of a person and the object that they are utilising into account. For instance, an ergonomically designed canteen chair will ensure that the posture of the person is comfortable for eating at a table, that the chair is the right height, and that it is easy to get into and out of. Tables need to be the right height and the right size to fit easily into the canteen space. Just because you want to buy affordable canteen furniture, it does not mean that you can ignore great design!
2. Cleaning: When you buy affordable canteen furniture and other items, including chairs, they have to be easy to clean. Keeping a hygienic environment in an establishment where food and drink are consumed and served is very important, and it is vital that it is easy to clean off any spills or other substances that may render the environment unhygienic.
3. Use of space: People will move in and out of the canteen at various times of the day, and there will be times, such as set break times and lunchtimes, when there will be a lot of people in this area. The layout has to be designed in a way that can accommodate everybody who is using the area. The traffic flow has to be directed in a way that eases people walking in and out of the canteen, and prevents the risk of bumping into others going in the opposite direction (perhaps with a tray full of food), or even the risk of bumping into tables or chairs.
4. Look and feel: If you buy affordable canteen furniture, it has to be in line with the rest of the office, which means that it has to carry a similar identity, and have a similar look and feel as the rest of the office environment. It is best to keep the interior well-lit and ventilated, and the use of colour can be important when it comes to a strong company identity.
If you want to buy affordable canteen furniture that will thrill your employees, is easy to clean, ergonomically designed, and very durable, contact our team at Quantum Office Furniture. Our experts can also help to design a great layout for your canteen to make traffic flow easy and to enable a more comfortable environment. Give us a call today to find out more.