Office Kitchen: Options & Ideas
An office kitchen should be cosy, stylish, as functional as possible and convenient. In its design, preference goes to simplicity and restraint — and this nuance is important to consider during the renovation. The format of the kitchen depends on the office’s size and the number of employees: from a compact kitchenette to a full canteen.
This guide gathers the ways to set up an office kitchen and ideas for arranging it — layout, zoning, appliances and solving the typical problem of small rooms. The rules of interior design are covered in detail in the separate article Office Kitchen Interior: Design & Layout.
Ways to set up an office kitchen
A kitchen-dining room is best organised in a separate room. Depending on the scale of the company, the format can vary:
- A kitchenette and a transformer kitchen — ideal for small offices where every metre matters.
- An island kitchen — a good choice when there is a bit more room: a compact unit lets you fit the necessary amount of dishes and kitchen items.
- A full canteen — for large offices with a separate, spacious room.
The main thing is for the unit to be compact but roomy, with plenty of space left over.
Size, zoning and location
The size of the kitchen is determined by the number of employees: if there are no more than 10, the room usually takes up to 30 m². The first stage of setting up is creating a project, which must take into account sanitary standards, the client’s requirements and the number of staff.
The space can be zoned with partitions or a bar counter — such division saves room and adds comfort. Location has its own rules: the kitchen is recommended to be placed away from the conference hall, reception and the director’s office. Importantly, for sanitary reasons the kitchen should not border the restroom.
Materials, appliances and communications
The kitchen’s functionality directly depends on the connection to communications — the water supply and ventilation. So the basic principles of setup are:
- a compact but roomy unit;
- calm colour shades for the furniture;
- simplicity in decor and plenty of free space;
- a mandatory ventilation system;
- avoiding glossy surfaces;
- connecting the hood and water supply.
The kitchen can be equipped with a coffee maker, an electric kettle and a toaster, and if needed a dishwasher and fridge added. More on choosing materials and appliances is in the article on the office kitchen interior.
Colour and light for a small kitchen
Small, dark rooms are often set aside for a kitchen, so the problem of insufficient light has to be solved separately — first of all with additional lamps for the dining zone. The lack of lighting is compensated for by:
- mirrors;
- 3D images;
- light furniture colours;
- attractive decor;
- glass partitions that let light through (more in the article Glass Office Partitions: Types & Benefits).
The interior colour should be universal: a foolproof option is light and pastel shades that don’t cause discomfort. Furniture is chosen simple and moderate, and an abstract painting or an information board makes a nice finishing touch for the room.
Office kitchen with Partner Create
Choosing the right materials, furniture and appliances and planning the dining area well is best done with professionals. Partner Create is a reliable contractor with extensive experience that provides a full range of services: from a project that accounts for sanitary standards to delivery under general contracting.
The kitchen is worth planning as early as the design stage. Examples of completed offices are in the office spaces portfolio.
Office kitchen in brief
- The kitchen format depends on the office: kitchenette, transformer kitchen, island or full canteen.
- Size is determined by the number of employees (up to 10 people — a room of up to 30 m²).
- Partitions and a bar counter help zone the space.
- The kitchen is placed away from meeting rooms and the director’s office, and not next to the restroom.
- Functionality depends on connecting the water supply and ventilation; appliances range from a coffee maker to a dishwasher.
- A lack of light in dark rooms is compensated with mirrors, light colours and glass partitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The format depends on the office size: kitchenettes and transformer kitchens suit small rooms, an island kitchen with a compact unit suits medium ones, and a full canteen in a separate spacious room suits large offices.
The size is determined by the number of employees. If there are no more than 10, the room usually takes up to 30 m². Exact parameters are determined at the project stage, taking sanitary standards into account.
The kitchen is placed away from the conference hall, reception and the director’s office. For sanitary reasons it should not border the restroom. The optimal location is determined as early as the design stage.
The lack of light is compensated with additional lamps for the dining zone, as well as mirrors, 3D images, light furniture colours and glass partitions that let daylight reach deeper into the room.
Set up your office kitchen with Partner Create
An office kitchen is a convenient dining area that doesn’t disrupt the working atmosphere. Partner Create will select the format, materials and appliances and deliver the kitchen alongside the engineering networks and the overall office design.
Explore our work in the portfolio, read useful materials on the blog, or get in touch to discuss your project. Call +38 050 388 24 49.
We also recommend Office Kitchen Interior: Design & Layout and Glass Office Partitions: Types & Benefits — they will help with the kitchen design and zoning with light.