Interior Design for Office and Corporate Kitchen

Innovative and progressive companies pay special attention to the interior design of their office spaces. They know that a stimulating environment leads to motivated, engaged and, ultimately, more productive employees. The Corporate Kitchen is transitioning from a cramped, drab lunchroom with pockmarked wooden tables and uncomfortable benches into a warm, inviting gathering place with brushed-steel appliances and bar-stool seating.

Everyone needs to take a break from work. A chance to step away from the desk, grab lunch or a snack, and, likely more than once a day, pour a hot cup of Joe. These excursions can be more relaxing and energizing if there is a designated common kitchen, or bistro, which is designed specifically to benefit and facilitate your employees.

Bear in mind a few considerations when planning out your office kitchen masterpiece:

Workflow: Think about how your employees will be using the room. Will they be preparing and cooking food? There is a natural process to self-serve food of preparation, cooking, serving, then cleaning. Once you know the requirements, you can start to plan fixtures and layout (the next considerations, keep reading).

Appliances: What appliances will you need to accommodate your employees? If they will be storing food, you may need one or two refrigerators. You will likely need a couple microwaves but additional cooking appliances could include a stove, oven, toaster and coffee maker. And don't forget a dishwasher for washing up; you may need two depending on the volume of dirty dishes so they don't end up on the counters or in the sink. Decide what appliances you need and what size each should be so you can work them into the layout.

Layout: Now that you have a list of major appliances, you can design a floor plan that takes workflow and the required appliances into consideration. Work with the space you have available or consider moving existing walls or counters to free up more space. You will need to plan for a sink and may need to refine your appliance list if space doesn't allow for everything you want to fit in. Now you also need to consider how much dining space you can provide as well. It's really a balancing act to determine the best allotment of kitchen and dining space.

Fixtures and Furniture: Time to think about lighting, counter space, seating, dining surfaces, cupboards and drawers. Choose materials that are easy to clean and keep clean. Make it easy for your employees to clean up, which is typically the least enjoyable part of the meal. The lighting should be crisp over the food preparation area at least, but you probably want to keep the whole area bright so that break time doesn't turn into nap time.

Decoration: Finally, you can polish off the room and add some style. Given the flexibility of the office kitchen, it's a great opportunity to integrate your brand into the decoration or compliment your corporate culture with a unique theme and design.

The interior design efforts in your office Corporate Kitchen can pay off in dividends. It's a break time gathering place, an after work hangout, and a functional room to eat lunch. It can help foster community among st your employees and could be used as a "town hall" meeting venue or impromptu work group space. Consider getting your employees involved in the designing process; it is a fantastic opportunity to get them involve with a physical improvement to their work environment.