Anyone who has worked in an open office floor plan can tell you that noise is one of the biggest challenges in these spaces. Without the benefit of walls, these offices are filled with the sounds of people at work, including conversations, phone calls, message notifications, music, typing, and so much more. While it may feel like the cost of doing business in an open office, the truth is that all this noise and the lack of places for privacy and deep focus come with a in terms of the impact on a team’s quality of work and overall mental wellbeing.
The good news is that your open office doesn’t have to be ruled by noise. These days there are a number of different furniture solutions that can help offer quiet and calm without the need for costly and intrusive construction. Let’s explore some of the physical solutions that actually block noise and when you should use them.
Noise-reducing furniture solutions
Acoustic Panels
Made of sound dampening materials such as foam and fabric, acoustic panels can be used to create semi-private spaces and limit the movement of noise in an open office. Panels come in a variety of sizes and can act as make-shift walls or dividers between workspaces.
- Pros: relatively inexpensive, easy to install, flexible configurations
- Cons: privacy is limited, lowest level of sound blocking (approximately 5-15 dB), can reduce collaboration
- Perfect for: small size office spaces and teams, tight budgets
Pods
Small, soundproof, and easy to move, pods are a great solution for offices with tighter floorplans. Pods are typically big enough for one or two people and are great for getting work done, taking phone/video calls in private, or providing quiet spaces for one-on-one meetings.
- Pros: soundproof (30+ dB) and private, can easily be moved by one or two people, compact solution for smaller offices, powered by a standard outlet
- Cons: not big enough for team collaboration, needs to be professionally installed
- Perfect for: small to large size office spaces, small to mid-sized teams
Booths
When a lack of private meeting rooms is the problem, office booths are the answer. Like pods, booths are soundproof rooms that can be added to any office that needs quiet spaces. Unlike pods, booths are large enough to be used for team collaboration, meetings, or private offices.
- Pros: soundproof (30+ dB) and private, comfortably seats two or more people, comes in a variety of workspace configurations, powered by a standard outlet
- Cons: may be too large for smaller office footprints, cannot be moved as easily, needs to be professionally installed
- Perfect for: medium to large size office spaces and teams
All told, though panels can be a good solution for small offices on tight budgets, pods and booths are the best options for meaningful sound blocking and privacy.
Pods and booths in the real world
Office pods at Bally’s Toronto
When sports betting and iGaming provider Bally’s decided to consolidate their Toronto team into a single floor office, they quickly discovered a need for enclosed rooms for deep focus work and confidential calls to enhance the efficiency of their vibrant new space.
To fix the problem, Bally’s Toronto office was looking for something that
- Could be installed quickly without any major construction
- Provided reliable soundproofing
- Would be comfortable and inviting
Bureau’s Tuesday office pods were the perfect solution for Bally’s needs. These compact pods take up less space in their single floor office while providing much needed privacy for everything from quick catch-ups to multi-hour planning sessions.
Meeting booths at MAKR
MAKR, a company that brings creative playgrounds and splash pads to life, had a problem: their large office was in desperate need of small-sized meeting spaces.
When looking for a solution, MAKR wanted something that
- Had the capacity and equipment to host small team meetings
- Came without the footprint or cost of building a permanent room
MAKR chose Bureau’s Quad+ booth to fill the gap in their meeting space needs. Because the booth is fully equipped and ready to use, MAKR was able to immediately add the space to their roster of meeting rooms, freeing up bigger boardrooms and eliminating resource bottlenecks for the rest of the company.
How to choose the right pod or booth for your office
Office pods and booths are true workhorses when it comes to flexible soundproofing and privacy. Choosing the right one for the job often comes down to your space, desired capacity, anticipated use, and budget. Explore Bureau’s range of pods and booths and see how they stack up against your company’s needs.
Ready to learn more about how Bureau’s pods and booths can help enhance your office with quiet, calm, and privacy? Download our product guide to get started!
Share article with your community!
New
