Expert insight: How to design a lounge area in the office

A lounge area in the office serves several functions today. It is a place for spontaneous meetings, shorter work sessions and social breaks that contribute to a sense of community and innovation. It is also often in the lounge that visitors get their first impression of the organisation.

In this article, Mathilda Arned Nord, Category Product Manager at Kinnarps, shares her advice on how to create a successful lounge, from planning to material and furniture choices that stand the test of time.

Define how the lounge will be used

A common mistake when designing a lounge is to start with the furniture before defining how the space will be used. A lounge can, for example, function as a meeting place, a social hub or a waiting area. Sometimes several of these at once.

“When the purpose of the lounge is clear, it becomes easier to create an environment that is used, not just passed through. It influences everything from layout to the choice of furniture and technology,” explains Mathilda.

The entrance and lounge set the tone

In many offices, the lounge is an extension of the entrance. To ensure visitors immediately get a positive impression, it is important that the environment reflects the organisation’s brand and identity, and that the flow further into the office is clear.

The space may need to support collaboration, meetings and individual work. This places demands on a functional environment that feels open and accessible without appearing cluttered. Thoughtful use of colour and layout helps visitors and employees quickly understand the space and find their way.

Mathilda Arned Nord, Category Product Manager, Meeting

Screens, strategically placed storage and furniture with high backs create separation and a sense of focus without making the lounge environment feel enclosed.

The lounge table as a gathering point

A larger lounge table often serves as the hub of the lounge. People are naturally drawn here for conversations, work or a cup of coffee. The table should ideally be generous in both length and depth, allowing multiple people to collaborate or work individually at the same time.

Here, the Brace table is a good option. It is a series of meeting tables in different heights, shapes and sizes, with space for both individual work and informal meetings. Combined with chairs such as Embrace or stools at the right height, it creates a natural gathering point that is used throughout the day.

Varied seating creates a vibrant environment

Seating in different heights and designs is characteristic of a lounge in the office. It gives the environment a dynamic and inviting feel, while also improving seating ergonomics during the working day. With sofas, chairs, stools and tables in different heights, the lounge supports varied seating and allows the space to be used in multiple ways throughout the day.

For more active seating at higher tables, the Embrace bar stool is a good fit. It provides a seat that works well for shorter work sessions, quick check-ins or meetings where you want to keep the energy up without settling in for too long.

“A table height of 900 mm creates a natural dynamic in the meeting. When seated, you are at roughly the same height as someone standing, which encourages conversation,” explains Mathilda.

For conversations, waiting or breaks where comfort can take priority, a generous modular sofa with soft shapes can be used, such as Oas. By combining different types of seating, you create a lounge that is used more.

Embrace bar stool

Oas module sofa

Brace meeting table

Power and technology – a natural part of the work lounge

A key to creating a successful lounge is to integrate technology into the furniture from the start, in a seamless and well-designed way. When technology is easily accessible, it becomes natural to use the lounge for both work and meetings.

Three tips for successful power integration in the lounge:

Choose a solution that matches how the lounge will be used. A lounge table with screens between seats, for example, requires more power outlets than a table designed for collaboration.

Plan cable management carefully. Hide cables or choose furniture where power is integrated in a neat way.

Make sure power is available throughout the lounge, whether in a sofa group, an armchair or at a lounge table.

The Brace table offers a wide range of solutions for seamlessly integrated power, always with well-considered cable management and a single plug connection.

Fields lounge sofas are another example of furniture where power can be integrated directly into the solution.

Storage that creates meetings

Personal storage, such as lockable staff lockers, is a natural meeting point during the working day. By placing them adjacent to the lounge, you create activity and movement while encouraging spontaneous meetings.

The Capacity storage series includes modules with both seating and integrated power. They function as storage, room dividers and informal meeting points.

Address acoustics for a comfortable sound environment

As lounge environments are often open, they place high demands on the acoustic environment. Without well-considered acoustic solutions, the space risks feeling cluttered and difficult to work in, especially when several activities are taking place at the same time.

Mathilda’s tips for a better sound environment in the office lounge:

Choose upholstered furniture for improved sound absorption.
Sofas and armchairs with high backs provide visual screening and contribute to a better acoustic environment.
Suspend screens from the ceiling to divide the space and reduce reverberation.

Plants create a sense of calm

Green plants contribute to a more pleasant lounge environment, both visually and acoustically. They help to diffuse sound and can be used to create natural divisions within the space. For example, use the Grow, Hedge or Allé plant storage to divide the lounge into different zones.

Learn more about how to design with nature and get a positive effect!

Lounge design that supports the tasks of the working day

A well-planned lounge in the office is characterised by the fact that it is used. It is a place where conversations happen without the need for booking, and where meetings strengthen collaboration, innovation and culture.

With the right furnishing, the lounge can also be used for presentations, internal events or larger gatherings. Additional seating, such as the Cap stool, tables on castors and technology that can easily be brought forward make the space more flexible and useful, for example during client visits.

“Many organisations lack meeting rooms today. The work lounge then becomes an important complement that can also be used for several different activities. With the right planning and furnishing, the lounge becomes a vibrant centre of the office and a natural part of the working day,” concludes Mathilda.