A study by the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Kansas looked at the effects of the break room on employee wellbeing. It found that 80.3% of employees in the hospitality industry have suffered from some form of burnout, and that the physical employee break room environment is critical for psychological well-being.

So your employee break room should be more than just a room with a table and some chairs where people can sit. It has an active impact on team morale, productivity, and even mental health! It needs to count.

So let's look at some break room ideas that can help your team members relax in their down time. We'll also cover some specific ways to make the break room easier to manage using digital signage screens.

1. Create quiet zones for rest and reading

A good break room should have space for employees to truly switch off, and that's what a quiet zone provides at the end of the day. These can be easy and inexpensive to create, too. Use partitions, soft furnishings, and gentle lighting to block out distractions and create a sense of calm. 

You can also add a few comfortable chairs or recliners, and consider soft textures like rugs or upholstered panels to reduce noise. Whether someone wants to read a book, scroll through their phone, or take a short nap, a quiet zone helps them reset before heading back to work.

Break room ideas aren't just for squeezing extra productivity out of employees; they’re also a place for connection. A social lounge with couches, café tables, or communal benches can encourage casual conversations and help teams bond naturally. 

Think of it as a relaxed, café-style space where people can enjoy a coffee together or have spontaneous chats that spark new ideas. Keep it open, welcoming, and flexible so it can double as a spot for informal meetings or team celebrations too.

3. Create an activity and recreation area

Physical movement helps break up long stretches of sitting and keeps people energized. If working from home has taught us anything, it's that even the smallest corner of a room can be used for light exercise, stretching, or quick games. 

You can even add a foosball or ping-pong table to your office break room if space allows, or, keep a few yoga mats and resistance bands for short movement breaks. These simple additions can lift morale and promote healthier habits, making the break room a place where people return to work feeling refreshed.

Here are some other creative office design ideas to explore:

The Mystery Box Wall: A wall of small locked boxes that employees can open once a week

Mini Zen Garden Station: A tray with sand, pebbles, and tiny rakes for short mindfulness breaks

“Hot Takes” Board: Employees anonymously post their most controversial (but harmless) opinions

Build-a-Meme Corner: A small whiteboard or screen where people can create and update memes about office life.

Desk Plant Adoption Center: A rotating shelf of small plants employees can “borrow” for a week to brighten up their desks.

Read more: Best creative office space design ideas to explore

4. Choose ergonomic and modular furniture

The right furniture makes a big difference to comfort and usability, especially in an office break room. Choose ergonomic chairs and tables that support posture and can be easily rearranged for different activities. 

Modular furniture, like stackable stools or movable chairs, gives you flexibility to reconfigure the space for group lunches, solo downtime, or quick huddles. A setup that adapts to people’s needs will always feel more welcoming and practical.

5. Maximize natural light and layer your lighting

Lighting can completely change how a space feels. Natural light boosts mood and focus, so try to position seating near windows or skylights wherever possible. For darker corners, layer lighting with warm ambient lights and softer task lamps instead of harsh fluorescents. T

he right mix creates a balanced environment in your break room that feels bright during the day and relaxing after hours.

6. Improve air quality and bring in nature

Fresh air and greenery instantly make a break room more inviting. Use plants, green walls, or small planters to introduce natural elements that help clean the air and reduce stress. Keep the space well-ventilated with open windows or air purifiers to avoid stuffiness, especially in rooms with lots of foot traffic. 

Fun break room ideas can be as simple as adding a bit of entertainment employees can access throughout the day. For example, adding a TV or music system can create a more relaxed atmosphere, while digital signage screens double as a tool for sharing company updates, fun facts, or motivational sayings, or even workplace safety quotes.

You can even rotate content throughout the day, with news in the morning, training highlights in the afternoon, and team messages at the end of the shift. All these help you create fun at work.

8. Use digital bulletin boards for updates

Paper noticeboards are easy to miss and hard to keep current. Digital bulletin boards make communication faster and cleaner. Use them to display announcements, HR reminders, meeting schedules, or upcoming events like brown bag sessions and all hands meetings in real time. 

Here's what's so great about the digital bulletin boards: Because updates can be managed remotely, it’s simple to keep information fresh without reprinting or pinning up new sheets. It’s a small upgrade that helps everyone stay informed without clutter.

A simple table can become one of the most useful spots in the entire break room. Instead of leaving it as just a place to eat, think about all the ways it can encourage team bonding:

Host board games or puzzles during lunch breaks to encourage social interaction and friendly competition.

Set up a sign-up sheet for potlucks, volunteer days, or office challenges to make participation easy and visible.

Use it for team lunches where departments can sit together, chat, and unwind.

Turn it into a creative zone by laying out idea cards, company surveys, or a suggestion box.

Display rotating themes, like a seasonal décor area or celebration table, to keep the space feeling fresh.

10. Display digital employee recognition boards

Recognition is a really powerful tool for building a positive workplace culture in your company. It even has extra long term effects like encouraging team mates, and helping to build lasting working relationships.  

Digital employee recognition boards make it easy to celebrate wins, birthdays, and milestones where everyone can see them. It doesn't matter if you have a large or small employee break room. Screens let you spotlight valuable employees all the same. 

You can use your office digital signage to share customer compliments, highlight team achievements in real time, and even assign "employees of the month" for the entire office to see.

11. Show social media walls with live posts

Turn your break room into a place that celebrates company culture in real time. A social media wall can stream live posts from your organization’s channels or specific team hashtags. Whether it’s photos from company events, customer shoutouts, or internal achievements, it helps employees see the bigger picture of what’s happening beyond their own department.

It’s also a fun way to encourage people to share moments from work and feel part of a connected, active community.

12. Run quick training or learning content

Short, visual training clips are easy to absorb during downtime. Use digital screens in your staff break room to share quick tutorials, safety reminders, or product updates in bite-sized segments. 

This turns idle time into an opportunity for learning without feeling like another meeting or task. Over time, these micro-sessions can help reinforce important knowledge and keep everyone up to date without interrupting their day.

Read More: Using digital signage for employee training

We've covered a lot of staff break room ideas for helping your people wind down. But break rooms can also help  strengthen team spirit. We've seen businesses use interactive screens to bring people together in creative and unexpected ways. Try using them for:

Group games like trivia, quizzes, or team challenges that encourage friendly competition.

A DIY photo booth setup where employees can snap and upload photos that appear instantly on the screen.

A fun weekly ritual, such as sharing a “meme of the week” or celebrating small wins every Friday.

A question of the week board where staff can vote or comment digitally to spark conversations.

A giant family photo album showcasing team photos, past events, and shared memories.

14. Offer coffee, tea, and healthy snacks

No break room feels complete without good refreshments. Stocking a mix of coffee, tea, and healthy snacks helps keep everyone fueled throughout the day. Think beyond the basics of putting a coffee machine in the workplace break room. 

You can offer espresso pods, herbal tea options, filtered water, fruit, and protein bars. If you have the space, add a mini-fridge for fresh snacks or yogurt. 

15. Include charging points and power outlets

The best break room ideas help staff with small inconveniences. One of those is accessible charging. Add USB ports and wireless charging pads near tables or seating areas so employees can top up devices while they rest. 

It keeps phones, tablets, and even laptops ready for use without cluttering desks or outlets around the office. 

Add lockers, shelves, or small cubbies so people have a place to store personal items, utensils, or work gear. It’s a great break room idea that keeps things organized and makes cleanup easy. 

You can even dedicate a shared “community shelf” for items like extra mugs or snacks to encourage employees to share and take care of the space together.

Interactive walls are simple yet powerful tools to boost morale and encourage teammates to connect. Try a “question of the week” board, a rotating theme wall, or a space where employees can share weekend photos or ideas. 

You can use a bulletin wall or bulletin board for this too; as long as employees can easily access the information. But we recommend digital bulletin boards because it saves the trouble of having to print out props. This is one of those employee break room ideas that keeps the atmosphere fresh and collaborative.

18. Build a small office library or reading nook

A quiet reading area is a great break room idea that helps people recharge mentally. Stock it with books, magazines, or even e-readers that employees can borrow or swap. You could include everything from business reads to fiction or hobby guides; whatever sparks interest. 

19. Set up a wellness and mindfulness corner

Encourage teammates to take short breaks that support both body and mind. A small wellness area with yoga mats, stretching tools, or mindfulness cards helps relieve stress and keeps morale high. It doesn’t have to take up much space. Just a small area with soothing lighting and simple prompts can remind people to pause, breathe, and reset during a busy day.

Every comfortable space should also feel safe. Keep a stocked first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and clearly labeled emergency exits nearby. Make sure electrical outlets, cords, and appliances are checked regularly for safety. It might not be the flashiest of employee break room ideas, but it’s one that protects your team and gives everyone peace of mind while they unwind.

Improving your break room experience with digital signage

Whether it’s a quiet reading corner, a lively social zone, or a digital screen displaying team shoutouts, every detail in the break room helps shape how your team feels at work. Small changes like adding recognition boards, training clips, or social media walls can boost morale and strengthen connection across teams.

ScreenCloud makes that easy. Our digital signage platform helps you share updates, celebrate wins, and improve communication across every location using the screens you already have. So if you’re looking to create a more engaging, people-first break room, try ScreenCloud for free or book a demo today.

Make your workspace more relaxing with these 20 employee break room ideas. Learn how simple design updates and digital tools can help your team recharge and stay engaged.

20 Break Room Ideas to Improve Your Employee Experience

Your employees deserve a relieve and creating the perfect break room is key. Stuck on how to curate a space your employees love? Here are some leading break room ideas, from set-up to activities and even digital signage.

20 Break Room Ideas to Improve Your Employee Experience

20 Break Room Ideas to Improve Your Employee Experience

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