by Semify
Creating the perfect teacher’s break room is a way for your staff and employees to decompress during a long day at work, especially during high-stress periods of the year. When you are in charge of creating a teacher’s break room, there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind along the way. The more cognizant you are of your teacher’s needs and demands, the easier it will be for you to incorporate a winning strategy that is sure to please those who currently work in your school.
1. Provide Plenty of Open Space
Once you are given a location for your teacher’s break room, consider providing as much open space as possible. Using an open floor plan is a way to help give the impression of a much larger space, which can help teachers feel much more relaxed once they enter the room to decompress during the day. Avoid cluttering the breakroom with too many pieces of furniture, including tables and chairs.
2. Paint the Interior Walls
Even if you are on a budget and need to save money, you can still transform the entire look, feel, and atmosphere of any teacher’s lounge you’re creating by painting the interior walls of the space. Painting the interior walls of any break room you’re in charge of managing and maintaining is a way for you to truly bring the space to life, even if you are on a strict budget at the time. Fortunately, even if you are unable to hire a professional interior commercial painter to get the job done, you can do so on your own with the proper gear, equipment, and high-quality paint in your possession.
3. Invest in Comfortable Furniture
Depending on the budget you have available at your disposal, you may also want to consider investing in new cabinetry. Most cabinets on average range in width from 12 to 36 inches, according to Bob Vila, which is important to keep in mind if you are thinking of creating a brand-new layout in your break room. Investing in new cabinetry is a way to provide your teachers and employees with additional countertop storage space and storage space in cabinets for personal items and belongings.
4. Provide Relevant Decor
Depending on where your school is located, the type of decor you choose to implement is likely to vary. In America today, there are more than 30,000 private schools alone, according to CAPE. If you’re in charge of a private institution or charter school, you will also want to determine what type of decor and furnishings are appropriate for any teacher’s break room you’re creating. Adding relevant decor to go along with the current season or holiday is also a way to boost morale in the workplace.
5. Add Useful Amenities
Incorporating useful amenities will demonstrate the respect and appreciation you have for your teachers and employees. Amenities may include coffee makers, microwaves, nap pods, and even smart TVs with access to the internet. Make sure everything is up to code and extremely safe in order to avoid lawsuits. Just as a reminder, in Texas, the “statute of limitations” on personal injury lawsuits is two years. Avoid this altogether with the right equipment.
6. Offer Free Snacks and Drinks
Providing free snacks and drinks in any teacher’s break room is key to ensuring the morale remains high at all times. Provide teachers with vending machines, sodas, and even free snacks, including healthy fruits and vegetables to provide the fuel they need each day. Switching up the snacks and drinks you offer will also keep your teachers happy and excited to come to work.
Creating the ideal teacher’s break room is not difficult once you have a vision in place, and you understand what your teachers and staff need most throughout their days. With the right creative vision in mind and a working plan of action, you can completely transform the teacher’s break room in any school, big or small. The right teacher’s break room will not only provide your staff with a safe space to decompress and relax, but it will also help keep workplace morale high year-round.
