From football tables to lounge rooms. How informal office spaces help people connect
From football tables to lounge rooms. How informal office spaces help people connect
A modern office is no longer only a place to work, with lots of chairs, laptops and meetings. It is also a place where people build relationships, take short breaks, exchange ideas and feel the culture of the company. This is especially important in hybrid work. If employees can work from home, the office needs to offer something they cannot get alone at the kitchen table.
That is why informal office spaces matter. Lounge rooms, gaming corners, relaxed kitchens, soft seating areas and football tables can change the way people use the office. They make the workplace more human and help teams connect without another meeting in the calendar.
That is why informal office spaces matter. Lounge rooms, gaming corners, relaxed kitchens, soft seating areas and football tables can change the way people use the office. They make the workplace more human and help teams connect without another meeting in the calendar.
Informal spaces matter
The best ideas do not always appear during official workshops. Very often they come during coffee breaks, after a short game or in a relaxed conversation between people from different teams. Informal spaces create room for these moments. They lower the pressure and make communication easier.
For employers this is about building stronger teams. A good lounge area can help new employees feel welcome. A shared table can turn lunch into conversation. A gaming corner can bring together people who normally work on different projects.
A softer side of the office - lounge rooms
A lounge room gives employees a different rhythm during the day. It can be used for a quick break, an informal meeting, a relaxed call or a conversation that does not need a formal conference room. Comfortable sofas, armchairs, low tables, warm lighting and good acoustics can make this area one of the most useful places in the office.
The key is to design it properly. A lounge should not feel like a leftover corner with random furniture. It should have a purpose. In sectors such as tech, finance, consulting or forex, people need places where they can reset their minds and come back with more energy.
Gaming areas are not just a distraction
Some companies are still afraid of gaming areas. They worry that employees will waste time. In practice, the opposite is often true. A short match at a football table, a quick game of pool or a few minutes at a console can help people clear their heads. It also gives them a reason to talk, laugh and compete in a friendly way.
This kind of space works best when it is designed with intention. It should not disturb people who need silence. It should also fit the character of the company. For some teams, a small football table is enough. For others, a larger playroom with billiards or table tennis can become part of the culture.
Football table can be a design object
RS Barcelona is a family-owned company from Spain that turns game tables into real design pieces. Their football tables are not cheap, standard office accessories. They are beautifully made objects that can become a highlight of an office, hotel, lounge or private home.
They also offer practical value. With a glass top, a football table can quickly become a dining table or a meeting table. The brand offers many accessories and personalisation options. The players can be dressed in company colours, and details such as hair, faces or body shapes can be customised. This creates the “wow” effect.
Informal spaces help people return to the office
If a company wants employees to visit the office more often, the space must give them a reason to come. A desk alone is not enough. People come for atmosphere, contact, comfort and moments they cannot fully recreate at home.
A well-designed informal zone can become a real magnet. Employees may come for a team meeting and stay for lunch. They may have a quick game after a difficult call. They may meet someone from another department and start a conversation that later becomes a useful idea.
How to design these areas well?
The most important rule is balance. Informal spaces should support work, not replace it. They need good location, proper acoustics and the right furniture. A loud gaming area next to focus desks will create frustration. A lounge without comfort will stay empty.
The office should offer both energy and calm. It should include places for focus, collaboration, private calls and relaxation. When these zones work together, employees can choose the right setting for the moment. This makes the office more flexible and attractive.
TENGO creates offices people want to use
At TENGO, we design offices that combine function, comfort and character. We help clients choose solutions that match their team, brand and way of working. Sometimes that means acoustic booths and ergonomic workstations. Sometimes it means a lounge room, a gaming area or a beautifully crafted RS Barcelona football table.
Informal office spaces are not just decoration. When designed well, they help people connect, relax and generate better ideas. They make the office feel alive.
Informal office spaces are not just decoration. When designed well, they help people connect, relax and generate better ideas. They make the office feel alive.