Why is a School Staffroom so Important?

Schools are busy places, so working in them can be demanding at times. That’s why every member of staff, from teachers to caretakers, need a staffroom to take a break and return feeling re-energised.

Indeed, a dedicated staffroom is a great place for some downtime – but they can do so much more. From boosting morale to encouraging social activity, a well-designed school staffroom brings a number of additional benefits to staff.

In this article, we explore those benefits and give school refurbishment examples to provide inspiration for your own education interiors. With reference to our school staffroom refurb projects, we’ll show you the key design features that make up a successful space.

Read on for plenty of school staffroom ideas…

Five Important Functions of a School Staffroom

Below, we’ve identified five key functions of a staffroom based on our experiences as a school refurbishment company:

1) A place to eat, drink and re-energise
2) A place to work
3) A place to find out information and news
4) A place for wellbeing
5) A place to socialise

Let’s explore these in more detail…

1. A Place to Eat, Drink and Re-Energise

According to the NHS, good nutrition is vital for energy and vitality, mental wellbeing, immune function and even long-term health. That’s why it’s important to have a space where staff can take time out from the hectic school day and enjoy a drink and bite to eat.

Here are some ideas…

Tea Points

Everyone loves a cuppa during breaks, so providing a zone where staff can make drinks to stay hydrated is a must for all school interior designs.

As shown in the image above, hot water instant zip taps can speed up the process of making a drink to maximise their time during breaks. Alternatively, a good coffee machine brings Starbucks-style variety to a space.

A Variety of Furniture

Variety is key when it comes to school staffroom furniture. By offering a range of options, you can support a variety of needs, such as work, relaxation and dining.

Many of our staffroom interior design schemes include a range of options for eating and drinking. These include breakfast bars, re-arrangeable modular seating, diner style booths and coffee table settings.

Much of these school furniture solutions are made with wipeable materials, helping to maintain good hygiene standards.

Take Dulverton Primary School’s vibrant staffroom as an example. It includes a dedicated dining area with wipeable surfaces, providing a hygienic solution without compromising on style.

Food Prep Facilities

A good tea point will also offer food prep and storage facilities. For example, you can have microwaves integrated within the kitchen units, giving staff the option to heat up their own food (and have an alternative to the canteen’s menu!)

Related service: school staffroom design

2. A Place to Work

A teacher’s day doesn’t end when the bell rings. Before they leave or during free periods on their timetables, they may have to mark work, write reports and make lesson plans. Furthermore, they may have meetings planned with other staff members.

This is where a staffroom really shows its value. Rather than just providing a place to eat and unwind, it can be an area where they can double down on the tasks mentioned above.

Here are some ideas…

Semi-Enclosed Booths

Semi-enclosed booths offer a balance between privacy and maintaining a connection with the rest of the room. These are ideal for laptop work – especially given they can be made with integrated plug points.

Related project: Haringey Sixth Form College

Good Acoustics

If you are going to promote the staffroom as a place for work, good acoustics are key.

Note how the booths at Haringey Sixth Form College above include acoustic panels internally within the seats. Furthermore, the space includes hanging acoustic ceiling features shaped like birds in flight.

Both features have properties that help to reduce noise pollution, including distracting echoes travelling from the nearby hallway, to aid quiet, focused working.

Laptop Stations

As an alternative (or in addition) to booths, consider introducing individual laptop stations like those at James Allen’s Girls’ School. Note how they are situated by the power points to allow people to double down with a laptop and work.

The layout is also perfect for informal meetings, catch ups and collaboration with colleagues.

3. A Place to Find Information and News

Over at Salisbury Primary in London, we introduced several staffroom noticeboards as part of a school refurbishment. With these in place, teachers and other staff members can pin up messages, news and any other important information for others to see.

If you like this idea, consider using the noticeboards to provide information and resources relating to staff wellbeing. This could be information about employee support programmes or even morale-boosting messages of recognition.

4. A Place for Wellbeing

Leading on from our last point about wellbeing, a well-designed staffroom can support good mental health and help teachers perform at their best.

Given that schools are challenging both in terms of student demands and performance expectations, staffrooms are a vital addition.

Here are some ideas:

Calming Wall Features

Wall features are a great way to set the tone for a school that promotes positive wellbeing.

For example, Bannockburn School introduced a dandelion feature wall in its staffroom to create a calming haven. Not how this compliments the colourful furniture perfectly for a relaxing summer vibe.

If you’re not sure what to use for your feature wall, why not get the art students to create a concept for you? They’ll love to see their idea brought to life and contribute to a positive school atmosphere.

A Calming Colour Scheme

According to Dulux, the colour of ocean and sky is favoured by many because they help to relax the mind. A light blue pastel colour is especially good for creating a soothing environment that helps people to clear their head and lower blood pressure.

In addition to calming colours, consider shades that are associated with positivity to enhance happiness. For example, Dulux recommends Copper Blush, as it’s bursting with positive energy.

Many of our school fit out clients combine colours like these with a neutral white, creating a calming balance without overdoing it. We often combine the white with colours from the school’s branding too, making for a fitting, effective palette.

5. A Place to Socialise

According to PhD sociologist Tracy Brower (author of Secrets to Happiness at Work), the workplace plays a major role in helping people to build and nourish connections. In fact, three in four people make their friends at work, so areas like staffrooms serve as important ‘connectors’.

Given that this is the case, make sure that you introduce furniture and features that encourage connection building.

Here are some ideas:

A Tea Point for ‘Water Cooler’ Moments

We know we’ve already mentioned this, but it’s important to use again to emphasise our point. A tea point is a great place for spontaneous interaction – especially when it includes an enticing coffee machine.

Who knows, chatting for someone in the queue for a cappuccino could be the start of a meaningful, long-term relationship.

Shared Dining Furniture

Simply put, shared dining furniture offers a place where people can sit together and mingle. As shown above, some round coffee tables surrounded by chairs will do the trick, allowing people to chat away and start building relationships.

That being said, we don’t recommend forcing people to socialise. If they’d prefer some ‘me’ time, consider offering options like booths or individual laptop stations (see point 2) that provide a little more privacy.

Modular sofas are also useful because they can be broken up into individual seats. This brings us to the next point:

Modular Sofas

As we’ve mentioned modular sofas are great because of their versatility. However, in their simplest form as a sofa, they can be a great vehicle for connection building while offering comfort.

Check out the example above from Bannockburn. The small communal area is tailormade for connection building, with the long sofa, coffee table and chairs, and a TV where people can catch up (and discuss) with the latest news.

Why is a School Staffroom so Important? Conclusion

Ultimately, making staff members happier is at the heart of a good staffroom design. By providing a place where people can grab a coffee, socialise and relax, you will undoubtedly contribute to improved wellbeing and morale.

As in any walk of life, those who are happy in their profession will thrive. So, if the teachers and other members of staff are happy, then this will have a positive knock-on effect on the students.

Who would have thought such great things could start with a humble staffroom?

Are You Considering a School Fit Out or Refurbishment?

Ready to create a dynamic environment where your staff can thrive? Let Rap Interiors transform your school’s staffroom into a space that boosts morale, productivity, and well-being.

Contact us today to start your school staffroom refurbishment and discover how a well-designed space can make a real difference.

Please call 0333 600 1234 or fill out the enquiry form below.