Office social areas create room for the conversations that happen between tasks. We help workplaces in Dublin and across Ireland bring people together with welcoming settings for a coffee, a shared moment or an informal team gathering.
Spaces That Work
Social Areas That Help
People Feel Part Of The Team
Room To Connect
Welcoming Seating
Considered Layouts
Flexible Settings
Designed Around Your People
Make Everyday Connections Feel Natural
A social area gives colleagues somewhere to spend time together without needing to book a meeting. It might be a comfortable corner, a shared lounge or a larger place for team occasions.
We look at how people already connect and what might make the space more inviting. The location, furniture and atmosphere should give people a genuine choice about how they spend a break, including quieter ways to join in.
Within a wider office fit out , a well-positioned social setting can feel part of everyday office life while staying separate from the work that needs concentration.
Plan With Purpose
Planning Office Social Areas
Find Out How People Gather
Think about everyday use before occasional events. Consider group sizes, the mix of teams and whether people prefer a short coffee break, a quieter conversation or somewhere to sit together for longer.
Connect Without Disrupting
Position the social area where it is easy to find and reach, while considering nearby desks and focus spaces. Keep circulation clear so people moving through the office do not cut through seating groups.
Picture Different Ways To Use It
Our 2D and 3D design service helps you compare seating arrangements and see how a shared area could adapt. Review storage, power and movement when planning for both ordinary days and larger gatherings.
The Details Matter
An Inviting Space In Everyday Use
Office social areas should feel comfortable and straightforward to use. Consider the practical details as carefully as the atmosphere, so the space stays welcoming over time.
Seating & Choice
Office soft seating can make a social area feel relaxed, with a mix of seat heights and supportive options for different users. Arrange groups so people can join a conversation without having to move a roomful of furniture.
Sound & Neighbours
Social conversation brings energy, but it can also carry into nearby work areas. Consider location, separation and acoustic treatment together, especially where quiet tasks happen close to the space.
Power & Shared Events
If the area will host informal team updates, plan any screen and power needs without letting them dominate everyday use. Keep cables managed and agree the intended activities before choosing equipment.
Finishes & Atmosphere
Use colour, texture and lighting to create a change of pace from the main workspace. Choose finishes for regular shared use and consider cleaning, maintenance and how the space will be reset after gatherings.
Ideas For Your Workplace
Office Social Area Inspiration
Social settings can be compact and informal or open enough to bring a wider team together. Explore our office fit-out projects for ideas about scale, furniture and atmosphere.
A Place To Catch Up
Comfortable seating for relaxed conversations between colleagues.
Room To Get Together
A flexible arrangement for everyday use and informal gatherings.
Settings That Suit Your Team
Give People Different Ways To Connect
A social space does not have to mean one big group. A choice of settings can help more people feel comfortable using the area in their own way.
Coffee Corners
A small seating group can support short, spontaneous conversations. Keep it easy to approach and separate from busy queues or walkways so people can pause without feeling in the way.
Shared Lounges
A larger lounge can give colleagues somewhere to spend time together away from their desks. Mix seating groups and include quieter positions, rather than arranging every seat around a single focal point.
Informal Team Gatherings
Where space allows, movable furniture can support occasional team occasions. If food is a regular part of these events, coordinate the area with nearby canteen and breakout spaces and plan how it will be cleared afterwards.
Why Customers Choose iGate Interiors
Your workplace should feel right for your people, with the same care given to how it looks and how it works. Based in Dublin and working across Ireland, we bring design, furniture and fit-out expertise together to help you make confident choices. From the first conversation to installation and handover, our team keeps your people, priorities and budget in view.
Fit-out services we can bring into your project:
Suspended Ceilings
Solid & Glazed Partitioning
Office Refurbishments
Acoustic Panelling
Painting and Decorating
Joinery, Doors and Windows
Washroom Refurbishment
Full Space Planning
3D Visualisations
Floor Coverings
Your Questions Answered
Social Areas FAQs
Useful starting points for your brief, from layout and furniture to everyday use and budget. We’re happy to help you work through the details of your own space.
What are office social areas?
They are informal settings where colleagues can connect outside structured work or meetings. Examples include shared lounges and coffee corners. Their main purpose is to support everyday interaction and breaks, rather than act as another place for scheduled work.
How are social areas different from breakout spaces?
The terms can overlap. A social area puts informal connection first, while a breakout space may support breaks and occasional work away from the desk. Defining the main purpose helps guide furniture choices and how people use the setting.
Can a small office include a social area?
Yes, if the layout has a suitable place for it. A modest seating group may be enough. Consider noise and circulation carefully, so creating a social setting does not make neighbouring workstations harder to use.
How can the space feel welcoming to more people?
Offer different seating choices and group sizes, including places for quieter conversations. Keep routes clear and consider accessibility, comfort and sensory preferences. The space should invite people to join in without requiring everyone to use it in the same way.
Can the area also host team events?
It can, where the size and layout support them. Consider seating capacity, circulation, storage and any presentation needs early. Plan how furniture will be moved and reset while keeping the area useful for everyday breaks.
How much does an office social area cost?
Costs depend on the size, furniture, finishes and any changes to services or partitions. Contact our team with your ideas and the space available so we can help define a practical scope and discuss suitable options.
Let's Talk
Let’s Create a Workplace
Your People Will Love
Planning a new office, refurbishment or workplace refresh? Tell us what you have
in mind and our team will help you shape the next step.
