With the prevalence of the open-plan layout and the rise in hybrid and flexible working patterns, the modern office needs to recognise and adapt to the requirements of the modern workforce. They should offer flexibility and adapt to the more fluid working styles that have resulted from employees working from home.

What is an office booth?

Office booths, also known as focus booths, are a compact solution, designed to offer employees a quiet, semi-private space away from the noise and distraction of shared workspaces. They are often open at the top– imagine two very high-backed chairs facing each other (like a table for two in a restaurant) with a wall attached to one side connecting them both. The partial side panels create a snug, enclosed feel without full isolation.

Whether they're used for tasks that require a great deal of focus and attention to detail, private (and potentially confidential) calls, or team meetings, these booths provide a flexible and efficient way for a business to support diverse work styles.

Why are office booths becoming so popular?

The open-plan office layout used to be lauded as the ideal, encouraging collaboration in the workforce, but since they have become the norm, many have realised that this layout often sacrifices privacy and the ability to focus. The constant background buzz coupled with the lack of visual boundaries, can be overwhelming and result in a lack of productivity. Booths offer offices a low-cost, high-impact way to improve their existing office design. Many are modular and don’t require permanent installation, making them a flexible option that is easily integrated, which can just as easily be relocated or removed as needed, to help maximise the usefulness of your office.

They are a powerful tool for zoning; the addition of a booth strikes the right balance between the open-plan office style and the more old-fashioned style with partition walls. Booths offer both comfort and visual privacy for collaborative meetings. While not enclosed like a room, they serve as a subtle spatial cue that someone is in a “do not disturb” mode. They achieve this without the need to build walls, successfully providing spatial definition while maintaining the flow of the space.

Also, booths are an excellent addition to a workspace from an acoustic perspective– the upholstered walls and high backs and seat cushioning make great sound dampeners, absorbing sound, reducing echo and noise disruption in large, open rooms, helping to reduce the ambient noise, significantly improving the overall soundscape, and therefore concentration and productivity, of a busy office.

What kinds of booths are there?

Many have deeply cushioned seats for comfort. You can opt for a booth with panels on one side of the seating for a more open-access collaborative space, or a more enclosed type, with panels on both sides for greater privacy and solitude. Some booths are designed for one person, and some are large enough to seat up to four people.

They don’t have to be purely functional– there’s a design for almost every aesthetic, whether your style is classic, minimalist, bold, or geometric.

Many incorporate things like built-in tables, power outlets, USB ports, storage, and even lighting, effortlessly merging comfort, technology, and design into one solution.