A Comprehensive Guide To Designing Your Coworking Space Kitchen

The coworking space market continues to grow with a compound annual growth rate of 17.8%. While this impressive growth rate highlights the success of coworking spaces in attracting clients, it also means the market is becoming way more competitive.

This makes it challenging for coworking space owners to stand out, forcing them to be creative with their offerings.

One unique way to stand out is to offer an excellent coworking space kitchen. After all, who can say no to a space that serves up productivity with snacks and an endless supply of coffee and tea?

Read on to find out the benefits of offering a kitchen space to your clients, tips for equipping and designing your kitchen space, and modern office kitchenette examples to inspire your project.

Quick Summary

• Coworking space kitchens can help enhance the member experience.
• When designing your coworking kitchen, you must consider ease of flow and storage space so multiple members can use the space simultaneously.
• Adding a coffee station and multiple seating options to your kitchen can be great for socializing and promoting community.

Why Your Coworking Space Can Benefit From a Kitchen Makeover

Adding a kitchen to your coworking space isn’t cheap. It will add to the overall costs of starting and managing your space. However, a modern kitchenette is an investment that can lead to higher occupancy rates and more revenue.

A kitchen keeps your members fueled while working and also helps make your space more attractive by fostering a sense of community, promoting health and wellness, and creating casual networking opportunities.

Enhance Member Experience

A kitchen provides your members with a convenient space to prepare meals and enjoy a quick coffee break without leaving the premises.

They can heat the leftovers they brought from home, grab the healthy salad they popped into the fridge, or even make a quick and easy meal, such as a sandwich.

The average American spends $3,933 yearly on eating out (about $327 per month). Help your members save money by enabling them to eat in your coworking space.

Ultimately, by making your space as convenient as possible for your members, you’ll give them a good customer experience, which helps you retain members and increase your bottom line.

Foster a Sense of Community

Shared kitchen spaces allow your members to talk and get to know each other. Members can chat while they’re heating up or preparing meals. Some coworking kitchen spaces also have seating areas where people can enjoy lunch together.

While many workers prefer to work remotely at least some of the time, 54% still value the “in-office” experience because it helps them meet new people and collaborate.

Having a kitchen space allows your members to get to know each other and build relationships, creating a sense of belonging and community.

Make sure to make your space accessible for people with disabilities too.

Promote Health and Well-Being

A space nearby to prepare meals can promote healthier eating habits. Members won’t need to run to a takeout shop because they can pre-pack healthy food and store it in the coworking space kitchen.

You can even provide healthy snacking tips if you have a newsletter, sharing features available for use in your kitchen, like refrigerator space and utensils.

Some coworking space kitchens even offer storage space to members where they can store food ingredients and prepare their meals from scratch inside the kitchen.

Another way to promote well-being with your coworking kitchen is by supplying healthy snacks. Having nutritious food available like fresh, organic fruit, veggies with hummus, and protein bars can energize your members while helping them stick with their healthy eating goals.

Create Opportunities for Events and Networking

A well-equipped kitchen makes it easier to host networking events, such as cooking classes, coffee mornings, or lunch-and-learns (which are all great for enhancing customer experience).

It also allows you to rent your space to clients who want to host their own events, providing you with an additional income avenue.

You can use a tool like OfficeRnd Flex to help manage your space and work events into the schedule. This tool allows members to book meeting rooms, desks, and the entire space for events.

Tips for Designing a Coworking Space Kitchen (That Members Will Love)

Consider the equipment, functionality, and layout when designing your communal kitchen. Here are some tips for creating the best kitchen for members so they stay satisfied and return to your space again and again.

1. Focus on Functionality and Flow

Depending on the size of your coworking space, you may have several members using the kitchen simultaneously, so it’s essential to ensure your layout offers enough open space to move around.

Here are some things that your kitchen needs:

• Coffee machine
• Microwave
• Refrigerator
• Dishwasher
• Toaster
• Electric kettle
• Stovetop or hot plate
• Oven
• Cabinets and shelves
• Pantry
• Cutlery
• Cookware
• Dishes
• Glassware
• Serving utensils
• Basic cooking ingredients (salt, pepper, oil, and spices)

Even if the space isn’t big but rather a modern office kitchenette, ensure you still include the necessary equipment and amenities so members can easily whip up a basic sandwich or heat their food.

The same tip could be used when designing a kitchen for a coliving space as well.

2. Create a Social Hub

Incorporate seating where members can sit and enjoy a coffee or lunch together. These short interactions can lead to meaningful connections and friendships among your members.

It doesn’t have to be grand — a few simple tables and comfortable chairs set up strategically can do the trick. You could even use booths to give the space a more café-like vibe, making the kitchen one of the favorite hangout spots.

Plus, you can take it a step further and include a pool table or gaming area next to the kitchen for even more socializing. Not only is this great for connection, but it also gives your members the chance to reenergize during lunch breaks or unwind after a productive day.

Also, don’t forget to add a coffee station. Nearly three out of four Americans drink coffee every day, and close to 70% of Europeans drink coffee at work daily, so having coffee available in your kitchen is a must.

3. Incorporate High-Quality and Durable Materials

Depending on the size of your coworking space, your kitchen will be used by many people. So, choosing materials that are aesthetically pleasing, strong, and easy to clean is essential.

You can choose materials and furniture such as:

• Stainless steel appliances
• Quartz countertops
• Tile backsplashes

In addition to appliances and countertops, you should also choose strong flooring, such as vinyl or ceramic tiles, that can handle a lot of foot traffic.

4. Include Ample Storage Space

Make sure your kitchen has ample storage space, including cabinets, open shelving, storage bins, and lockers, so your members can easily store their food.

Open shelving can store frequently used items such as cups, mugs, or snack jars. On the other hand, storage bins or lockers will allow your members to store their food securely without worrying that another member will take it.

If possible, try to separate the areas with dry and wet storage so members know where they’re expected to store their goods.

Having plenty of cupboards, shelves, and storage space will help give your space a minimalist and clean look when everything is packed away, adding to the overall appeal of your coworking space.

5. Maximize Natural Light

Make sure your kitchen space has a lot of natural light from large windows or skylights. This will create a warm, welcoming, and energizing atmosphere.

Alternatively, if the space isn’t close to windows, you can use well-placed artificial lighting to give it the same effect. Make sure these lights have soft and warm tones. You can place these lights in several places, regardless of whether your space is small or big:

• Above key areas, such as countertops, sinks, or stoves
• Above or on the wall next to dining spaces
• Under-cabinet lighting (which is especially useful for small kitchens)

6. Ensure Accessibility for All Members

Having a more inclusive coworking space can help your space attract more diverse members and build a reputation for thoughtfulness and inclusivity.

This extends to your kitchen area.

You can start by ensuring that your countertops, sinks, and appliances are at an accessible height so people in wheelchairs can also use them. This means you can either use adjustable or lower counters.

You can also use lever-style handles instead of knob handles to make it easier to open cabinets, drawers, and doors.

If you want to take it a step further, incorporate visual and auditory cues. For example, you can buy appliances that are bright or contrasting in color to make them easy to use for people with visual problems.

If your coworking space has low cabinets and is dog-friendly, specify in your rental contract that animals aren’t allowed in the kitchen to prevent the furry bunch from getting into food or breaking cups or plates.

7. Consider Noise

While your kitchen is very important, you also need to remember that the main reason your members join your space is to get work done.

So, you must ensure that your kitchen or any other space doesn’t disrupt people’s ability to work.

Consider using sound-absorbing materials, furniture, and appliances if your kitchen is close to working stations. This is especially important if you have an open space layout.

For example, you can be mindful when buying blenders and dishwashers that make less noise. Also, ensure the flooring doesn’t make loud noises when people walk, or lay out rugs to absorb some of the sound.

Examples of Coworking Space Kitchens

If you’re looking for inspiration to design a kitchen for your coworking space that your members will enjoy, here are a few examples to get the creative juices flowing.

WeWork Garza Sada in Monterrey

This coworking space kitchen has an open design. It offers a kitchen island with seating options so members can chat while eating.

It also has a pool table, so people can unwind during breaks and play a round with their co-members. It has a lot of open space, making it easy for people, including those with physical impairments, to move around, even when someone is busy playing pool.

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The kitchen is also conveniently placed away from the working stations to prevent any noise from disturbing members who are trying to concentrate.

Avilia Spaces — Atrium Saldanha

While this coworking kitchen space is more of a modern office kitchenette since it’s relatively small, it has all the necessities, including countertops, a coffee station, seating, and a kettle.

The space is also warm and inviting due to the natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows and artificial lighting placed above the countertops and coffee station.

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The cabinets, chairs, and countertops combine white, yellow, and green, which complements the rest of the coworking space.

Coworking Space Kitchen vs. Commercial Kitchen Coworking Space

Keep in mind that having a coworking space kitchen is different from having a commercial kitchen coworking space:

• Coworking space kitchens are typically small to medium-sized and primarily designed to enhance members’ experiences. These kitchens only need basic appliances and a clean and inviting design.
• Commercial kitchen coworking spaces are fully equipped professional kitchens used for food production and catering. These kitchens require industrial-grade appliances and need to meet rigorous standards.

You only require a basic kitchen if you have a standard coworking space.

Wait! Are you Using the Right Coworking Software?

If you’d like an easier way to manage your coworking space, you can use a tool like OfficeRnd Flex to automate bookings and billing, collect payments, and communicate with clients.

It’s an easily customizable and powerful coworking management software that can help you automate everything and keep members happy!

FAQ

What Is the Best Coworking Space Kitchen Layout?

Generally, a U-shaped design layout is the best for small and big kitchens because it offers more storage space on three walls. This shape also leaves a lot of open space so people can freely move around without bumping into each other.

However, since many coworking spaces have floor plans with limited kitchen space, you can also consider the one-wall layout, where your countertops, fridge, and other appliances are placed against the wall, with a kitchen island and bar stool seating dividing the space.

What Is the Size of a Standard Coworking Space?

The standard coworking space is around 7,244 feet. It is split 50/50 or 70/30 between workspace and communal areas. Workspace refers to areas with desks, private offices, meeting rooms, and phone booths. Communal areas include kitchens, lounges, break rooms, event spaces, and wellness rooms.

How Do I Organize My Coworking Space Kitchen?

You can optimize your coworking kitchen in several ways to maximize space, keep things decluttered, and make it easy for everyone to navigate. For example, you can install dividers in cabinets so different members can store items separately and neatly.

You can also use pull-out shelves to allow all members, including those with impairments, to reach items easily without bending over or reaching high. Plus, you can label the shelves and storage areas so members know where everything is.