Kitchen office ideas 101 – Guide to how to manage an office kitchen

Although office kitchens are a highly desirable addition to any workplace, they can also cause a number of issues, especially when it comes to keeping the area clean, tidy and organised.

Allowing employees to make a hot drink in the middle of a hectic morning or tuck into a hearty meal for their lunch, office kitchens are extremely convenient. They can also provide a great place to relax, mingle with colleagues, and escape the hustle and bustle of office life. This type of breakout area can be great for staff morale.

Without the right management approach though, an office kitchen can cause conflict amongst your employees, especially around keeping it clean.

Here’s our guide to everything that you need to know about managing your office kitchen. 

What does an office kitchen need?

When you’re setting up your office kitchen, make sure these everyday essentials are on your check list:

  • Core appliances such as a fridge, kettle, microwave, toaster and cooker
  • Utensils, such as forks, knives and spoons
  • Bowls and plates
  • Suitable seating
  • Tables
  • Charging points
  • Water bottles

How to manage an office kitchen

When it comes to managing your office kitchen, it certainly pays to impose a set of rules for its use. Try these:

 Only eat and drink your own food

Taking a fellow colleague’s food and drink is not only highly disrespectful, it is also technically stealing. So, no matter how tempting your colleagues’ meals look, keep your hands off! 

Stick to the cleaning rota

There’s nothing worse than a dirty, messy and unhygienic kitchen. One way to keep your office kitchen sparkling clean is to initiate a cleaning rota, from washing down worktops through to taking out the rubbish. If you don’t have a cleaner, everyone should play their individual role.

Using the fridge

As many refrigerators have limited space, you should only refrigerate food and drink that actually needs to be in there.

Leave appliances and worktops the way you found them

You wouldn’t leave your appliances and worktops in a mess after cooking at home, so you shouldn’t be doing it at work either. So, when you’ve used the cooker or microwave, make sure you clean up any mess before tucking into your meal.

If supplies are low, replace them

Many offices provide basics such as milk, coffee and tea. If you notice that supplies are running low or you happen to use the last tea bag or drop of milk, it’s office etiquette that you replace it.

How to keep the office kitchen clean

With so many people cooking, drinking and dining in one place, it’s no surprise that many office kitchens can become messy, very quickly. With this in mind, you should ensure that all your employees understand the rules when it comes to keeping the kitchen clean and make sure they have the tools they need to clean up after themselves.

How to design an office kitchen

Office kitchens come in all different shapes and sizes. But, as a general rule of thumb, there are some basic design elements to adopt, including keeping the space bright and airy, letting in as much natural light as possible and keeping workspaces clear.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can’t inject elements of your brand’s personality, such as bold colours or exciting features and/or kitchen devices. There are lots of ways to make the space as comfortable and exciting for your staff as possible.

Keep in mind the number of employees you have and how many are likely to use the kitchen. One microwave for 2500 employees isn’t going to be enough!

Your office kitchen layout

There are a few rules that you should follow when it comes to creating an inviting, functional and attractive office kitchen space.

Focus on making your office kitchen as centrally located as possible, and go for an open plan kitchen layout.

If you’re planning an office kitchen, we can help ensure it’s a functional, useful space. Get in touch to find out more.