Offices
Breakout Area Furniture Planning for Offices
Specify the occupied size, operating clearance and route into the building before choosing furniture by catalogue dimensions.
Explore the ideas
Compare the options
- Set the brief
- Use templates at the size of the actual furniture. Include seated users, open drawers and reclined positions where relevant.
- Compare
- Decide which items need to move independently and which benefit from built-in anchoring.
- Before buying
- Confirm that the largest pieces can turn at the entrance, lift lobby and corridor, or specify assembly in place.
Worked example
A living room sofa must fit through a tight stair turn and leave room for a side table and a reclined seat.
Compare modular sections with a fixed sofa using the actual stair and doorway measurements. Include recliner extension and table reach in the room template before selecting upholstery.
How to test it
Overlay the furniture in its stored and in-use positions, then check both against the measured plan.
Apply it to this space
- Layout
- Place soft seating near team areas but buffer it from focus desks with storage or a change in flooring.
- Detail
- Combine wipeable tables with comfortable upholstery and a separate local light switch.
- Trade-off
- A central lounge is easy to reach but spreads conversation noise widely.
- Listen from the nearest desk
- Check that furniture leaves a direct route through

The Elixir portfolio
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