Massage Chairs & Other Wellness Room Ideas for Work

Successful companies recognize that the better they treat their employees and attend to their needs, the more productive they are. Creating a positive work environment is also critical for attracting top-level candidates for position openings and retaining the best talent. One of the ways some companies have opted to take employee appreciation and care a step further is with office wellness room spaces.

Today, we’re looking at wellness room ideas for work that help employees manage their daily workloads better, promote better overall health, and put an emphasis on employee care. Having a wellness room at work will make a noticeable positive impact on your company culture.

What Is a Wellness Room at Work?

What exactly is an office wellness room? A wellness room at work is a space within a workplace dedicated to promoting employee well-being, relaxation, and self-care. It serves as a sanctuary where employees can take a break from their regular work tasks and engage in activities that support their mental, emotional, and physical health. 

A wellness room should be designed to provide a calm environment free from distractions, where employees can recharge, de-stress, and focus on their personal well-being. It may include amenities and resources such as comfortable seating, relaxation tools, exercise equipment, calming decor, and privacy features to cater to a variety of wellness needs.

Considerations for Designing a Wellness Room

Wellness rooms are a great way for businesses to show they truly care for their employees’ mental and physical well-being. Creating a wellness room at work should take into consideration the most common necessities your employees may benefit from. It’s a great way to promote holistic health care practices to maintain high morale and a positive work environment.

Some of the considerations you should have for wellness room ideas are:

• Stress reduction and management: Wellness room ideas should provide employees with a space to unwind and alleviate stress. Taking regular breaks in a calm space can help reduce stress levels, leading to increased focus, productivity, and overall well-being. Tools like massage chairs are excellent additions to help with stress management and much cheaper than keeping an in-house massage therapist on staff.
• Mental health improvement: By offering a designated space for relaxation and mindfulness, a wellness room contributes to better mental health. Employees can take part in activities such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or simply take a few moments to clear their minds.
• Physical wellness: Incorporating exercise or stretching areas as part of a wellness room encourages physical activity and supports employees' physical well-being. Whether it's yoga, stretching exercises, or light workouts, these spaces provide opportunities for employees to take care of their bodies, reduce muscle tension, and improve posture.
• Work-life balance: Having a wellness room at work shows an employer's commitment to promoting work-life balance. It sends a message that employees' well-being is valued and that they are encouraged to prioritize self-care. This can lead to increased job satisfaction, improved morale, and better retention rates.
• Higher productivity: When employees have access to a wellness room at work, they can recharge and relax during their breaks. This leads to improved focus and productivity. Taking short breaks in a calming environment can help prevent burnout, increase energy levels, and enhance cognitive performance.
• Employee happiness: An office wellness room is an employee benefit that contributes to overall job satisfaction and engagement. They create a positive work environment that prioritizes employee well-being, leading to higher levels of employee morale, loyalty, and a better company culture.

Types of Wellness Room Ideas for Work

There is no one way to create a wellness room for work. Instead, take time to consider what your employees need and will benefit from the most, then use that to inspire your wellness room ideas and design.

A few types of wellness room ideas that may be perfect for your employees are:

• Mindfulness or meditation spaces
• Relaxation wellness rooms
• Mothers wellness space
• Exercise and stretching room
• Nap rooms
• Quiet rooms
• Wellness library
• Nature-inspired wellness room

1. Meditation or Mindfulness Space

This type of wellness room is designed to provide a tranquil environment for employees to practice meditation or mindfulness techniques. Even a few minutes each day dedicated to meditation or mindfulness could have a profound positive impact on employee mental and physical health, increasing energy levels and elevating the overall vibe of the workplace.

This kind of wellness room at work will do well to feature comfortable seating options, such as cushions or mats, soft lighting, and soothing decor to create a calm atmosphere. Massage chairs for meditation enhancement may also work well in these spaces. Additionally, consider ways to integrate music or aromatherapy into these rooms to add to the overall vibe and promote a meditative feel. When choosing scents, be sure to avoid any that are overwhelming or may be too strong for some people’s senses.

2. Relaxation Wellness Rooms

Sometimes the best wellness room ideas are the simplest. A general relaxation wellness room can be a well-designed designated space for employees to be able to unwind a little while taking breaks from work. It can prevent burnout and give employees a space to de-stress whenever the need arises.

A relaxation wellness room will benefit most from providing luxury massage chairs for employees. These tools offer a full body massage experience with different types of massage programs and other features like heat therapy. Massage chairs are ideal for addressing the physical signs of stress as well as how mental health affects physical health. Offering massage chairs for employee use is more cost-effective than keeping an in-house massage therapist on staff while elevating the company culture with practical methods to recover from work-related stress.

3. Mothers’ Wellness Space

A mother's wellness space is dedicated to supporting the needs of new mothers or breastfeeding employees. It should provide privacy and amenities such as nursing stations, comfortable seating, and refrigerators to serve as storage for breast milk. This space allows mothers to take breaks and attend to their baby’s needs comfortably.

Sofas and comfortable chairs are essential in these types of wellness rooms for work. The addition of gentle aromatherapy scents and music may also help make it a more relaxing and comforting environment. Because breastfeeding or pumping can be done in a variety of ways, it’s important to offer these employees different options to meet their comfort needs. This might include private rooms within the mother's wellness room, optional clean breastfeeding blankets, and labeling supplies.

4. Exercise and Stretching Room

An exercise or stretching room is meant to encourage physical activity and promote employee fitness. This kind of office wellness room offers plenty of open space for employees to engage in exercises, yoga, or stretching routines. It may also include post-workout recovery spots to incorporate massage chairs or other athletic recovery tools. 

Equipment for these kinds of wellness room ideas include things like mats, workout bands, and foam rollers. Simple gym equipment or all-in-one workout systems help facilitate different types of workouts without the need for a full-size company gym or providing a gym stipend.

5. Napping Room

Taking a quick power nap can be beneficial for your health. Napping rooms are quiet spaces where employees can take short power naps to recharge and improve productivity. They often feature comfortable reclining chairs, dimmable lighting, and relaxing ambiance. Massage chairs like the Ogawa Active L Plus Massage Chair can work wonders here, as well, offering a spot or a very short nap to kickstart the rest of the day. Napping rooms acknowledge the importance of rest and rejuvenation in enhancing employee well-being.

Note: It’s not recommended to sleep in massage chairs for prolonged periods of time. If you include a massage chair in your wellness room, make sure employees are made aware that shorter increments like a nap are best.

6. Quiet Room

Next on our list of wellness room ideas for work is a quiet room. A quiet room provides a serene and noise-free environment where employees can escape distractions and find solace for personal reflection, meditation, or moments of solitude. It aims to offer a peaceful sanctuary for individuals seeking moments of respite and inner calm.

Items to include in a quiet room are things like comfortable sofas or chairs, relaxing massage chairs, as well as table setups for any employees who may enjoy reading or journaling in a quiet room.

7. Wellness Library

A wellness library offers a place where employees can access books, magazines, or resources related to personal development, mindfulness, mental health, and wellness. Giving employees easy access to resources like this shows your commitment to their well-being as well as educates them on methods of self-care they may not be familiar with.

A library wellness room at work should include comfortable seating, tranquil decor, and a collection of literature that promotes self-care and well-being. Make sure you’ve got adequate lighting and sound-proofing to make using these materials easier and more enjoyable.

8. Nature-Inspired Room

Last up on our list of wellness room ideas for work brings the outdoors inside. A nature-inspired office wellness room brings elements of nature indoors to create a soothing and rejuvenating atmosphere. Nature rooms should have lots of plants and other greenery to build a calm environment and boost air quality. Color schemes for nature-inspired wellness room ideas will include lots of natural cool colors and soft neutrals to add to the serenity. 

Rooms like these should incorporate natural light, greenery, soundscapes, or nature-inspired artwork to provide a calming and refreshing space for relaxation and stress management.