How to create the perfect school canteen
It is important for all students and staff to spend some time away from the classroom by finding a space to sit down and take a break. That place is often the school canteen, but they can be noisy and busy environments. When designing a canteen, creating a space that has a calm and relaxing atmosphere should be the main focus. At AJ Products, we have a wide knowledge of planning a variety of educational settings, including school cafeterias. Here are some tips that can help you create the ideal dining space for your school.
Peace and quiet at lunchtime
Students like many people can be fussy eaters, so they don't always finish what's on their plate. However, it is not ok if students don't eat their food because they feel stressed or uncomfortable in the school cafeteria. That's why it is important to layout your space with the correct canteen furniture to make it as peaceful and pleasant as possible. Try to create a space that you would want to relax and spend time in yourself.
Canteen chair AVE
£95.00
Table PLURAL
£349.00
Enhance wellbeing by breaking down “rooms” within the room
Dividing your room into smaller spaces will give students and staff a range of options for when it comes to sitting down in your school dining hall.You can use a range of canteen tables and chairs to adapt your space. A mixture of dining benches, stools and pouffes can also provide useful seating alternatives for different types of cafeteria settings. For a cosier ambience, you can use wall screens and plants between tables to create smaller "rooms" within the room.
Getting the tone of the room right is also key to creating that relaxing vibe. Try not to let one colour dominate the room; lighter colours will help provide a calmer atmosphere. Lighting is also important, so why not consider adding a ceiling lamp above each table to improve lighting?
Chair LINUS
£175.00
Chair RIO
£69.00
Don’t forget soundproofing!
The noise level in canteens will differ from school to school, but perhaps you can go the extra mile to ensure a quieter environment in your canteen.Sound absorbent panels are a useful piece of equipment to help reduce noise. The thickness of the fabric on the panel helps stops the spread of the sound and contains it to a specific area of a room. Canteen chairs can also be noisy when scraping against the floor but using felt pads at the end of the chair legs can make a huge difference in reducing the sound.
Learn more about soundproofing in schools
Canteens can be a flexible space
We consider a school canteen as so much more than a place to eat your lunch and then stay empty until the next school day. That's why we recommend that schools find alternative uses for their dining spaces. Perhaps you can use it for school assemblies, staff meetings, or as a place where students can hang out during other break times. You can also keep it open in the evenings or weekends for local groups and organisations to hold events.
Products for your school canteen
Get the latest product launches and offers sent direct to your inbox
Do you want to receive exclusive offers, information about new products and inspiration on how you can improve your workplace? Sign up for our free newsletter and be the first to receive our best offers!Please wait...
*By clicking subscribe, I confirm that I have read the privacy policy.