Phone Booth Workspace: 6 Steps to Optimising Office Space

Open-plan offices were supposed to revolutionise how we work – tearing down cubicle walls and letting ideas flow freely. But the reality is different. That daily noise adds up, so it helps to check acceptable noise levels in the workplace before you redesign your floor plan. If you've ever hunted for a quiet corner to have a Zoom call or avoid losing your mind, you're not alone.

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That's where Persy Booths phone booths come in. These sleek, soundproof sanctuaries are the office MVPs you didn't know you needed. Forget noisy coworking spaces or awkwardly huddling in stairwells for private calls. Phone booths are the secret weapon for creating privacy, boosting focus, and making open offices actually work.

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In this guide, we'll show you how companies like SumUp, Personio, Huckletree, and Creative Fabrica turned their chaotic office spaces into productivity powerhouses. Whether you're drowning in noise or just looking to give your team some breathing room, here's how to make phone booths the quiet heroes of your workplace.

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Types of Office Pods

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From solo booths to team pods: what’s out there?

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When it comes to optimising your office environment, there’s no shortage of options—office pods come in all shapes and sizes to fit the way your team works. Solo booths, often called office phone booths, are the go-to for anyone who needs a private, soundproof space to make phone calls, tackle focused work, or handle confidential conversations without the background buzz. These compact sanctuaries are perfect for those moments when you need to shut out the world and get things done.

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But what if your team thrives on collaboration? That’s where team pods step in. These larger, purpose-built spaces are designed for meetings, brainstorming sessions, and group work, giving your crew a flexible alternative to traditional office design. And if you’re after something that can evolve with your business, seamless modular office pods are a game-changer. They integrate effortlessly into your existing office environment, letting you adapt your space as your needs change—no fixed construction required.

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Whether you’re looking to create quiet zones for deep work or dynamic hubs for teamwork, a smart plan for workspace optimization helps you match pods to every workflow. The best part? You can mix and match, building a workspace that supports both solo focus and team collaboration, all while keeping noise and distractions in check.

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Matching pod types to your team’s needs

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Choosing the right office pod isn’t just about picking what looks cool—it’s about understanding how your team actually works. If your office is full of people who need a private space for individual work, solo booths are a no-brainer. They offer a quiet retreat for focused tasks, private calls, and those all-important moments of concentration.

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On the flip side, if your team is all about collaboration and frequent meetings, investing in larger team pods makes sense. These pods provide a dedicated space for group discussions, creative sessions, and project kick-offs, all while keeping the rest of the office free from noise spillover. Don’t forget to factor in the size of your office and the available space—there’s no point cramming a massive pod into a tiny corner.

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Think about the features that matter most to your team, too. Advanced technology like built-in screens or smart booking systems can make meetings smoother, while acoustic panels ensure that conversations stay private and distractions stay out. By matching the right office pod to your team’s unique needs, you’ll create a work environment that’s not just functional, but genuinely supportive of productivity and well-being.

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Quick guide: when to use which pod

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Not sure which pod fits your needs? Here’s a quick cheat sheet to help you decide:

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• Solo booths: Best for individual work, private phone calls, and confidential conversations. Perfect for employees who need a quiet, private workspace to focus.
• Team pods: Ideal for an ad hoc meeting when you need a quick space for collaboration. Great for teams that need a dedicated space to brainstorm and connect.
• Seamless modular office pods are a flexible choice for offices that want to adapt quickly, making them strong temporary office solutions. These pods can be moved or reconfigured as your team grows or your needs change, making them a smart investment for any dynamic office environment.
• Soundproof office pods: Essential for open offices where noise is a constant battle. These pods create a true soundproof office experience, letting your team work without distractions, which helps answer: does sound proofing really work.
• Private workspace pods: Designed for employees who need a quiet, secure space to focus on individual tasks or sensitive projects.
• Meeting room pods: The go-to for teams that hold frequent meetings and need a dedicated, enclosed space for collaboration and confidential conversations.

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By choosing the right mix of office pods, you’ll boost productivity, improve communication, and create a workspace that’s as flexible and dynamic as your team. Whether you’re battling noise, craving more privacy, or just want to give your employees better ways to work, there’s a pod solution out there to help you create the perfect office environment.

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#1 – Figure out what’s driving your team nuts

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Before you start throwing phone booths into your office like confetti, take a step back and ask: what’s actually broken? Open-plan offices were designed for collaboration, but let’s be real—sometimes they’re just a breeding ground for chaos. Is the sales team’s chatter bleeding into the developers’ zen zone? Or maybe your people are fighting for quiet corners like they’re on a bad episode of Survivor. Identifying the biggest headaches is step one.

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Your team knows what’s up—ask them. Surveys, Slack polls, or even a casual chat can uncover the pain points: too much noise, nowhere for deep work, or a severe lack of spaces for private conversations. Once you’ve nailed down the issues, match them to your goals. Want to reduce noise, amp up focus, or just give people a spot to breathe? Aligning these priorities makes choosing the right solutions way easier.

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And don’t forget: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The trick is figuring out what works for your crew and your culture. Keep the booths close to elevators or main pathways so everyone—yes, everyone—can use them without hassle. Ensuring easy access to phone booth workspaces means all employees, regardless of mobility or location in the office, can benefit from these private spaces.

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💡 Pro Tip: Start small. Test a few booths in the spots where people are most desperate for quiet, and expand based on feedback. Your team will tell you what works—if you’re listening.

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Case in point: Personio

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Personio, Europe's favourite HR tech powerhouse, knows a thing or two about managing people, but even they struggled with the chaos of an open office. Their Munich HQ was buzzing, and not in a good way. Constant interruptions and a lack of private spaces were tanking productivity.

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So, they got scientific about it. The team turned a room into a booth-testing lab, trying out three different brands and letting employees decide the winner. The result? Persy Booths came out on top for soundproofing and ventilation. Personio rolled out a 1:6 desk-to-booth ratio, transforming their office into a privacy-friendly productivity machine. As Workplace Services Manager Cornelius Fahl puts it, “Our mission is to purchase products that allow employees to focus and do their best work.” Mission accomplished.

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(Read the case study)

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#2 – Don’t just stick the booths anywhere

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Phone booths are like real estate: location matters. Dumping them in random corners won't magically fix your noisy, chaotic office. To really make an impact, you need to think about where they'll work best—not just where there's empty space.

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Start with the hotspots. High-traffic areas, like near break rooms or hallways, are prime real estate for booths where people can quickly duck in for a call or a virtual meeting. But let's not get too wild. If you stick them next to the kitchen or the printer, you're just inviting chaos into a space that's supposed to be calm. Proximity is good—just don't kill the vibe with background noise.

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For deep work, you'll want quiet zones. Find low-traffic pockets of the office where the buzz is minimal, and turn them into sanctuaries for people who need to focus. These booths aren't just about privacy—they protect your team's brainpower.

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Accessibility matters, too. The last thing you want is employees hiking across the office just to find an available booth. Spread them out evenly so everyone has a shot at using them, and don't forget about inclusivity. Keep the booths close to elevators or main pathways so everyone—yes, everyone—can use them without hassle.

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And here's the pro move: pay attention to how your team actually uses the space. If booths are always empty or constantly occupied, something's off. Adjust the placement until you hit that sweet spot.

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💡 Pro Tip: Persy Booths come on wheels. Translation: if your first placement is a flop, just roll them somewhere better.

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Case in point: SumUp

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SumUp, the fintech giant powering small businesses everywhere, took the whole "strategic placement" thing seriously. Their Berlin office is rocking 30+ Persy Booths, strategically scattered across high-traffic zones to keep up with demand.

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“If people actively look for a booth for, say, 15 minutes and can't find an empty one, they just ping us to get more,” says Jalal Saleh-Büttner, Head of Workspace at SumUp. Spoiler alert: they've already added six more booths to keep up. SumUp's approach is proof that thoughtful placement + enough booths = a happier, more focused office.

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(Read the full case study)

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#3 – Don’t cheap out on the details

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Not all phone booths are created equal. If you think you can just throw in some random box with a door and call it a day, you’re in for a rude awakening. The wrong booth won’t just fail—it’ll make things worse. Stuffy air, bad acoustics, zero functionality? Congratulations, you’ve just created a glorified storage closet. In addition to traditional phone booths, acoustic pods are another excellent option for soundproof, private workspaces, offering flexibility and modern design for focused work and private conversations. Here’s how to do it right.

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Start with the basics: size matters

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What's the plan for these booths? Are they for quick one-on-one calls, deep focus sessions, or team huddles? If you're cramming your people into booths so tight they feel like sardines, you're doing it wrong. Solo booths work for calls and quiet work, and Persy One is a strong option for a one-person Phone Booth Workspace. Multi-user models like Persy Two or Persy Four give you room to breathe—literally.

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Soundproofing: non-negotiable

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If the whole point of a booth is privacy, bad soundproofing is a hard fail. Your booths should be Fort Knox for sound. Employees inside shouldn't hear the outside world, and the outside world shouldn't hear them. Bonus points if they can have a heated argument or a heart-to-heart with their boss without the whole floor knowing.

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Ventilation: skip the sauna

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We've all been there—five minutes in a booth, and it's already stuffy. By the 15-minute mark, you're gasping for air. Good ventilation isn't a luxury; it's survival. Look for booths that keep air flowing so your team isn't sweating through their meetings.

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Design that doesn't suck

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Let’s be real: ugly booths kill vibes. Your office deserves better. Choose designs that actually fit your aesthetic. Whether you’re rocking minimalist chic or funky startup energy, booths should blend in like they were meant to be there. A spacious interior is also essential, as it maximizes comfort and usability without increasing the booth’s footprint. And if you can customise the colours? Even better.

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Durability and flexibility

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Your office isn’t static, and your booths shouldn’t be either. Modular, mobile designs mean you can shift things around as your needs evolve. Installation is a breeze—many phone booth workspace solutions can be set up in just a few hours, minimizing disruption. Reliable support during and after installation ensures a smooth process and ongoing assistance. And let’s talk quality—cheap materials fall apart fast. Invest in something that lasts, or you’ll be back at square one faster than you can say “budget cut.”

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Sustainability is also key. Many office phone booths are made with eco-friendly and recycled materials, and some manufacturers use renewable or natural resources and even support reforestation initiatives. Choosing sustainable office phone booths helps reduce the need for traditional construction, minimizing waste and environmental impact.

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💡 Pro Tip: Don’t get seduced by overpriced, overly fancy booths. Choose booths with features that employees will actually appreciate – like integrated power outlets, USB-C ports, stable Wi-Fi/Ethernet connectivity, comfortable seating, and noise-cancelling materials. Find something functional, soundproof, and comfortable without blowing your budget. Persy Booths nail the basics and still look good doing it, just saying.

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Case in point: Creative Fabrica

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Amsterdam's Creative Fabrica learned this lesson the hard way. Their first booths were… fine. But “fine” doesn't cut it when your team's trying to do deep work or quick-fire meetings. “They were okay for making calls but not comfortable enough for deep work or quick catchups with peers,” says Alvaro Caballero Cano, Head of People.

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Enter Persy Booths. With options like PersyTWO and PersyFOUR, they found booths that balanced comfort, soundproofing, and flexibility. “The soundproofing and ventilation are excellent, and the booths' design fits seamlessly into our workspace,” adds Alvaro. The result is a workspace where creativity and productivity can actually thrive.

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#4 – Make your booths work for the office, not against it

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Phone booths don’t have to look like afterthoughts shoved into awkward corners. Done right, they’re not just functional—they’re design flexes. Office booths and office phone booths can serve as dedicated, self-contained spaces within the entire office, enhancing privacy and productivity for focused work, meetings, or calls. The key is to make them feel like they belong, not like someone panic-ordered them after an employee complaint spree. So, let’s talk placement, flow, and aesthetics.

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Blend in, don't stick out

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First things first: your booths should vibe with your office's personality. Sleek and modern? Go minimalist. Fun and quirky? Bring on the colours. Customisable finishes—like the ones from Persy Booths—mean your booths can play the part without stealing the spotlight. Think of them as the supporting cast to your office's main stage.

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Adapt or die

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Offices change—teams grow, layouts shift, priorities flip. Flexible workspaces benefit from purpose-built modular architecture, allowing for easy reconfiguration as office needs change. If your booths are static, you’re setting yourself up for future headaches. Modular designs or wheels make it easy to rearrange your space when needed. Today’s brainstorming nook could be tomorrow’s quiet zone. Stay flexible.

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Zone it like a pro

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Phone booths are sneaky good at carving out purpose-driven zones in open offices. Use them to create soft boundaries between focus areas, collaboration spaces, and downtime corners. Got a weird, useless alcove? Boom—it's now a productivity pod. Bonus points for placing booths near windows for that sweet, sweet natural light.

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Function over flash

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Don't get distracted by how cool something looks if it doesn't work. A booth that's pretty but stuffy or poorly soundproofed is a waste of space. Prioritise soundproofing, ergonomic seating, and ventilation that doesn't leave your team feeling like they've just run a marathon. And don't sleep on the little details—built-in power outlets and adjustable lighting? Game-changers.

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💡 Pro Tip: Use booths to subtly guide office flow. Positioned near high-traffic areas but not smack in the middle of chaos, they can create natural transitions between collaboration zones and quiet spaces without breaking the vibe.

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Case in Point: Huckletree

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When you run coworking hubs as dynamic as Huckletree's, design and flexibility are non-negotiable. Their spaces are made to inspire startups and creatives, but even the most open-minded members need privacy. That's where Persy Booths come in.

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“We typically build team meeting rooms in the amenities space but opt for booths in the studio space to achieve an aesthetic quality and have more flexibility,” says Louise Hattam, Head of Projects at Huckletree. The booths don't just look great—they work for the constantly shifting needs of their members.

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And when Huckletree's old provider dropped the ball, Persy stepped up. “We had ROOM booths before. But when they stopped delivering in Europe, we looked for a parallel product that met our standards. That's how we found Persy Booths,” Louise explains. “When you're positioned near a bank of desks, you need the privacy to take a call without distracting others. Persy Booths excel in this regard.” Their sleek design, top-tier soundproofing, and mobility sealed the deal. Now, Huckletree's members have stylish, functional spaces to work in peace.

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(Read the full case study)

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#5 – Set rules before it’s a free-for-all

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Even the fanciest phone booths will tank your office vibe if people use them like their bunkers. Setting some ground rules keeps things running smoothly without killing the spontaneity that makes open offices work. Think of it as gentle anarchy—a little structure goes a long way.

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Define the mission

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Is the booth for quick calls, virtual meetings, or an emergency “I need to work without interruptions” session? Let your team know what each booth is for. Spelling it out stops the classic “one person hijacking a booth for an hour-long coffee chat” scenario.

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To book or not to book

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If demand is off the charts, a booking system could save the day. Apps and calendars help avoid “I was here first” standoffs. But if your office thrives on flexibility, skip the formalities—leave the booths open but encourage people to keep it snappy. A simple “be cool, don't hog” policy can work wonders.

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Etiquette, but make it chill

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No one wants a laminated list of booth commandments, but a little guidance doesn't hurt. Think casual signage or Slack reminders: don't monopolise the booths, avoid eating your tuna salad inside, and keep your Zoom volume under control. These aren't laws—they're survival tips for everyone's sanity.

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Evolve the rules

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Here's the kicker: your guidelines should flex as your team's needs change. Regular check-ins (Slack polls, suggestion boxes, or a quick team huddle) can surface what's working and what's not. Are people loving the booths? Are they avoiding them like bad office coffee? Adjust accordingly.

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💡 Pro Tip: Keep things interactive. A quick Slack poll like “Are the booths meeting your needs?” or “What's one change you'd suggest?” keeps feedback flowing and makes everyone feel heard—without a boring team meeting.

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#6 – Don’t just install booths—learn from them

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Congrats, you've got your shiny new phone booths, but the story doesn't end here. But the real power move is turning these booths into a feedback loop for your team's needs. Remember, you're not just buying furniture—you're crafting an evolving workspace that keeps your people happy, productive, and sane.

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Spy (nicely) on usage

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No, not with cameras. Just keep an eye on how and when booths are being used. Are they always booked solid at 3 PM? Empty for half the morning? This isn't just trivia—it's intel for smarter decisions. If you see bottlenecks, it might be time to add more booths or rethink your layout.

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Ask and actually listen

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Slack polls, quick surveys, even old-school suggestion boxes—ask your team what's working and what's not. Maybe the booths are too hot, or someone's dying for a USB-C port. This isn't a one-and-done deal. Keep the feedback cycle going, and your booths will stay relevant long after the office trends shift.

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Measure the ROI without a spreadsheet meltdown

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You don't need to get an MBA level here. Are fewer people squabbling over meeting rooms? Are your open office grumps a little less grumpy? Simple benchmarks—like booths being used 60–80% of peak hours or surveys showing improved focus—can tell you if you're nailing it.

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Adapt, adjust, repeat

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Your team evolves, your office evolves, and your booths should, too. If something's not working, move it. If demand skyrockets, invest in a couple more. Booths are like a great playlist: keep tweaking until everyone's vibing.

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💡 Pro Tip: Make feedback part of your culture. A Slack poll or team huddle every quarter can surface what's working and spark ideas for upgrades. Keep it casual but consistent—this isn't a dissertation.

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Wrapping up: booths that do more than just look cool

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Phone booths are more than a trendy fix for noisy offices. They’re the backbone of smart workspace design—offering privacy, focus, and balance in an otherwise chaotic environment.

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And if the success stories of SumUp, Personio, Huckletree, and Creative Fabrica tell us anything, it’s this: when you invest in the right booths and manage them well, the payoff isn’t just in productivity. It’s in happier teams, smoother workflows, and an office vibe everyone actually enjoys.

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So, are you ready to give your open office the glow-up it deserves? Explore Persy Booths today and make your workspace the place where big ideas happen—without all the background noise.

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