Open-plan offices were supposed to revolutionise how we work – tearing down cubicle walls and letting ideas flow freely. But the reality is different. A constant cacophony of keyboards clacking, phones ringing, and your coworkers loudly debating last night’s reality TV. If you’ve ever hunted for a quiet corner to have a Zoom call or avoid losing your mind, you’re not alone.
That’s where 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.
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.
#1 – Figure out what’s driving your team nuts
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.
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.
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.
💡 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.
Case in point: Personio
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.
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.
#2 – Don’t just stick the booths anywhere
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
💡 Pro Tip: Persy Booths come on wheels. Translation: if your first placement is a flop, just roll them somewhere better.
Case in point: SumUp
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.
“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.
#3 – Don’t cheap out on the details
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. Here’s how to do it right.
Start with the basics: size matters
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, but if your team needs a space to hash out ideas, go bigger. Multi-user models like PersyTWO or PersyFOUR give you room to breathe—literally.
Soundproofing: non-negotiable
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.
Ventilation: skip the sauna
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.
Design that doesn’t suck
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. And if you can customise the colours? Even better.
Durability and flexibility
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. 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.”
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t get seduced by overpriced, overly fancy booths. Choose booths with features that employees will actually appreciate – like integrated power outlets, 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.
Case in point: Creative Fabrica
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.
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.
#4 – Make your booths work for the office, not against it
Phone booths don’t have to look like afterthoughts shoved into awkward corners. Done right, they’re not just functional—they’re design flexes. 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.
Blend in, don’t stick out
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.
Adapt or die
Offices change—teams grow, layouts shift, priorities flip. 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.
Zone it like a pro
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.
Function over flash
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.
💡 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.
Case in Point: Huckletree
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.
“We typically build 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.
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.
#5 – Set rules before it’s a free-for-all
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.
Define the mission
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.
To book or not to book
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.
Etiquette, but make it chill
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.
Evolve the rules
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.
💡 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.
#6 – Don’t just install booths—learn from them
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.
Spy (nicely) on usage
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.
Ask and actually listen
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.
Measure the ROI without a spreadsheet meltdown
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.
Adapt, adjust, repeat
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.
💡 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.
Wrapping up: booths that do more than just look cool
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.
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.
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.
