I’m Tim, and I run operations here at Office Furniture EZ. We get questions from customers about privacy pods, office phone booths, and other privacy options so I decided to share some general information that may be useful as you consider this for your company or organization.

Do you actually need privacy pods?

Start with the simple stuff. How many people in your office are on calls or video meetings during a normal day? And where do they go to take them right now? If the answers are: a stairwell, the parking lot, or their car – well, a pod or two will probably get used constantly. If you run a government or government-contracted facility, this can be a good option for reduced sound and working privacy.

They also make sense in shared spaces. Co-working and flexible offices have lots of people, sometimes lots of different companies, all in one room, so quiet spots go fast.

If any of these sound like you, please read on. I should also say that we don’t have these as a product on our website, but we work with companies all the time that need solutions for private or quiet areas – and we have access to distributors who have the elements needed to create a solution that will likely work in your space.

What are the options?

As I just mentioned, these are not by any  one-size-fits-all. We work with Open Plan, who makes modular systems built from glass walls, and there’s a lot you can choose from:

Glass style: Frosted if you want more visual privacy, clear if you want the space to stay open and bright.

Doors: A handful of different door options, depending on the look and function you’re after.

Size: Everything from a compact one-person phone booth to a bigger acoustic pod that fits a small huddle.

Because they’re modular, you can configure them around your floor plan instead of bending your floor plan around them.

Where should they go?

Placement matters about as much as the pod itself. A few things I’d keep in mind:

Put them close to where people actually work. Nobody is going to walk across the building for a five-minute call.

Try not to park them right next to the kitchen or reception. That’s where the noise is, and you don’t want it following people in.

Leave enough room at the door. You don’t want a pod that creates a traffic jam, or one where the door can’t open all the way.

If you’re adding more than one, think about spacing them out instead of lumping them in one seperate area. People use what’s convenient.

How do they fit with everything else?

The best-looking offices treat pods as part of the plan, not something bolted on at the end. Think about how they sit next to your desks, lounge seating, and meeting tables, and whether the frame color and glass choice match the rest of the room.

So, do we do privacy pods?

Honestly, it’s not something we advertise as a standard offering. But it’s something we can help with. We have trusted industry partners that provide a huge selection of modular walls, and we’ve completed projects for businesses in Denver and Colorado Springs using these pods. If your project needs a few, we can plan them right alongside your workstations, seating, and meeting spaces so it all works together.

A few quick questions people ask

What’s the difference between a phone booth and a privacy pod?
Mostly just the name. “Phone booth” usually means a smaller, single-person space for calls. “Privacy pod” or “office pod” can mean the same thing or something a little larger. Size is what really matters, so look at the dimensions rather than the label.

Are these good for video calls?
Yes, that’s one of the main reasons people buy them. A closed-in space with a door means less background noise and fewer interruptions on your end.

Do they block sound completely?
No pod is magic, but glass-walled acoustic pods cut down a lot of the noise in an open office. If sound performance is a big factor for you, we can get explore options together.

Can I choose the glass and door style?
You can. Frosted or clear glass and several door options are available, along with different sizes.

How tall or short are they? 
They are offered in sizes up to 9 feet high.

Can you outfit them with doors? 
Yes, there are options for closures.

Thinking about adding some to your office?

Reach out and we’ll talk through your layout, how many pods you need, and what makes sense for your team. Call me with your questions!

Tim is the Vice President of Operations at Office Furniture EZ – Read his bio here.