Acoustic comfort has become a key ingredient in healthier, happier office design
Today’s workspace conversation is about how offices feel, not just how they look. Designers and employers alike are recognising that a truly successful workspace supports the wellbeing of their teams and one of the most powerful, yet often overlooked, influences on wellbeing is sound.
Acoustics affect how we think, feel, and perform. Too much noise can heighten stress, reduce focus, and even lead to fatigue. Too little sound can leave spaces feeling flat or disconnected. The goal is balance, creating environments where sound supports activity rather than disrupts it.
In open-plan offices, this can be particularly challenging. Conversations, calls, and background noise can quickly build up, impacting concentration and comfort. Good acoustic design is not about silence; it is about sound management, shaping the way noise moves, absorbs, and dissipates across different areas of the workspace.
That is where design-led acoustic solutions come in.
At Hunters, we often talk about how furniture can define the experience of a space. The same principle applies to acoustics. From enclosed pods that promote privacy to modular seating that softens ambient sound, thoughtful product selection can make all the difference to how people feel and function at work.
Here are a few examples of how leading manufacturers are rethinking the relationship between sound and wellbeing:
Creating a sense of calm within a busy environment starts with privacy and control. Senator’s CellPod and Hideaway Pod offer precisely that, providing purpose-built spaces where sound is contained and focus is protected.
The CellPod acts as a fully demountable, high-performance meeting room that controls both internal and external acoustics. Its structure minimises sound leakage, making it ideal for confidential conversations or hybrid calls. Meanwhile, the Hideaway Pod takes a more compact approach, offering a personal retreat for phone calls, quiet work, or moments of pause.
If you’re looking to add a phone booth to your space, check out our Office Phone Booths Buyers Guide.
Alongside these, Senator’s Shard 2.0 collection adds an elegant layer of acoustic balance to open-plan settings. Its distinctive sculptural design helps break up sound travel while contributing a striking visual feature to collaborative areas. Shard 2.0 proves that acoustic solutions can be as aesthetic as they are functional.
Together, these products demonstrate how acoustic control and wellbeing design can go hand in hand.
Designed around the psychology of privacy, Orangebox’s Campers & Dens offers a quiet retreat within open, dynamic workplaces. Its modular pods and cabins use layered acoustic materials and precision detailing to create spaces that feel secluded without isolation.
With tested sound reduction and controlled reverberation, Campers & Dens helps shape environments that balance connection with concentration.
Comfortable, flexible, and beautifully crafted, FourUs® is designed around human interaction. High-backed seating and enclosed booths create visual and acoustic boundaries that encourage focus and conversation in equal measure.
Whether used as a casual meeting nook or a quiet work zone, FourUs® helps shape micro-environments within open spaces, providing the kind of thoughtful zoning that keeps sound under control and energy balanced.
The Sonus Pod from Narbutas brings acoustic comfort and functionality together in a clean, contemporary form. Designed to support privacy and focus, Sonus Pods create calm, enclosed zones within open spaces, helping to reduce noise distractions and improve concentration.
Available in a variety of sizes and configurations, from single-person booths to larger meeting spaces, the Sonus Pod combines acoustic performance with visual simplicity. Its sleek lines and choice of finishes allow it to integrate seamlessly into any workspace design while contributing to a more balanced and comfortable sound environment.
If you’re looking to add a phone booth to your space, check out our Office Phone Booths Buyers Guide.
De Vorm’s Mute collection takes a refined approach to acoustic balance. Crafted from PET Felt made of recycled plastic bottles, these wall and ceiling solutions are designed to absorb sound while adding depth and texture to interior spaces.
The Mute Fit is ideal for compact zones that need targeted sound absorption, while the Mute Fraction introduces a sculptural rhythm that enhances both aesthetics and acoustics. The Mute Peak, with its bold geometric form, makes a striking statement in larger spaces, providing high acoustic performance without sacrificing design.
Each piece is a reminder that acoustic control can be as much about beauty and sustainability as it is about performance.
Whilst this product is a bit of a wild card, wellbeing is not only about managing noise; it is also about creating moments of rest. The NAP Pod by Welltek takes a holistic approach to acoustic comfort, offering users a space to recharge in peace. With integrated sound insulation, gentle lighting, and calming design, it promotes relaxation and recovery in high-pressure environments.
As more businesses embrace wellbeing as part of workplace strategy, solutions like this remind us that sound is not just a background factor, it is a key contributor to how people restore balance during the working day.
Designing for acoustics and wellbeing means thinking beyond products. It is about the experience of being in a space. Every zone, from reception to focus room, contributes to the sound experience of the workplace. The right mix of materials, layouts, and furniture can help create environments that support deep concentration, effortless collaboration, and genuine comfort.
At Hunters, we work closely with architects, designers, and end users to integrate acoustic and wellbeing considerations from the very start. By combining product knowledge with design insight, we help create workspaces that look inspiring, perform beautifully, and sound just right.
Whether you are planning a new workspace or fine-tuning an existing one, sound management is key to creating places where people thrive.
Our team can help you explore acoustic and wellbeing solutions that align with your project goals, from the first concept to installation.
Get in touch with the Hunters team to start the conversation.