This article was originally written in 06 2022 and has since been updated in 06 2026 to reflect new findings and data points.
TL;DR
- The Fluid Design Report shows that thoughtfully designed beverage amenities are one of the most underrated drivers of return-to-office engagement — and the data still holds up as a guide for workplace design in 2026.
- 36% of office workers most value hot and cold beverage amenities in their office design
- 54% of workers feel their home setup is not as well-designed as the office
- Over three-quarters say it is harder to maintain healthy habits at home than at work
THE IMPACT OF DESIGN ON PEOPLE IN THE WORKPLACE
Many employees are now struggling to maintain healthy habits at home now that hybrid working is the norm – a lasting legacy of the pandemic. And with living costs soaring, working from home is becoming more expensive than commuting for one in five of us.
There’s now a growing opportunity for workplaces to engineer their design to boost productivity and encourage people to return to their desks. That’s why we have launched Fluid Design, a complete insights toolkit powered by exclusive research that reveals how design can transform the workplace and enrich the everyday lives of employees – with just a few small adjustments.
Better Amenities
Lack of space, unsuitable furniture and children at home all contribute to an unproductive working environment. Therefore, it’s no surprise that more than half (54%) of office workers do not feel their home set-up is well-designed, in comparison to their office. On top if this, more than a third (36%) most value hot and cold beverage amenities in their office design, with kitchen facilities (32%), shared space for socialising and collaborating (38%), meeting rooms (41%) and ergonomic desk set ups (38%) also ranking highly.
Finding Balance
More than three-quarters of workers admit it’s tougher to maintain healthy habits at home, while 76% have experienced an increase in screen time when working remotely (one-third of workers say their screen time increases by more than two hours each day!). Time constraints at home make it harder to take regular exercise, eat healthily and stay hydrated – so there are plenty of reasons frustrated employees will be seeking respite in the office.
What does the Fluid Design Report tell us about workplace design in 2026?
In 2026, the questions raised in the original Fluid Design Report still drive workplace strategy. Hybrid and flexible work models are now established practice, which means the office has to earn its visits rather than assume them. The amenities that pull people back are the ones that improve the everyday experience of being there, and beverage facilities continue to score higher than most leaders expect.
The original Fluid Design research found that more than a third of office workers (36%) most value hot and cold beverage amenities in their office design, ranking alongside meeting rooms (41%) and shared social space (38%). Nearly a quarter of workers said unappealing beverage facilities actively kept them from staying hydrated at work, while the same proportion said upgrading those facilities would draw them back into the office. Water and coffee stations are not a back-of-house concern. They are part of the case for the workplace itself.
That insight has aged well. In 2026, workplace designers are treating hydration zones as social anchors: thoughtfully placed, design-led, and equipped with premium dispensers like the Extra C-Tap, Top Pro, and Extra I-Tap systems that deliver chilled, sparkling, and hot water on demand. The Fluid Design Report continues to function as a useful benchmark, both for measuring what employees actually want from the office and for justifying the investment in the small amenities that make a daily commute worth it.
Take a Break
High quality kitchen facilities are key social spaces, which are more essential than ever before to enable much-needed interaction after spending so much time communicating via video. Nearly a quarter of workers say they can’t stay healthy and hydrated while in the office because its beverage facilities are unappealing. The same number say hot and cold beverage facilities would draw them back to their office, so investing in these is crucial.
Top-quality kitchen facilities and water dispensers, serve to remind employees of the benefits of office life – and create comfortable spaces to connect and relax during the busy working day.
Download the Fluid Design report below:
FAQs
-
What is the Fluid Design Report?
The Fluid Design Report is a BRITA VIVREAU insights toolkit, powered by exclusive workplace research, that examines how office design influences employee productivity, wellbeing, and the choice to return to the workplace. It covers amenities, social spaces, hydration, and the role of the physical environment in supporting healthy habits.
-
What percentage of office workers value beverage amenities in their office design?
According to the Fluid Design Report, more than a third (36%) of office workers most value hot and cold beverage amenities in their office design. That places beverage facilities among the top-ranked office features alongside meeting rooms (41%), shared collaborative space (38%), and ergonomic desk setups (38%).
-
How do premium water dispensers support a return-to-office strategy?
Premium water dispensers such as the BRITA VIVREAU Extra C-Tap, Top Pro, and Extra I-Tap systems deliver chilled, sparkling, and hot water on demand in a high-design format. The Fluid Design Report shows that nearly a quarter of workers cite unappealing beverage facilities as a reason they struggle to stay healthy at work, and the same proportion say upgraded facilities would draw them back to the office, making premium hydration one of the more practical investments behind a return-to-office plan.
