Open plan offices are often great to work in – they’re collaborative, flexible, and allow the team to interact freely. But, sometimes, they’re not entirely practical. You might be trying to work on something that needs total concentration, while someone from sales is loudly closing a deal two metres away.
And it’s not just that it’s distracting. It could actually be costing your business money.
Research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that workplace noise is one of the top contributors to cognitive fatigue and reduced productivity. And a Cornell University study found that workers exposed to open-office noise showed significantly elevated stress hormones. This is especially relevant for full-time workers, as chronic stress is known to be harmful to both mental and physical wellbeing.
So, how do you give your team a proper break from the noise?
A Real Fix: Soundproof Office Pods
A noise reduction office pod is exactly what it sounds like – a self-contained, acoustically engineered booth that gives people genuine quiet, when they need it. No booking a room, no heading to a café, and no passive-aggressive headphone wearing (we’ve all been there).
Silent Pod’s range are all built with 51mm thick walls combining polyester acoustic lining, plywood, acoustic foam, and powder-coated steel – delivering approximately 24dB of noise reduction.
Here’s how they fit in different office settings:
Our Single Pod, and Connect Pod.
Single Pod and Connect Pod – For Focused Work and Private Calls
For solo quiet work we have two options, depending on how much space you need.
The Single Pod is the compact choice, with an 860mm x 900mm internal workspace, a fixed workstation, ergonomic stool, LED lighting, and full power and USB connectivity. It’s an efficient booth built for calls and short bursts of focused work.
Need a bit more room? The Connect Pod steps it up with a larger 1360mm x 1140mm internal footprint and a full electronic sit-stand desk (1050mm x 600mm) with preset height controls. It’s still a one-person pod, but it’s designed for longer sessions and more demanding tasks – the kind of deep work where you need to spread out your notes, stay comfortable, and settle in.
Both are ideal anywhere staff need confidential calls or distraction-free focus, and are a perfect option for small offices with minimal space – easily fitting into corners or more restrictive floor plans.
Our Collab and Boardroom pods
Collab Pod – For Small Team Catch-ups
Sometimes three or four people need to meet without broadcasting to the whole floor. The Collab Pod seats a small group around a 700mm table with comfortable couches and four ventilation fans delivering fresh airflow. All-around tempered glass walls help contain (and block out) sounds, while keeping the flow of an open plan office.
Creative and media agencies – or anywhere with multiple overlapping conversations going on – are a natural fit here. The Collab Pod carves out a quiet zone for focused group work without needing a dedicated meeting room. Additionally, all of our pods are on lockable wheels, so you can easily move them within your office as you need.
Boardroom Pod – For Larger Teams and Presentations
The Boardroom Pod is our largest option, complete with some extras. It fits four to six people around a 1600mm executive table, includes four sofas, a built-in 32-inch smart monitor for video conferencing, and eight ventilation fans pushing 224 litres per second of airflow.
This is the pod for larger, louder environments. Think busy co-working spaces, consultancies, or sprawling departments where booking a formal meeting room can take days. Like all our pods, we’ll install on site ready-to-use – anywhere in the country. And because there’s no fixed wiring, the pod can be easily rolled to whichever department needs it.
So, Which Pod Is Best For Your Office?
Not every workplace has the same requirements. Universities deal with high foot traffic, impromptu conversations, and the unpredictable chaos of student common areas. A few Single Pods near student services desks or study areas can transform the experience for staff and students, giving them a quiet, easily accessible spot on campus when they need it.
Financial services and legal firms often need confidentiality above quiet. The Single and Collab Pods both shine here. Media and creative offices need collaborative noise solutions that don’t kill the energy, so the Collab and Boardroom Pods lets a team get loud while leaving the open floor undisturbed.
We believe in keeping things simple and efficient, so all Silent Pods run from a standard 230V power point. This means no fixed installation, no builders, and no disruption to your office. Plus, the lockable wheels mean they can be repositioned as your team’s needs change.
The Bottom Line
Open plan office noise isn’t going away. But with the right acoustic solutions, you don’t have to accept regular disruption as the cost of collaboration.
Productivity, privacy, and peace of mind are all achievable. You just need the right tools in the right places.
Ready to find your perfect pod? Explore the full Silent Pod range or get in touch to chat with the team.
