Coworking Space Amenities—Crucial or Kitschy?
Picture this… A sunlit coworking lounge. Hammock chairs swaying gently in the AC breeze. Kombucha bubbling on tap. A wall of vibrant succulents—and just out of frame, a lonely nap pod gathering dust.
Sounds dreamy, right? But is it practical?
When finding new ways to differentiate your coworking space, it’s tempting to chase the latest trend in office perks. But before you install a meditation dome or commission a mural made entirely of recycled mouse and keyboard parts, ask yourself:
“Are these amenities truly serving my members, or just my marketing?”
Here’s how to separate the crucial from the kitschy—so you can invest in amenities that not only look good, but also drive retention, member satisfaction, and that all-important ROI.
Defining “Crucial” vs. “Kitschy”
Let’s start with a simple truth: not all amenities are created equal.
To determine what’s worth your investment—and what’s not—we first need to define what makes an amenity crucial and what makes it kitschy.
Crucial Coworking Space Amenities
Crucial amenities are necessary for your space’s daily function. They are expected or used widely by your members, and have a measurable, positive impact on your business’s success.
Some examples of crucial coworking space amenities include:
- Fast, reliable WiFi
- Ergonomic furniture
- Proper lighting & air flow
- Secure access control
- Ample power outlets
- Well-equipped meeting rooms
- Up-to-date equipment
- Clear signage & instructions
If you run a coworking space, none of the items listed above should shock you. These are the non-negotiables. Without them, you’re not really a coworking space—and you’re likely losing members to the coffee shop next door.
Beyond the basics, crucial amenities can also be shaped by your environment, your members, and the industries they work in. For example, in walkable neighborhoods or dense cities like San Francisco, bike racks and lockers might be expected. In car-centric areas like Dallas-Fort Worth—where commutes are long and public transportation is limited—ample free parking (or a partnership with a nearby garage) could be essential. And if all your competitors offer free phone cubes, that might become a necessity for your space too.
“Kitschy” Coworking Space Amenities
On the other hand…
Kitschy amenities are flashy add-ons that may look cool or photograph well, but don’t meaningfully support your members or your business.
Some examples of kitschy coworking space amenities include:
- Foosball tables (that no one plays)
- Beer taps that require ID checks and liability waivers
- Furniture that looks cool but feels awful
- Abandoned putt-putt courses
- Dusty arcade machines
- Adult-sized ball pits (yes, really)
While these features can spark curiosity, they rarely deliver long-term value if not aligned with your members’ actual needs.
Every square foot and dollar counts, and prioritizing the wrong amenities can eat up your budget and space while offering minimal ROI.
Know Your Audience: Member-Centered Decision Making
Inscribed on the Temple of Apollo is the Ancient Greek Golden Rule of “Know thyself.”
Inscribed on the forehead of every coworking space operator should be the industry equivalent: “Know thy members.”
Create Ideal Member Profiles
Different members have different needs—and understanding those needs is key.
Remote freelancers may crave quiet nooks and phone booths. Tech employees often look for standing desks and second monitors. Startups gravitate toward collaborative zones and whiteboards. And enterprise teams typically need private offices and enhanced security—stat.
To meet these needs, start by creating ideal member profiles (or avatars) based on the people already in your space—or the ones you want to attract. Think about their roles, routines, goals, and pain points. Are they early birds or night owls? Do they spend most of their day on calls or in deep focus? The more detailed the profile, the better equipped you’ll be to offer amenities that truly serve them.
Back Them Up with Real Feedback
Next, back up those assumptions with real feedback. In other words, find out what your members actually want (and don’t want).
- Surveys can be a quick, anonymous goldmine of insight. Send them out regularly, and if needed, incentivise with free credits or giveaways.
- One-on-one conversations or small group chats can help uncover the story behind a simple response. These can happen:
- Formally—during tours, onboarding, renewals and exit interviews.
- Informally—while they grab coffee or settle in for the day. Slip in a question or two about what they like, don’t like, or wish the space offered. Even a casual chat about their daily routine can be revealing.
- Usage tracking is valuable too. As the old adage goes: numbers don’t lie. If you can measure how often people are actually using different areas of your space, you can start to answer many of coworking’s big 21st-century questions—like: Are they really using that podcast studio?
For Example…
One of our own spaces opened in early 2020 with a podcast studio—on trend at the time, but it rarely got used. Our members didn’t need a recording space; they needed a quiet place for virtual meetings. So we rebranded it as a “Zoom Room”—comfortable, private, and well-equipped with lighting, acoustics, and greenscreen. It hit the sweet spot: more practical than a phone cube, more affordable than a private office, and people actually use it!
With Deskworks, you can spot trends in real time and turn underused perks into your next MVP (most valuable perk).
Amenities That Drive Business Outcomes
Amenities can offer more than just comfort, convenience, or a cool vibe—they can solve real business challenges and directly impact your bottom line. Here are a few examples:
Business Outcome #1:
Improve Environmental Sustainability & Appeal to Eco-Conscious Members
- Amenities: Bottle refill stations, composting and recycling bins, reusable dishware, motion-sensor lighting, smart thermostats
- Impact: Reduces operational waste and utility costs while signaling your commitment to sustainability—a known factor in member decision-making
Business Outcome #2:
Increase Revenue from Underutilized Space
- Amenities: Convert unused offices into flexible meeting rooms tailored for specific needs—tall tables for standing huddles, soft seating for therapy or coaching sessions, hybrid-ready setups with video and audio equipment, and whiteboard walls for brainstorming
- Impact: Attracts a broader range of use cases, increases bookings, and turns idle rooms into revenue-generating assets
Business Outcome #3:
Build a Reputation for Reliability and Attract Remote Workers
- Amenities: Redundant Wi-Fi, backup power, soundproof phone booths or quiet zones, 24/7 access
- Impact: Positions your coworking space as a dependable hub for distributed teams and remote professionals with global schedules
These aren’t just perks—they’re differentiators. Prospective members are likely comparing your space against several others. The right amenity might tip the scale.
Amenities That Look Good on Instagram (But…?)
Yes, aesthetics sell. That eco-friendly moss wall, the Zuckerberg-inspired pingpong table, or the coveted espresso robot might get someone through the door. But then what?
Quirky features can work when they tell your brand story, spark conversations, and foster community—like a vintage surfboard turned standing desk in a laid-back, beachside coworking space.
But if it takes a 10-minute tutorial to use, breaks every other week, or barely gets used, it’s probably not worth it. No one wants a cereal bar full of stale cornflakes.
Cost vs. Value: A Framework for Decision Making
To assess what’s truly worth the investment, use this simple tiered model:
- Must-Haves: Essential amenities your coworking space needs to function and compete—reliable Wi-Fi, ergonomic furniture, quiet zones, and good coffee.
- Nice-to-Haves: Features that elevate the experience and support member well-being, identity or workstyle—standing desks, wellness rooms, outdoor workspace or local art.
- Experimental: High-concept or niche amenities that may be fun or buzzworthy, but need testing to determine if they’re worth it for your community—VR booths, community gardens, massage chairs, or tofu-making classes.
Next, ask yourself:
- What does it cost to install and maintain?
- How often is it used?
- How much space does it take up?
- Does it improve satisfaction or retention?
- Does it generate revenue?
From there, keep a close eye on ROI to make sure you’re not throwing money at dust collectors.
Smart Coworking Tools to Help You Track & Adapt
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Coworking space management tools help you track amenity usage, identify peak times, and automate member feedback—so your decisions are based on data, not guesswork.
Tools like Deskworks give you actionable insights through reports that track full-time occupancy, on-demand utilization, and customizable revenue breakdowns. You can see exactly which services are generating income—and how that changes over time.
Thinking about a content studio? Know how your current media room is performing first.
Make Every Amenity Count
In the end, it’s not about having more amenities—it’s about having the right ones. Trendy amenities may get people through the door, but purposeful ones keep them coming back.
Before you buy that espresso-fueled robot barista, remember: the best amenity is one your members actually use. Choose features that fit their needs, support their work, and enhance their experience. That’s when your ROI really starts to climb.
Ready to find out what’s working—and what’s just collecting dust?
Deskworks gives you the data you need to make smart, member-focused decisions. Track usage, identify high-performing perks, and turn underutilized amenities into your next MVP (most valuable perk).
Schedule a quick demo and see how Deskworks can help you optimize every square foot. 👇
