When we think about the future of work, we often imagine sprawling open offices and high-tech collaboration hubs. But in 2025, the real magic is happening in much smaller spaces. 

Across the world, small meeting rooms — spaces for up to eight people — are becoming the beating heart of teamwork, creativity, and innovation. Yet many businesses are still overlooking their potential. 

In January 2025, Jabra surveyed 900 knowledge workers across North America, EMEA, and APAC. We wanted to understand what kinds of spaces truly fuel productivity, creativity, and teamwork today. The answer was resounding: small rooms are where big ideas are born — but they’re also where businesses are at risk of falling short. 

Small spaces, big impact 

Small meeting rooms have quietly become the backbone of modern collaboration. In fact, nearly every employee we surveyed (94%) said they rely on small rooms for their day-to-day meetings. These aren’t the grand boardrooms of old; they’re personal, focused spaces where real work happens: brainstorming sessions, coaching conversations, problem-solving huddles. 

The reason is simple: small rooms foster participation. 

• 73% of workers say these spaces make collaboration easier. 

• 74% believe small rooms strengthen trust and team dynamics. 

• 65% report that their best, most innovative ideas are born in these settings. 

Small spaces strip away the formality and pressure that larger meetings can create. They allow teams to connect more naturally, experiment more freely, and resolve conflicts more quickly — creating the psychological safety that’s essential for high-performing teams. 
 

A hidden weakness: the small room technology gap 

But while small rooms are in high demand, they are often poorly equipped for how people work today. 
 
The survey revealed a stark gap between need and reality: 

• 80% of employees say they waste time looking for available small rooms. 

• 50% report that even when they find one, it’s missing the basic tools needed for collaboration. 

• Only 1 in 3 believe hybrid meetings in small rooms are as productive as fully in-person ones. 

Larger scale studies paint an even starker image of how badly resourced small spaces are from a technical point of view, which suggest that just 3% of huddle rooms are properly equipped. 

Hybrid work has raised the bar. Teams now expect meeting spaces to effortlessly support both physical and remote participants. But without video conferencing, clear audio, or flexible layouts, small rooms are falling behind — leaving employees frustrated, disconnected, and less productive. 

At a time when many organizations are introducing Return to Office (RTO) mandates, these challenges could have major consequences. If coming back into the office doesn’t feel seamless, collaborative, and …to put it bluntly, worth it… employees will disengage, or seek more flexible workplaces elsewhere.  

The seeds of this are already being sown: A 2024 survey found that 20% of employees would quit their job if employers enforced stricter RTO rules, and another 33% might consider doing the same. 
 

The case for investing in small rooms is clear 

The good news? The solution is within reach. Employees are clear about what they need: 

• 72% say better-equipped small rooms would significantly boost their productivity. 

• 70% feel more confident sharing ideas when technology just works. 

• 67% believe well-designed small spaces foster stronger collaboration and innovation. 

Small rooms also present an opportunity to make the best use of available real estate. As companies downsize or reconsider their long-term leases, small rooms (that have the greatest employee need) are often the easiest to create, utilizing otherwise dead space in offices or at least not requiring big areas to implement. 

Investing in small rooms isn’t just about hardware. It’s about recognizing how work has changed and matching the environment to the way people create, connect, and perform at their best. 

Equipping small rooms with intuitive video conferencing, high-quality sound, and human-centered design doesn’t just remove friction. It actively amplifies team creativity, decision-making speed, and workplace satisfaction. 

In short: small spaces, when done right, unlock big performance gains. 

Reimagining the Small Room with Jabra 

At Jabra, we believe the future of work is about connection, not just connectivity. 

Our solutions are designed to help organizations transform small meeting spaces into high-performance hubs where every voice is heard, every participant is seen, and every idea has a chance to thrive, no matter where people are joining from. 

Because when small rooms work, big ideas happen — and the future of work gets a little closer to what it should be: more human, more inclusive, and more innovative. 

 Discover how Jabra can help transform your small meeting spaces →