Not every company has the luxury of offering remote work to all of its employees. Half of all businesses still need to maintain an in-person workforce. And that’s not a bad thing, either.
Instead of all those unproductive Zoom calls, you can host in-person meetings in your conference room, where discussions can actually move forward, solving issues and growing your company.
Rather than watch a face glitch on a screen, you can have a real discussion, while sitting across the conference table from one another. And conference tables are so important to your business in every way, not just for meetings.
For companies that prioritize in-person work, it’s imperative that you choose the right conference table, that’s the right size for your room.
Wondering what size your conference room table should be? Wondering why you should invest in a modern conference table over a cheap Ikea conference table this time? Read on below for all tips you need.
The Many Uses of a Conference Room
Before you get into the details of sizes, shapes, and materials, you need to know why investing in a conference room is important.
Of course, conference rooms are mainly used for meetings. You need dedicated space, where various team members can gather together and have direct discussions about solutions and ideas for your company.
It needs to be away from the noise and distractions of computers, phones, delivery personnel, and employees who aren’t involved with the meeting. Having this dedicated, safe space will greatly improve the productivity of meetings, helping you walk away feeling like everyone knows what to do next.
But conference rooms go far beyond company meetings. They can be excellent places to conduct interviews with potential employees. Not having the distractions of a manager’s office space can make a positive impact on the interview.
Once hired, conference rooms can be used for employee training, as you can handle multiple new hires all at once.
And you can use your conference room for meetings with clients, vendors, supplies, customers, and anyone else you’re company needs to establish a trusting relationship.
With all of these things in mind, it’s important that you treat your conference design and furnishing seriously. Cheap furniture won’t impress. And the wrong sized furniture can be distracting and unproductive if the room is especially uncomfortable.
Planning Your Conference Room
To get the right-sized conference table, you first need to map out the conference room. You’ll want to know exactly what will go into the room, and how many people you plan to seat.
Will there be a projector screen at the front of the room? What about a small table holding a TV or monitor, or other equipment to be used for presentations?
Do you want to have a coffee and water station inside the room, along with trash cans and any other accessories? And will you have chairs lining the walls of the room, for when you need to host more people than can fit at the table, or will the walls be left alone?
Once you know everything that will go into the room, you can measure out the true dimensions. Measure how much free space is left over, after taking into account the additional items in the room.
You want to have about five feet between the wall and the table to create a comfortable aisle to walk through. But if you have furniture along the wall, measure your five feet from that point.
To ensure your conference room is centered and visually pleasing, try to keep your conference room symmetrical. If you have a presentation table at the front of the conference room, don’t place a beverage station on the side of the conference rooms, as doing so could cause the room to feel imbalanced.
Instead, place the beverage station to the rear of the room, directly across from the presentation station, to ensure the table is centered between these objects.
Choosing a Shape
The most common type of conference table is rectangular. Many companies choose a rectangular table with a slight curve to it to add elegance.
But you can also choose a round conference table if the size of the room allows for it. Round tables can create a more collaborative environment. Or you can meet in the middle and choose an oval-shaped conference table, which is also sophisticated.
For narrow conference rooms, however, a long rectangular or boat-shaped conference table will work best.
Getting the Right Size Conference Table for Sale
So what size should your table be? Depending on the shape of the table, and the size of your free space, you can map it out.
You want about five feet between the table and the wall. You want about 30 inches at the table for each chair.
A five-foot-long conference table, which is common in small conference rooms, can seat between four and six people if you are okay with having one person on each end of the table.
An eight-foot table can seat between six and eight people. A 12-foot table can seat between 10 and 12 people, and so on.
You basically want to get a table that perfectly fits the space in your conference. If it’s too big for many of your meetings, it’s okay to have some empty seats.
Having a table with too many seats is a far better problem than a table with too few seats.
Benefits of a Custom Conference Table
With the size taken care of, you can now turn your attention to the design of the table. If you really want to wow your clients and potential hires, consider live edge conference tables.
Live edge tables have become more popular in residential applications. But you can add some true character to your conference room with a solid slab of beautiful wood, featuring the natural character of the tree.
And with a live edge, it is textured and unique, which will make your conference feel anything but boring. If you want your employees to enjoy time in a conference room, choosing the right table matters.
Make Your Meetings Count
Some of the most important conversations that shape the course and direction of your company take place at your conference table. Do you want your company to be steered by an ugly, cramped conference table with peeling laminate? Or do you want your company to be steered by creativity and quality?
The choice is yours.
Looking for more tips on furnishing your new office building? Head over to our blog today to keep reading.
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