In some businesses, the conference room table is one of the most important pieces of furniture in the entire office.
That’s because the conference room is where many businesses meet with prospective new clients. It’s where new vendors are interviewed. It’s where contracts are negotiated.
You could say it’s where many of the most important decisions are made. So when you are designing and furnishing your business’s conference room, the conference room table shouldn’t be an afterthought. It should be the centerpiece.
Size of Your Conference Room Table
There are several considerations when choosing a new conference room table. The first is size.
First of all, the conference room table needs to be the proper size for the conference room. If it is too small, it could make your business look weak to outsiders.
If it takes up too much room, it won’t be practical. Oversized conference room tables also can inhibit the free flow of conversation, stifle creativity, and suppress great ideas.
Conference Room Table Shapes
Most conference rooms are rectangular by design. This limits what kind of shapes you can consider for your new conference room. For example, a circular table in a rectangular room will leave a lot of empty, wasteful space.
So even though you probably will be limited to longer conference room tables, there still are choices to be made. Rectangular tables with sharp 90 degree corners create a more formal setting for your meetings. The create clear demarcations between bosses and employees.
Conference room tables that are oval-shaped can instill a more democratic tone to your meetings. They imply that while there are distinctions between executives and subordinates, there also is room for compromise.
Surface Types
A third consideration is the type of surface your conference room table should have. Sturdy wood table tops s create a more traditional tone for your conference room, while clear or tinted glass tables offer a more futuristic, forward-looking look.
Dark colors imply a more conservative tone while lighter colors can promote an openness to new ideas.
If you have an interior designer planning your conference room, don’t be surprised if they ask you a lot of questions about the tone of your company, your management style, and the kind of message you want to wordlessly imply to your employees, vendors, and clients.
A business can say a lot with the type of conference room table they install in their meeting space.