The boardroom is an integral part of any office and it’s the room where it all happens. It’s the key place for strategic planning, where crucial business decisions are made and where important deals are struck. As such, the boardroom design needs to create the right impression for customers, employees, important business contacts, interviewees, and showcase the business in the best possible way.
The dominating focal point and centrepiece of any boardroom is the table. Boardroom tables provide attendees with the distinctive impression of quality, precision & strength that makes a bold, visual statement in any conference room. Selecting the right boardroom table can be a challenge and needs careful consideration, so in this article we’ve put together a few key points to ensure you choose the right boardroom table.
Consider your spaceA basic selection criteria is the table size. The boardroom table should be large enough to accommodate the expected number of people who will use the room. Working out how much space you’ll need for the new boardroom table should be the top priority. A table which is too big or too small in relation to the size of the meeting room can contribute to a negative first impression, and hinder the practicality of the space.
You’ll need to consider how much space you have to work with, ensuring you leave enough room for chairs to be comfortably pushed away from the table, and so people can move around the table when joining and leaving a meeting. You should also remember that boardrooms need space for whiteboards, screens or projectors for presentations, allowing all users to be able to view the screen and sufficient circulation space around the presentation area – all without making the room appear too cluttered!
All shapes and sizesIf you have a large room then you may want to opt for a more impressive, larger boardroom table, but if you’re only using it for small team meetings or video conferencing, then you may want to look at other options for more appropriate use of the space. Some meeting room table designs are modular in nature and are equipped with folding mechanisms or interlocking pieces which allow different configurations in size and shape to meet varying needs.
The style of table for your boardroom says a lot about a company and how they do things. Different shaped tables can enhance the functionality of the boardroom space and equally impact the look and feel of the room. The shape of the table dictates seating placement which can set the mood and how people collaborate in a room, which in turn has an impact on the behaviour of employees.
Rectangular tables are a popular, classic choice for the boardroom. They convey hierarchy and power positions because those at the head of the table can see everyone and more easily assert their authority, visually creating a sense of order. Circular or oval shaped tables encourage collaboration, and not hierarchy. There is no obvious head position so nobody has more power than anyone else, which encourages participants to voice their opinion freely.
Reconfigurable tables offer the choice of conventional static boardroom tables or table groups using free-standing tables that can be reconfigured or moved as required. These highly adaptable meeting tables can also be used in a U-shape which is ideal for presentations, video conferencing and training where the presenter can maintain face-to-face contact with a large group of people, easily move around and hand out materials to both sides.
A modern high-tech boardroomApart from suitable furniture with ergonomic chairs and a central meeting table, a conference room should also be tech-friendly. Using the latest technology with power and data units, boardrooms can be transformed into interactive and inspiring workspaces, where employees can take their laptops, tablets and phones with them and reap the benefits of a more connected, advanced working environment.
Furniture and equipment that allows quick set-up and connections is a high priority so people can pick up where they left off in another working area, so manufacturers such as Dams are now offering adaptable, flexible furniture for boardrooms and meeting areas with integrated power units. Cable management trays can also be attached under a table, or run vertically alongside it to prevent possible accidents.
Dams boardroom tablesIn response to these more active meetings, Dams Furniture have created a wealth of highly functional conference tables that empower employees to enjoy more flexibility in how they meet. Boardroom tables come complete with a selection of table top shapes, sizes and leg styles to meet a spectrum of planning possibilities, providing a great platform for all styles of meetings, from boardroom brainstorms, to team get-togethers and high level board meetings.
Beautifully designed and aesthetically pleasing, the Adapt and Fuze boardroom tables comprise a sturdy steel subframe and table tops which take on a floating appearance. Arrow Head and Trumpet Base tables are simply designed to ensure core functionality, with clean cut lines and balanced proportions to raise the standard in executive workspaces, whether the need calls for impromptu meetings or creative collaboration.
New for August 2018 is Eternal - a sophisticated boardroom table collection with robust customisable options for all your meeting room needs. Many sizes, shapes, and details let you tailor the look for formal or casual settings, with stylish flat circular bases and cylindrical columns, tops available in five finishes, and integrated power options which makes Eternal a practical choice for supporting technology.
What else to keep in mindSelecting the right meeting chairs for your boardroom is just as important as the table. Avoid the easy mistake of matching the boardroom table with ill-fitting, disproportionate chairs that are impractical and look out of place. Comfortable seating can be used for longer negotiations or presentations but if you would like to keep meetings short then having more rigid seating can keep people from getting too cosy.
Boardrooms should be clutter-free and tidy at all times to aid concentration for all parties involved in meetings. An effective boardroom will provide a cohesive design that expresses what you want your business to represent. From internal meetings to long and difficult negotiations, you want to ensure that your boardroom leaves the right impression on attendees. You may not think that a table’s shape and size can have so much impact, but as highlighted in this article, the table can indeed completely change a group’s dynamics.
