The Overview of Conference Table & Meeting Room Furniture 

Meeting styles have changed the dialog of productivity. So consequentially, the role of conferencing has evolved in the modern business context. Understanding that change and how it has come about will help you choose a solution that best suits your needs.
 
The board room conference table has traditionally been the focal point of an organization’s decision-making process.
 
Important matters are often discussed, decided and announced around that table. The style and appearance of a conference room can take on a dynamic importance and plays a key role in a company’s brand.
 
As the open plan office has altered the landscape of workspace design, so too has conferencing become more deconstructed. Openly collaborative meetings can happen anywhere. Design is trending toward creating multifunctional spaces that can adapt to any meeting scenario, anywhere in the office.
 
Oftentimes, the conference table in a modern context is smaller but highly adaptable. Conference rooms today must provide highly motivational environments for training, workshops, teleconferencing and planning sessions. Smaller huddle spaces that encourage less formal meetings, departmental communication and planning throughout the office have made an appearance.
 
Limited physical space often necessitates that one room serve multiple purposes. Typically, the conference room has been that pivotal space transforming from meeting, into training, into party space throughout any given day.
 
Meeting these challenges has necessitated the design of new roles for the meeting spaces in collaborative office design.
 
Smaller touch down meeting spaces where departments can quickly come together, discuss a problem, then disperse back to their own work space have become the new normal.
 
These are all things to consider when you are designing your meeting zones. Videoconferencing can be done from anywhere, and still plays a vital role with the mobile workforce. The shape and layout of a well-designed meeting space for video conferencing and multimedia communication can also add functionality to internal training sessions. Modular tables that can be adjusted as needed can fulfill both roles equally well.
 
Determining your meeting style is the first step in this process. Corporate conference rooms set a different tone than mobile and transitional spaces. Conference tables can range from elegant boardroom tables in high end marble, to contemporary and functional systems furniture.
 

9 Tips You Need to Consider Before Purchasing Conference Room Furniture

Creative Meeting Room Design with Perfect Office Furniture

Increasing attention is being paid to the style and decor of meeting spaces. Design trends usually reserved for one’s home will increasingly find their way into meeting room design. Multifunctional office furniture and the additions of lush greenery are becoming part of the new aesthetic.
 
Meeting room designers are being tasked with ensuring that however elaborate or creative the design is, guests’ comfort must always be the top priority. Flexible seating options suitable for both indoor and outdoor use will become standard. Demand for informal lounge-style seating will increase, as planners strive to create a relaxed ambience during breakout sessions.
 

Conference Table Sizes

Conference Table Shapes

The shape of your table often reflects the organizational structure of your business and can play a surprising role in the design of your space. For instance, if your workplace is very hierarchical, you may want to opt for a boat shaped or rectangular shaped conference table that will have a specific head of the table for the CEO.
 
Open plan offices have a more barrier free management style that is more even in its power distribution, so a round, square or u-shaped conference table might be best so that everyone can face one another and the table fosters multilateral communication.
 
Take a look at the most frequently used shapes with their general attributes:
Rectangular are the simplest tables to fabricate, and thus usually the most economical for a given seating capacity.
 
Racetrack tables consist of a rectangular center capped with two half circle ends. They have 12.5% less perimeter than a rectangle of comparable length and width; this usually means that you lose 1 or 2 people in seating capacity from a rectangular table of the same length and width. They are, however, very common and have a more graceful look than a rectangular table.
 
Boat Shaped tables have a perimeter that is almost identical to a rectangular table of the same length and width but will have better sight lines and a more graceful appearance than a rectangular table.
 
Square are fairly uncommon, so they may be a little harder to find. For the seating capacity, they take up a lot more room than a rectangular or racetrack table and, in the middle of the table, there is space that is generally unusable.
 
Modular conference tables are usually smaller tables of various shapes that can be used individually and/or placed together into a larger configuration. They have the advantage of being extremely Modular conference tables are usually smaller tables of various shapes that can be used individually and/or placed together into a larger configuration. They have the advantage of being extremely flexible because you can arrange the modular components into smaller or larger tables, depending on the group(s) you need to seat. Seating capacity is determined by how the tables are assembled and arranged. Many modular tables can also be folded up and stored, making them great for a multi-purpose room with ever-changing space requirements.
 
Round conference tables are better for smaller meeting spaces. By comparison, they have only 78.5% of the perimeter of a square of the same length and width (and thus less seating capacity), and you have to be mindful of chair design and foot space under the table.

Oval Tables can vary in shape. Like the racetrack tables, they usually lose seating for two people because of the shape of the ends of the table.
 
U-Shaped tables seat people along three sides, and have an open center. They usually come in two varieties: squared end and rounded end. The seating capacity is determined by the perimeter of the outer edge and the amount of space per user. These tables must be sized to the room and are often custom built. Send us your room plans and the desired number of users and we’ll determine what works best.
 
V-Shaped, the keystone (open “V”) shape is becoming a standard for videoconferencing. The wide end of the table faces the cameras and screen, and is usually not used for seating. This configuration permits each participant to be viewed by the camera during a teleconference while allowing the participants unobstructed views of a screen. Many V-shaped tables allow the wide end to be closed, changing the table into a traditionally-shaped conference table. This type of table is commonly referred to as a “nutcracker”, pictured here.
 
Custom Conference Tables give you the chance to get creative and address any special need. Oversized boardroom tables are often customized to our clients’ particular image or user requirements. You can pick materials, décor, shape, inlays of logos and/or decorations, and electronic installations. Custom conference tables don’t need to be expensive. Inexpensive laminate tables, for example, can be customized with a shape and laminate color of your choice.
 
Unusually-sized conference tables either for aesthetic or practical reasons. This may be an opportunity to the enlist the services of a local craftsman to create something unique for your office.
 

Surface Materials of Office Furniture in The Conference Room

The material that your conference table top is made from is probably the single-most important indicator of the style and tone your organization is setting.
 
So what vibe are you trying to convey? Traditional, modern, eclectic, strictly functional or mix throughout the office. We will start with the most prevalent and work our way up to the high-end:
 
Laminate surfaces are practical and cost-effective for tables that get heavy use. They don’t stain and clean easily. When mixed with wood and/or metal trim, they can look very upscale yet retain their practicality. Contemporary laminate options are highly durable and are available in a myriad patterns and colors for contemporary environments. from tasteful off-whites, to bold primary colors and even stone textured surfaces. Laminate faux wood tones range from blonde maple to red oak all the way to ebony and mahogany.
 
Wood’s unique texture and grain character bring depth and a natural element into any environment. The natural beauty of wood accentuates any style and adds interest to any setting, from traditional to modern. Both solid wood conference tables and wood veneer conference tables are manufactured.
 
Both the type of wood and how the wood is finished can give a conference table a very different appearance, because of the wood grain, the color and the sheen. Wood colors range from blonde to espresso and, when different wood colors are paired together, can give a modern look. Mahogany and cherry are darker and are used in more traditional furniture design.
 
Due to expansion and contraction of solid wood - which causes a table top to warp – very few tables are actually made out of solid wood. Most are wood veneer. In woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 mm (1/8 inch), that are typically glued onto core panels (typically, wood, particle board or medium-density fiberboard) to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for parts of furniture.
 
The finest and rarest logs are sent to companies that produce veneer. Making veneer greatly expands the amount of usable wood. While a log used for solid lumber is cut into thick pieces, usually no less than 1 1/8 inches, veneers are cut as thin as 1/40 of an inch. Very little wood is wasted by the saw blade thickness. Therefore, the yield of a rare grain pattern or wood type is greatly increased, which in turn places less stress on the resource.
 
The slices of veneer are always kept in the order in which they are cut from the tree, and are known as flitches. There are a number of “patterns” common to veneered work. This refers to the way the veneers are laid up.
 
1, Book Matched: where the veneers are opened from the flitch much like the pages of a book.
2, Slip Matched: where the pieces are joined together in the order they come from the flitch, and have the same face kept up.
3, Radial Matched: where the veneer is cut into wedge shaped pieces and joined together.
4, Diamond Matched: where the pattern formed is diamond shaped.
 
Wood veneer furniture uses less wood than the same piece of furniture made with solid wood. Some projects built using wood veneer would not be possible to construct using solid lumber, due to expansion and contraction caused by fluctuation of temperature and humidity. This is particularly true with large conference tables.
 
Stone is available in a rich variety of colors. Given that stone is a natural material, it is impossible to guarantee the nature of consistency in grains, marbling and color. Each new item made of stone from the same quarry will be different. The surface feel and texture may be somewhat different as well.
 
Modern corporate environments can support more high-end surfaces like marble and granite. They are effective at conveying power, prestige and stability, whereas a very fine wood evokes quality and style.
 
Stone can come from exotic places like Italy or Brazil, which has some of the most striking marbles in the world, as well as from United States’ quarries that produce an excellent quality of stone. A key aspect to purchasing a stone surface for your conference table, whether it is marble or granite, is transporting the material to your workplace.
 
These types of stone are available on the market today:
 
Granite is a light-colored igneous rock with grains large enough to be visible with the unaided eye.
 
Marble is characterized by veins although it can also have beautiful organic spots without veining.
 
Onyx has striking colors, consistent crenellated patterns and complex marbling.
 
Travertine generally a brown or ocher color with either straight striations or very subtle marbling Semi-Precious is ab ultra-premium surface that conveys glam- our and importance – a really great differential for a company that seeks to brand itself as alluring and exciting. They run the gamut of textures and patterns, but can have unusual tones like purple (amethyst) and emerald green (apple jasper). Petrified wood is also a semi-precious stone.
 
Quartzite is an exotic stone with sometimes vivid colors from emerald green to ochre red.
 
Engineered surfaces like plastics have become quite advanced over the decades and stone substitutes made of plastic are attractive and hard wearing enough to be appropriate for surfaces in many business environments. While, you will not get the complex patterns and marbling that you will get with a premium stone, engineered stone will save you money and give you a surface with a stone-like appearance that has a high degree of consistency.
 
Samsung Radianz is an innovative product made from 95% quartz ground into artistically selected components and then bonded together with a hard wearing polymer medium. When cut and polished, Radianz gives a look very similar to stones with granular structures. Radianz also will not get the complex patterns and marbling that you will get with a premium stone but it is attractive, consistent and available in a good variety of patterns.

 Custom Conference Tables 

Open plan design has made this option very impressive because it can custom fit any area. When we help you design a custom conference table, you can choose all aspects of your table, including:
 
Surface Materials include wood, stone (granite, marble and more), glass, laminate and polymer surfaces. One of our favorite surfaces is whiteboard (or blackboard) that everyone who sits at the table can write on with dry-erase markers!
 
Base Shapes offered by each manufacturer incorporate a variety of bases; often you can pick the base independently of the surface.
 
Base Materials are wood and metal. Metal is available in different finishes, like shiny chrome or brushed with different patterns.
 
Table Sizes are limited only by your imagination. From small to huge. and round to square or U-shaped. You can pick your table size if you order a custom table. However, typical lengths are increments of 2 feet, starting with 4 feet long. i.e. 4 feet, 6 feet, 8 feet, up to 24 feet long. Typical widths are
1, 36 inches
2, 42 inches
3, 48 inches
4, 54 inches
5, 60 inches
 
Table Shapes could be almost anything, from square to U- shaped to V-shaped to Boatshaped.
 
Edge Details. Live edge designs have become very popular in the commercial sector for their unique aesthetic. See the last page of this E-book for some of the most common ones. When you’re looking at edge details, these are the factors that should play into your decision.
 
1, How rough the edge will be treated? If the edges will have heavy use, it’s probably worth it to pay for a really durable edge.
 
2, Will people be leaning up to the edge? Besides making sure to choose a durable edge, you may want to consider that a rounder edge will be more comfortable to lean against than a sharper edge detail.
 
3, What will the edge detail look like with the chosen look? If your room is full of ornate furniture, pick an edge that will go with the decor.
 
4, Do you want the edge to match or contrast with the surface and/or base? Contrasting edge details will draw your eye to it more than a homogeneous look.

Used conference tables are a fantastic way to save 30-70% off the price of a new conference table. Used conference tables may be perfect indistinguishable from a new one or have some slight imperfections. The price reflects the original value of the table and its condition. We carry a revolving inventory of wood, marble and laminate surfaced conference tables ranging from casual and modern laminate selections to elegant boardroom conference tables with marble and granite surfaces.
 
Generally, it is only economical to purchase a used conference table if it can be delivered locally by truck. Otherwise, delivery costs might make an inexpensive used table cost prohibitive. However, if you get a great deal on a used conference table that was very expensive new, it may be worth the shipping costs, which might be offset by your cost savings. If a tabletop is made in multiple pieces, the probability that this purchase is cost-effective increases. Shipping a huge one-piece table top can be cost-prohibitive.
 

Huddle Spaces in Conference Office Furniture Design

Conference spaces today have taken on a more personal tone with smaller huddle spaces that can turn an unused corner into a conversation zone, or a place for quiet work away from your desk. These are the perfect locations for round conference tables or smaller modular table set ups that can be altered to fit the need. This might be the perfect opportunity to reinvent your meeting style and re-purpose some outdated conference tables that may otherwise to unsued.
 
Breakrooms have taken on a new role in office design. They have gone from sequestered to the front office in some ways as the boardroom has become more collaborative. Revamping an under-used conference space into an open, casual meeting space is the perfect opportunity to reinvent an under-used oversized conference table that you don’t quite know what to do with. It could take on a whole new life as a communal table in your breakroom. So think outside the box before you decide to discard it. Coffee bar meeting spaces are stepping into open plan design and this would be the perfect place to create a showstopper in an open breakroom area.
 

Power & Data Ports in Designing Conference Tables

The mobile workforce is out and about in meetings and impromptu gatherings. Intelligent conferencing solutions, like network access, are essential for productive group interactions. Providing touch points for them to connect to the office remains an essential part of collaboration.
 
The most common materials used to make power and data ports are aluminum, alloy metal, and plastic. They come in many technical configurations, a multitude of finishes and many different mounting positions. A tabletop power/data center provides convenient access for individual users, technical presentations or videoconferencing—all at your fingertips.
 
A power/data center is best when integrated into the table- top, allowing it to close when not in use, for a clean appearance. Even if you’re purchasing a used conference table, it can be retrofitted with the data and/or power ports of your choice. As wireless internet becomes more prevalent, data ports may not be necessary, but the need for power seems insatiable. Having built-in data and/or electrical ports eliminates the presence of annoying and even hazardous cables.
 
Grommets & Wire Management of Conference Table

Even if you don’t choose power and/or data ports for your conference table, make sure to consider installing well-placed grommets which serve as a conduit for cables to go from the top of a table through the grommet to a power outlet in a corralled and neat fashion.
 

 
Technology has become pivotal in creating a memorable experience with your conferencing. The virtual office can be a visual communication and online collaborative experience with videoconferencing and teleconferencing that encourages and easy flow of interaction in a more effective and productive manner than some of the more awkward technologies of the past.
 
There are many ways to videoconference:
 
1, At a laptop using Skype or GoToMeeting
 
2, Distance learning with webinars
 
3, In a business meeting with a TV monitor and camera
 
4, In a video or conference call with multiple parties controlling and posting information to a common computer screen.
 
Videoconferences can be as simple as a conversation between two people in private offices (point-to-point) or involve several sites (multi-point) with more than one person in large rooms at different sites. Besides the audio and visual transmission of meeting activities, videoconferencing can be used to share
documents, computer displayed information, and whiteboards. Videoconferencing can enable individuals in distant locations to participate in meetings on short notice, with time and money savings.
 
Technology such as VoIP can be used in conjunction with desktop videoconferencing to enable low-cost face-to-face business meetings without leaving the desk, especially for businesses with widespread offices. The technology is also used for telecommuting, in which employees work from home. One research report based on a sampling of 1,800 corporate employees showed that, as of June 2010, 54% of the respondents with access to video conferencing used it “all of the time” or “frequently”.
 
Much business is transacted via videoconferencing and well-designed videoconferencing conference room tables can do much to support your important telepresence.
 
To select your videoconferencing furniture you must first answer a few questions.
 
1, How many people will be videoconferencing?
 
2, Would you like stationary or mobile videoconferencing tables?
 
3, Do you need dataports built into your furniture? Video, power and phone cable pop-up connections as well as efficient wire management systems are
important components of videoconferencing tables.
 
4, Do your video conferencing conference room tables need to match other furniture or not?
 
Here are some key considerations for a productive and communicative videoconferencing session:
 
1, Line of Sight: Make sure everyone can see a clear image on the screen from anypoint in the room.
 
2, Lighting: Provide lighting control or window filters to reduce glare on the screen.
 
3, Positioning: If possible make sure the presenter is well versed in the right etiquette for lighting, volume and glare on their end. Make sure they are front lit and they have a clear view for the group.
 
If you are going to be using teleconferencing to conduct high level business diplomacy or attract new clients, you might take a moment to compose the image that your camera will be sending to them while you make your pitch. It is a good idea to test whether combinations of lighting and painting scheme set the right tone you are working to convey. Tables are important as well. If your videoconferencing setup is too thrown together with wires and speakers visible on the table, you might come across as disorganized and unprofessional.
 
If you video conference often for a little bit of forethought is always a good game plan. Put some effort into camera placement and setting the stage in the room which you wish to work in, as well as carefully picking a room that has favorable lighting and acoustic characteristics, you can arrive at an acceptable solution for most situations. If you will be using videoconferencing frequently, or plan to use it for important communications, you may want to invest in some infrastructure to make your outgoing image presentable and effectively collaborative.
 
Once you have your requisite equipment – camera, TV monitor and microphones, or hookup to standard speakerphones, you’ll be surprised at how useful key furniture elements are in bringing your videoconferencing setup together. Videoconferencing has come a long way from its inception and you will see that furniture has evolved to facilitate its use in almost as revolutionary a way as the technology itself. Here are a couple of key advances in design that will tremendously improve your videoconferencing setup.
 
V-Shaped Tables. V-shaped tables eliminate issues with seeing everyone present on the screen by sitting the participants on the outside of the V and pointing the camera in their direction from the end of the open part. Where as traditional conference tables are often better suited to someone who is actually sitting in the room and can tilt their head to either side, unconstrained by the angle of a video camera.
 

 
What you choose for your conference room accessories furniture is dependent upon the use to which you plan to put your conference room.
 
Chairs. When electing conference room chairs, it is important to consider ergonomics, employee status, mobility, materials, and the aesthetics of your conference room design.
 
Ergonomics. When selecting a chair, make sure you purchase good ergonomic office chairs, built for comfort. Conferences are time consuming and a good ergonomic chair will ensure the comfort of attendees and help keep them focused at the task at hand. Additional costs for a good ergonomic chair are quickly offset by productivity gained.
 
Aesthetics. Many office chairs manufacturers make chairs specifically to match their conference tables and this can be a good option for a cohesive look. However, nowadays, this is not the constraint that it used to be and often contrasting chairs or chairs that are ergonomic are often preferred over the visual cohesion of “matching” chairs.
 
Materials. Depending on budget and style, there are many office chair materials to choose from, including fabric, leather, wood, metal, mesh and vinyl. Leather is often perceived as the fabric of choice for high end executive office furniture because of its soft hand and durability, but nowadays a good ergonomic chair with a mesh back and fashion forward design may carry more prestige. Vinyl provides a leather look without the high price. Wood chairs often have padding with fabric or leather seats and backs. There is a lot of metal on ergonomic chairs and whether it has a shiny or brushed finish can change the look of these chairs
 
Mobility. Most people prefer conference room chairs with casters, enabling them to move and turn easily. There is a range of quality in casters and it is important to purchase a chair with high quality casters to minimize problems with them. Also, it is important that the casters match the surface on which they’ll be rolling. The harder the floor, the softer the caster and vice versa.
 

Credenzas and Hutches of Conference Room Furniture

Credenzas are generally used for storage and/or food service. A credenza can contain a filing cabinet, shelves for coffee cups, important papers or a TV. It also is a statement piece, holding beautiful flowers or corporate mementos. They come in many sizes and with many internal options.
 
Hutches are often placed above a credenza and provide additional storage space. Generally, it is a good idea to buy a credenza and hutch at the same time you buy your conference table so they are of the same materials, be it wood veneer, laminate or something else. Sometimes, for aesthetic reasons, a credenza and hutch might contrast with the table rather than match it.
 

 
Audio visual furniture, which contains audio visual equipment, can be an important part of a conference room in which there is videoconferencing or film watching. They can contain a TV, speakers and microphones. They can be purchases to match your other conference room furniture or be bought as stand- alone items.
 

 
When people are bringing food into a conference room and clearing dishes away, a serving a hospitality cart is invaluable and can be purchased to match your other conference room furniture. It can be used for things other than food, for example, to bring in laptop computers or papers to be distributed during a meeting.
 

 
If speakers are going to be present and your conference room is large, you might want a podium or lectern. They help the speaker to stay organized and on task, and enable the speaker to convey their message to the audience.
 
There are three main types of podiums:
 
Floor podiums are free-standing, and require the speaker to stand behind them when they are giving a presentation.
 
Stackable podiums can be placed on a tabletop. This podium will give the speaker flexibility in where they can give a presentation, and it allows them to use the audio system more freely.
 
Tabletop podiums are for panel presentations where one speaker sits next to others.
 
Podiums, also known as lecterns, can be made of metal, plastic, or wood. Wood veneer podiums are one of the most popular choices because they are extremely durable and give the presenter a professional look. Laminate finishes are synthetic and usually less expensive.
 
There are many features that a person should consider when purchasing a podium, including:
 
1, Wheels that lock
2, Adjustable heights,
3, Built-in clock, and
4, Shelving on the inside
 
You should make sure that the dimensions of the wooden podium fit your space requirements and that you know your audio requirements. You should examine the wattage of the speakers, whether they are wired, or wireless controls, and if the podium includes a microphone. Inputs, outputs, and power supply must also be considered.
 
The price of a podium will depend on a number of factors. Floor units are more expensive than tabletop units. If you need an audio system, the podium price will increase substantially. Materials used in the construction of the podium, finishes, and customizations can also cause the price of podiums to vary.
 

Whiteboards and/or more elaborate presentation boards are an essential conference room accessory. Cabinets for them, made to match your conference table, credenza and hutch, enhance the look and function of your conference room. Nowadays there are also more versatile and complex paper and presentation management tools that incorporate white boards, tack boards, electronic presentation boards, and storage in room- wrap panels that turn your conference room into a dynamic center for learning, planning and strategizing.

As the walls continue to come down on meeting spaces, it’s important to keep your finger on the pulse of your staffs’ ideas and needs. These are going to continue to change and alter the landscape of your office design.

As wonderful as open plans are for use of space, you may find they want more privacy for certain conversations and tasks. Be flexible in your space planning and design decisions and think ahead for any eventuality.

The rules will keep changing and office furniture design will keep striving to stay ahead of the curve.