What to Consider When Buying a Conference Room Table

Purchasing a new conference room table may not seem like a very impactful decision, but it can change the whole dynamic of your office.  Here are some considerations you should take into account before purchasing.

How Big is Your Space?

The first thing to consider when purchasing a conference table is how much space you have available. If you have a large, open space, get a conference table that matches the size of the room. You don’t want a wide-open room with a tiny meeting room table in the center. To guests or clients, a disproportionate conference room table can come across as a lack of attention to detail or general carelessness.

On the other hand, a table that is so big people can’t walk around or get into their seats comfortably can also reflect poor planning on your part, so find a table that suits the space and amount of room you have available.

How Many People Need to be There?

If you have a very small team, a six-person conference table would perfectly a few team members and clients comfortably during meetings. A table that’s too big for a small meeting can make people feel distanced and discourage them from working together.

For larger companies and departments, you may want to invest in a larger conference room table to make sure everyone has enough space to collaborate without feeling crowded.

If you have multiple conference rooms, it’s a good idea to purchase different sized tables depending on the size of the rooms and how many people will be sitting at each table. That way, your team has options when planning their internal or client meetings.

What Shape Should You Choose?

Although it’s often put on the backburner, the shape of your conference table will impact how your team and clients collaborate. You have a few choices when it comes to shape. Here are two of the most popular options:

Oval or Circular Tables

Oval tables help foster collaboration and inclusion. At an oval table, everyone is able to see each other, relax a bit more, and share their ideas freely.

Rectangular or Square Tables

Rectangular conference room tables are generally seen as more traditional than oval tables. Much like a dining room table, rectangular tables allow for a subtle leadership hierarchy as opposed to a collaborative round table.

Of course, you can opt for other shapes or combinations of tables too. These two are just the most common, and it’s up to you how you want your team and clients to collaborate.

What Technology Do You Need?

After you decide what can fit in your office and how many people need to gather around, it’s time to think about some of the extras. Do your conference meetings usually require people to be on their laptops? If so, find a table that allows for an outlet station. If you’re often on the phone in the conference room, find a table that has a power center hole for all of the wires. If you video chat a lot, consider if everyone in the room is visible to the other party and make sure everyone in the room can see the screen. If you have other unique needs, carefully think about how your conference room table could help or hinder those needs.

Choosing the perfect conference room table for your team can be stressful. That’s why we’re here to help. Stop by our showroom, and we’ll help you figure out which table will perfectly fit your team’s needs!