As you start setting up your office, you need to put a lot of emphasis on your conference room and make sure it’s properly equipped to cater to your employees’ and clients’ needs. The design of a conference room is of great importance as employees and members will spend quite a lot of time there, so you want it to promote comfort and productivity.
Further, you want it to leave a good impression on your clients, so equipping it with comfortable furniture (think ergonomic executive office chairs) as well as installing the proper technology can make a world of difference. But in order to make the right choices, there are a few key points you need to take into account.
Consider Your Clients’ Needs When Picking the Layout
There are quite a few layouts you can use for a conference room, including a U-style table, a large board table, just to name a few. To figure out which layout will suit you best, consider how the room will be used. If it’s only going to be used for presentations, a podium and rows of seats will work. If you’re going to have interactive meetings and briefings, everyone should be able to see each other and have enough workspace. Always make sure there’s enough space for people to move around. The most suitable layout should include furniture that is flexible and can be easily moved based on your needs. Buy executive office chairs that are ergonomic, functional and adjustable.
Respect Personal Space
Nobody likes attending a twenty-person meeting in a conference room that’s designed to fit only a dozen. If your team members or potential clients are crammed and are rubbing against people sitting next to them, they won’t be able to fully focus on the meeting. Make sure the room is designed to accommodate the number of people you’ll expect to use it at the same time. Then, equip it accordingly, in a way that doesn’t invite more people beyond its intended capacity. So if your conference room is designed to fit fifteen people, get fifteen matching, comfortable, ergonomic executive chairs.
Set the Lighting
The lighting design in your conference room is an underrated, yet crucial part, especially if you’re going to hold video conferences. Some make the mistake of picking overpowering lighting, when, instead, they should allow for as much natural lighting as possible. Consider getting adjustable lighting and minimising the interior lighting. Also, your best bet is choosing LED bulbs as they don’t emit too much heat. Check out some wellness-oriented co-working spaces, as they’re great examples of eco-lighting solutions that prioritise overall well-being and productivity.
Pick the Right Equipment
A conference room needs to have at least some basic equipment, and you should try including the latest technologies. At the very least, it should include a computer or two, an overhead projector, and perhaps a printer, speakers, remote controls, TVs, etc. Don’t forget to also include less-technological necessities, like a whiteboard and markers. You may need a podium for a speaker, so you’ll also want a decent microphone. Invest in high-quality video and audio equipment that’s up to date, is easy to configure and use. It should be powerful enough that connectivity, resolution or speed issues won’t derail video conferencing streams or presentations. If your equipment is outdated, prone to failure or has recurring connection issues, you won’t be able to manage your meetings and briefings efficiently.
Access Control Security
The conference room should be designed in a way that no one can easily access it and use it for whatever they like. This can be done with something simple like locks on the doors, or with the help of a more modern and tech-savvy solution. Think an electronic lock that can provide access via a mobile app for people with reservations, making the space fully automated. There are also cloud-based access control solutions that give shared workplace owners the change to charge hourly rates for their conference room without intervention from staff. Anyone can book the room when available through an application.
Benefits of a Well-Equipped Conference Room or Office
Technology has come a long way, and it has completely changed the face of modern offices. Nowadays, most offices are more proactive, and if you’re in the tech field, spontaneous interacting and collaboration between workers can lead to increased productivity. For these reasons, many employers are trying to make their workspaces as comfortable and ergonomic as possible. High-end executive furniture provides the ergonomic comfort even for longer working days, and personalised storage options can improve productivity by allowing convenient placement of equipment. Office furniture no longer means imposing heavy desks or tables that weigh down the appearance of the workplace. Instead, it refreshes any space and provides a solid investment for your hard-earned resources, while benefiting employees in terms of contentment and productivity.
