Ask These 7 Questions Before Buying A New Conference Table:

 

Purchasing a new conference table should be a fun and exciting experience for your business. To get the most out of this process, it's important to ask the essential questions necessary to determine the table that's right for your specific needs. In today's post we'll share the 7 questions any conference table shopper should ask before making a final decision.

1.) What size table is right for my space?

To determine the correct size conference table for your meeting area, you must first obtain accurate dimensions of your space. Start by measuring the perimeter of your conference room. Be sure to notate the electrical outlets, entry ways, and windows. Based on your dimensions, you'll want to select a table that fits accordingly while leaving plenty of room for conference room chairs and accent furniture as well as room to walk around comfortably. Rest assured, a crowded conference room space does not leave an excellent impression on guests!

2.) How many guests do I want to accommodate?

When shopping for conference tables it's important consider how many guests you hope to accommodate comfortably. While the average response is "as many as possible", a simple formula will help you determine how many can sit at a table based on it's size. On average, you'll want to use around 3' of space per person. For example, a 6' conference table will sit 2 users comfortably per side. A 10' conference table will accommodate 3 users comfortably per side, and so on. Be sure to take into account the dimensions of your selected chairs to confirm. In most cases you can also add 2 additional guests at the table ends depending on the shape of table you choose.

3.) What table shapes are best for my area?

Conference and boardroom tables come in a variety of shapes. While smaller meeting areas typically use round and square top tables, larger areas can benefit by using racetrack, boat shaped, elliptical, and rectangular styles. Racetrack tables feature an oval top design (or racetrack shape) that allows users to sit comfortably around the natural curvature of the tables top. Boat shaped tables feature curved sides and square off ends. This style typically used by businesses looking to sit guests at the table ends. Elliptical tables offer a sophisticated modern look that's highlighted by curved ends that come to a point. This style is ideal for contemporary meeting areas and spaces with narrow design characteristics.

4.) What brands offer the best conference tables?

You'll be at no shortage of quality office furniture manufacturers to choose between when shopping for your new conference table. That being said, you can never go wrong with any of the big three! Mayline, Cherryman Industries, and Global Total Office all offer excellent conference tables from a variety of full service collections that include the matching accent furniture needed to complete your full boardroom makeover project with a cohesive look.

5.) What should I spend on a new conference table?

It's very important to set a respectable budget for your conference room makeover project. The price of your new table will vary depending on the style, brand, size, and features. Basic 6' conference tables can be purchased for as little as $350.00, while high end wood veneer tables can range well into the thousands. Before starting the shopping process, work with your team to determine a price point your comfortable with. This will prevent falling in love with a table that leaves your business over extended. Be sure to inquire with you dealer of choice about current specials, free shipping, bulk discounts, and coupons for additional savings.

6.) What finish should I choose?

Office furniture finishes like cherry, mahogany, maple, and walnut will always be popular options for the conference room. These classic tones can be used effectively in both modern and traditional meeting environments. In 2014, trending tones like mocha, espresso, gray, and white have burst onto the scene. Those looking to achieve a cutting edge conference room look will want to shop for tables with these hot finish options!

7.) When do I need my table by?

While most brands offer in stock conference room table options that ship within a few business days, others provide made to order products that take several weeks to manufacture. Based on your project completion deadline, inquire with your dealer of choice about which models and brands will be right for you.

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Boardroom Basics: Design Tips for Office Meeting Areas

Designing any space can be a big challenge, but with the right tricks, you can decorate with the best of them. Boardrooms and meeting areas are all about impressing visitors. If you're considering a makeover for your office meeting space, here are some excellent design tips you should never be without!

Effective Space Planning Is Essential

Proper space planning is probably the most important part of any decorating project. Without knowing the exact dimensions of the space you're working with and the furniture you want, finding the right fit can turn into a disaster. Before you go purchasing furniture, get a few friends or co-workers to help you measure your space. Make a scale drawing with measurements on a piece of graph paper, and be sure to make note of entryways, windows, and power outlets too. Later, you can even use this paper to help determine a good furniture layout. Just remember to measure twice!

Assess your Needs Before Shopping

Once you've determined the dimensions of the boardroom, it's time to address specific needs. Ask yourself questions like how many guests you want to seat regularly. Allowing around three feet of table space for each guest, choose from quality conference tables with different sizes to find the right fit for your space. A six foot conference table will comfortably sit two people on each side, while an eight foot table can usually fit six people with two on the ends. Also try to consider whether the room will be used for other purposes, in which case modular or adjustable conference tables like the Bungee tables by Global would make an effective choice.

Choose A Style That Showcases Your Business Personality

Different businesses provide different products and services, so it's easy to imagine each one with a certain personality. A pediatrics office for children will look very different than a fancy perfume brand's office or an industrial technology manufacturer. When designing any office space, try to be sure that your boardroom reflects your company's goals and ideals. Popular styles in 2014 include mid century modern, modular, traditional, classy, contemporary, and industrial. Because boardrooms are all about impressing the bigwigs, industrial conference room furniture with dark wood, glass, and chrome accents to highlight the future is probably the most popular choice in recent years.

Paint Before Purchasing

Ever made the mistake of buying brand new furniture and then trying to paint the walls? If you didn't, good - don't! Painting around fancy new furniture is tough work, and it's also a potential mess in the making. It's fine to pick out new furniture so you can decide on a paint choice (RFM Preferred Seating furniture for sale has lots of color choices). Just make sure to save the purchasing until after your painting project is well underway. If you can, try to make sure you can set a delivery date, so you know exactly when your new boardroom furniture will arrive. That way, you'll have removed all the old stuff, painted the walls, and your new meeting space will be ready for the new arrivals!

Find a Good Deal

Finding a good deal on expensive high end furniture takes some extra attention, but if you know how to search, you'll be done in a flash. Try to seek out popular boardroom tables for less by shopping from brands with free shipping. Once you've found a dealer you like, don't ever be afraid to call them up. Many dealers know a great deal more about furniture, decorating, and the installation process than you could ever dream, and they're always open to sharing knowledge and tips. Asking for deals over the phone may get you free access to bulk discounts, coupons, special furniture sales, and other great perks. Some dealers may even be able to suggest tips you never thought of like setting delivery dates, popular furniture for boardrooms, layout options, and tricks to setting up new furniture!

Make Comfort A Priority

Trying to keep meeting area guests engaged is hard enough without the distraction of uncomfortable furniture, so it's imperative that every meeting place makes comfort a priority. You don't want the fancy business executives going back complaining about how inhospitable your office was. To avert this, choose cool leather chairs for conference and meeting applications that have cozy ergonomic features. Simple things like articulating backs, height adjustment, and waterfall seats can drastically improve the comfort of your boardroom, so keep your eyes peeled for those features when shopping.

Don't Forget the Details

Boardrooms aren't just about style and impression, they're also about utility. Having the right presentation accessories for office meeting applications can improve guest experience and always ensures your boardroom is prepared for all the ways people present ideas and learn. Lecterns, whiteboard cabinets, and computer gadgetry are all beneficial to meeting areas since they are some of the most common ways of sharing ideas in the workplace. Now that your boardroom is all but complete, add these accessories and enjoy your new space!

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Popular Boardroom Design Trends of 2014

Boardrooms are a quintessential part of almost every high end office. Not only are they places where the future of the company is decided, but they must also be stylish enough to play host to visiting executives. In short, boardrooms are a delicate balance of sophisticated style and functionality. To help you design your boardroom space, here are the top boardroom design trends of 2014. Enjoy!

Elliptical Tables

Choosing stylish boardroom tables with modern design is the first step to creating a professional space for meetings. While there is a vast sea of amazing tables out there perfect for conference use, 2014 has shown elliptical tables to be the catch of the day! Unlike rectangular and boat shaped tables, elliptical designs use subtle curves to create the perfect mix of elegance and contemporary appeal. Since circular tables typically only fit small board rooms, ellipticals are a great way to comfortably fit more people while still maintaining the same air of equality offered by round tables. They're offered in tons of colors and sizes for convenience. Just add some cool modern chairs and you're set!

Industrial Style

Like elliptical tables, industrial design has proven to be a big trend this year, and it's no surprise as to why. Businesses everywhere want to show progressiveness and an inclination towards the future. Naturally, going with a high tech style to match high tech ideals is a great way to show them off! Tables like the JUNCTION 1 Modular Table by Global offer a wonderfully industrial style. With a unique elliptical top and a shining tungsten frame, all users have to do is choose an appealing dark wood finish such as tiger mahogany or espresso, and they're well on their way to a high end place to treat guests.

Add Glass for Class

For anyone that really wants to pursue a clean, industrial look, nothing says elegance like glass. Because of its see-through quality, glass seems to have a magic ability to increase the illusion of space in a room, making it an excellent decorating material for small offices. In addition, glass accents and tables have a certain class about them that just can't be ignored. The GT4794 Contemporary Glass Table by OFM features a simplistic style with gentle curves and stainless steel for the ultimate in modern style. The result is a gorgeously effortless look with a light, airy feel that's sure to turn heads in the workplace.

Dark Wood Finishes

Dark wood furniture seems to have become another staple of the industrial look in 2014, and it isn't that hard to figure out why. Pairing dark, stylish wood tables for boardroom use with bright, shiny chrome, glass, and steel makes for a great contrast in any space. Altogether, the look becomes a study in light and dark, with the chrome and glass hinting towards the modern, and the dark wood furniture providing a traditional sense of class. Executives and coworkers alike will love and appreciate the well balanced look. All it needs is one last thing...

White Conference Chairs

White chairs are a beautiful way to complete the industrial style for a new boardroom. All too often, designers stress over what sort of seating to put in a meeting area. Finding a chair that's comfortable enough to sit in for hour long conferences but also has enough class to hold its own against a stunning industrial designed boardroom is no easy task. However, going with white mesh or upholstery like the Hendrix-HB-WH Contemporary Managers Chair by Woodstock helps ensure that everything matches. The white will provide the perfect highlight to any dark wood tables, and it also provides a clean, professional feel that any executive can appreciate!

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Office Design: Creating A Professional Conference Room

Designing a professional conference room area for your business can be a difficult task, but it doesn't have to be! In today's article we'll showcase helpful design tips and product suggestions sure to help you create a meeting area designed for optimal productivity. From space planning to design ideas, we have your every conference room makeover need covered!

As with any office makeover project, the first step to creating a professional conference room area is space planning. It's vitally important to measure your space effectively notating power outlets, entry ways, windows, and load bearing members. Create a diagram of your area and sketch a few simple designs of what you think will work best. Meeting with an office interior design team or furniture specialist will definitely provide valuable insight as to what products will work best for your space.

Once you've got your space measured, it's time to choose a furniture style. Do a simple online search for "conference room decor ideas" to get some inspiration. In addition to search engines, sites like Pinterest can also be a big help! The most popular style of 2014 is most definitely modern. Most businesses are looking to keep their office decor on the cutting edge with modern meeting tables for sale from the hottest brands. Those not in love with the modern look will want to focus on a more traditional theme for their space.

Now that you've got some inspiration and a desired style in mind, it's time to shop! As the most fun part of any design process, shopping for conference furniture online will provide you with ample product suggestions to meet your specific needs. Not to worry though, we've showcased some of our favorite lines below to keep you from getting overwhelmed!

Top Collections Include:

Napoli Series Conference Furniture

Verde Series Conference Furniture

Aberdeen Series Conference Furniture

Once you've chosen a line, take the time to comparison shop using various online resources like Google Product Search and other engines to find optimal savings. You'll be surprised how many vendors offer coupons, bulk discount packages, and free shipping to earn your business. The list below shows the essential products you'll need to get your space up and running efficiently.

Most Conference Rooms Need:

1. Conference Table
2. Storage Components (wall cabinets and credenzas are typically the best choice)
3. Presentation Board
4. Lectern or Podium
5. Seating

Next, you'll want to schedule a delivery day for your new furniture if you're planning to handle the installation process yourself. You may also choose to have your products ship to a professional installer in your area and most reputable online furniture providers will have a list of quality suggestions. In most cases, conference room furniture installation is pretty basic. Table tops typically connect easily to bases and can be assembled quite quickly. The most time consuming part of the installation process will be assembling your chairs. However, once you've done one the process picks up and you can use a team approach to get done faster.

Here's Some Helpful Product Receiving and Installation Tips to Remember:

1. Prep Your Area: Having your office ready to receive new furniture is very important. Make sure you allot the necessary time to remove old products from your space the day before you're new products arrive.
2. Designate A Staging Area: Creating a staging area to welcome new products will help you save time while eliminating the need to move items multiple times.
3. New Furniture Creates Debris: Your new furniture should arrive well packaged and often palletized. When the uncartoning process begins, a lot of packing materials and associated debris will be created. make sure you have the dumpster space or exit strategy to remove waste effectively.

Once the installation process is complete and all packaging materials are removed, it should be about time to host your first meeting in your new space. Be sure to share your design success with fellow coworkers to showcase just how great a job you've done!

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