The right conference room layout design can make a huge difference in the workplace, boosting creativity and leading to more productive meetings. Conference rooms are an essential part of any modern office, as more of us participate in video calls, give digital presentations, and collaborate on projects.
As more people return to the office, conferencing is more important than ever. Are you making the most out of your conference room, or lacking inspiration? Here are some of our top tips for designing, furnishing, and laying out the perfect conference space.
Essential furniture for your conference room
Alongside audio-visual equipment and WiFi, you’ll also need a selection of great office furniture.
Your furniture will set the tone for your conference room and make an impression on staff and visitors. Here are some of the main pieces to consider:
Conference table
Invest in a sturdy, spacious conference table that accommodates several people comfortably. Choose a shape and size that complements the room size and desired layout. A boardroom-style table is a classic option, while U-shaped tables work well when focus is on one end of the room. You’ll also need to consider the positioning of your furniture. Do you prefer a landscape or portrait approach?
Ergonomic chairs
Ergonomic office chairs provide support and comfort for long presentations and meetings. Adjustable features ensure that different users can easily adjust the chair to suit their specific body shape providing optimal comfort and support. Getting these adjustments just right for them means that people can stay comfortable, engaged, and active.
Storage solutions
Storage cabinets and shelves can keep your room organised and clutter-free, enabling your team to focus on the tasks at hand.
Our top picks for conference room seating
Not every chair is designed to sit in a conference room, so you’ll need to choose carefully.
Buro has a wide range of conference chairs and ergonomic chairs ready-made for conference spaces.
Stackable chairs are popular with organisations that want to host larger conferences and have the flexibility to stack the chairs out of the way when they’re not needed.
Here are three of our best stackable chairs:
The Buro Maxim is an all-purpose stacking chair fit for any conference or boardroom. Its sled frame provides superior support, while upholstered padding adds comfort for long meetings.
The Buro Lindis is another stackable space-saving chair. There are four versions of the Lindis to pick from; options with or without arms, one with a mesh back, or the Lindis Sled (indent) for unsurpassed comfort.
Our Buro Essence chair has an extra wide moulded foam backrest and seat. Ideal for longer brainstorming sessions and presentations.
A robust all-purpose staking chair, the Buro Maxim with a sled frame provides superior user comfort with an upholstered foam seat pad.
The sleek lines of the Buro Lindis guest chair command a formidable presence in any conference room. Featuring a strong reflective powder-coated stackable sled frame (indent), or select a 4 leg base option.
Case study: Dunedin City Council
We love to see our furniture in well-designed conference spaces around the world, and the Dunedin City Council Conference Room has used our seating to great effect.
Dunedin’s council engages in long, active sessions all year round, and meetings can last for hours on end. Gatherings often involve guests and members of the public, so the council needed a range of different seating options.
The team wanted seating that could prioritise the comfort and wellbeing of their members while also offering ergonomic options for guests.
NZ reseller Metalon provided the Dunedin council with thirty Buro Metro II office chairs for councillors and 10 Buro Essence chairs for visitors. The chairs were selected for their ergonomics, strength, and support.
The collaboration between the council, Metalon, and Buro ensured everyone was happy, with great seating for council members and comfortable, modern seating for guests.
Design and layout
Now you have some furniture inspiration, let’s talk layout and design.
Design components to consider
Generally what differentiates a conference room from a meeting room is size. Conference rooms can cater to larger groups of people; however it should feel spacious rather than stuffy. Having more space will enable better movement and communication, leading to more productive meetings.
Light is another important issue. A conference room should be filled with natural light. Good lighting can boost concentration, while a dark room can result in a loss of focus. Is extra lighting required above your table?
Audio-visual equipment: your conference room won’t work without the best audio-visual equipment for in-person meetings and conference calls. Strong internet connectivity, 4k video conference capabilities, and a decent sound system are vital.
Classic layout options
Conference room layout design can make or break your meeting space. A great setup can create a dynamic environment and bring the best out in people, but poorly designed rooms can leave staff feeling disengaged.
Is your conference room for board meetings and executive strategy? Or team brainstorming sessions? Your layout needs to be tailored accordingly.
Here are some of the most common conference room layout design options:
Boardroom style
This classic style features a long rectangular table with chairs on each end and either side. The boardroom style can suit group work as well as client meetings.
U-shape
Another popular setup, a u-shaped table works well for presentations, demonstrations, and video conferences where the focus is on one end of the room. This setup can be adjusted to suit smaller all larger conference rooms as demonstrated in the images below.
Hollow square
A hollow square table layout is a good choice for easy group communication, but takes up more space. Better suited to large conference rooms.
Theatre
A theatre style seating arrangement features rows of chairs facing the front area of the room.
Rutland Street Church set up in a theatre style layout with Buro Envy chairs.
Extra tips for boosting attendee engagement
As more people return to the office, your conference room should be an inviting place to encourage participation and idea-sharing.
Here are three extra tips to boost engagement:
Remember the view
Ensure everyone in your conference room can see and hear the moderator of your meeting. It’s important to consider where the facilitator will stand; they should be front and centre for maximum engagement.
Use tech to your advantage
Interactive tools can keep participants engaged and energised. Multimedia presentations are a great way to keep people interested, so a quality audio-visual setup is key.
Embrace hybrid design
Most of your conference meetings will be attended by both office employees and remote workers. Room configuration should support both, so think about where to point your cameras and screens.
Now you’ve learnt all about conference room layout design, take a look at our range of boardroom and conference room seating for more inspiration.
