conference tables

When selecting the right size conference table for your room, you will need to address to two important factors. How many people do I need to accommodate seating for around the table and how large is the conference room?

The rule of thumb for determining how many people can fit at a conference table is quite simple. Add one person for each foot. For example, a 10 ft conference table can accommodate 10 people. Four people can sit on either side of the table and then one person on each end of table.

Now that you have figured out the best size table to meet your seating needs, here comes the difficult part. Will the table fit in the room comfortably? You do not want a table that is too large for a space. How do you gage whether the table will fit comfortably? There is a trick to answer this question. Take the dimensions of the room. Then subtract the length of the table from room length. Also subtract the width of the table from room width. You want to have 6 feet of space between table edge and wall on all sides of table. If your dimensions are 6 ft or more than your table will fit very comfortably. If dimensions are 5 ft this should be okay for the space. However, if less than 5 ft you may wish to select either a round table or sacrifice seating and go with smaller table.

Our product focus of the week brings us to modern day Italy.  This beautiful contemporary 6 ft conference table features an Italian "floating" style table top bringing an air of sophistication to any conference room.  The table is made with AA-grade select North American hardwood veneers and features a rich sierra cherry finish (also available in mahogany and golden cherry finish).  The veneer surface is protected with two coats of high-tech catalyzed lacquer to protect table from wear and tear.

It is the perfect table for small group meetings, comfortably seating between 4 to 6 people.  The table comes with pre-installed grommet hole for easy wire management.  Table dimensions are 72" L x 36" W x 29.5" H.

Trendy new start-up companies run by Generation Yers are looking for conference furniture that is a bit more edgy. Unlike the Baby Boomers and Generation X, these folks do not want to play it safe with black leather chairs.  They want to show a bit of their personality.  After all, this generation grew up with being able to customize everything from their laptop to their phones.  Why not their furniture as well?

Instead of traditional black leather chairs, they are choosing to go with mesh.  Mesh chairs are known for their contemporary look.  Our mesh computer chairs have been a popular favorite.  The mesh computer chair is a two toned chair.  The padded seat cushion is black, however the mesh back is offered in purple, blue, green, and orange.   Companies are buying these multicolor chairs to add personality to their conference rooms instead of painting the conference room walls.

We are also noticing that this group of Gen Yers is selecting mocha and constellation java table tops over the traditional cherry and mahogany finishes.  The Mocha 12’ boat-shaped table with pre-cut grommet holes is one of our best selling conference tables.

Both the mesh computer chairs and boat-shaped conference table have some traditional lines but the materials and colors used make them more contemporary in design.  As more of Generation Y enters the work force, we can expect conference furniture to become more customizable with a variety of color and fabric options.

When planning out your conference room it is important to select the correct size table for your room dimensions while keeping in mind the number of people needed to be seated . The ideal table for 4 or 5 people is a 48-inch round, because at that size everyone can equally be in engaged in the conversation.  It is the perfect table to maintain ongoing communication without anyone feeling isolated.  The CDA-R84LS and 4R8491S showcased below are good examples of 48” round conference tables.

For a bigger gathering, a rectangular table works best.  For 6-8 people, try a 10’ rectangular table such as the 10 ft Boat-Shaped Conference Table - 021CTC-MAH.  We would recommend staying under 48” W so people can talk comfortably across the table.

For larger gatherings of 8 or more people, stick to tables that are 12’ to 18’ range.  May we suggest the 41 TMC-MAH 14 ft boat-shaped conference table?  You might also wish to add surface power modules in these larger tables so that workers have multiple data sources to plug in their computers.