Your conference room is one of the most important parts of your Boston office. This is where critical meetings, client presentations, and team gatherings happen. The furniture you choose for the area can make the difference between a comfortable, effective room and a cramped, disorganized space.
Check out our conference room furniture buying guide below and learn how to outfit this part of your office with the right components.
Measure Your Space Before Shopping for Conference Room Furniture
First thing’s first – you need to measure your conference room. It’s difficult (or impossible) to find office furniture that fits well if you don’t have an idea of how much space you really have to work with. Start by measuring the length and width of the space and then use those measurements to calculate your total available square footage.
What to Know When Selecting a Conference Table
Now, it’s time to choose your conference table. This is the focal point of your meeting room, so getting this part wrong will affect every other aspect of the space. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Consider what materials you want. Laminate and wood veneer is less expensive and can be a better fit for Boston offices on a budget, but solid wood is more durable and lasts longer.
- Think about how many people you need to seat. You don’t want to cram in the maximum number of people you can possibly fit around the table. Instead, you want to find a balance between seating, elbow room, and space around chairs.
- Consider the future needs of your office. Is your team expected to grow and do you need a modular conference table to accommodate this? Or should you select a larger conference table than what you currently need to make room for new hires as they come along?
Up Next: Conference Room Chairs
Once you’ve selected a table or have narrowed down your choices, it’s time to think about seating. Conference room chairs need to be comfortable, ergonomic, and space-conscious since there will be multiple chairs in a single area.
Don’t assume that a conference table advertised as seating 10 people will comfortably accommodate any 10 chairs. Chair width, armrests, and the table’s leg placement can all affect how many chairs you actually need.
Check the dimensions of the chairs you’re considering buying against the table and your available floor space. Make sure there’s enough room for people to pull their chairs back and move around comfortably.
Don’t Forget Tech
Conference room furniture should also be set up for the technology your team uses for meetings and presentations. When selecting tables and chairs, keep in mind where monitors, telephones, cameras, and other AV equipment will go. Make sure all people seated at the table can clearly see presentation screens without having to crane their neck or turn awkwardly in their seats.
Many tables also have built-in power or USB outlets and cable management systems that help reduce cord clutter. The last thing you want to do is buy a whole conference room table and chairs set only to later realize there’s no good way to hook up your technology.
Delivery and Installation Tips
Getting your conference room furniture into your Boston office can be just as challenging as choosing it. Older buildings, narrow staircases, limited loading areas, and freight elevator restrictions can all make the delivery and installation process more complex.
Ideally, you should measure doorways, elevators, and other openings furniture will need to pass through before reaching its final destination. Then, compare these to your conference room table and chair measurements to see if they’ll fit.
Working with a Massachusetts conference room furniture supplier that offers professional delivery and installation can simplify the process. An experienced local team like Ideal Office can coordinate building access, handle bulky conference tables, assemble furniture, and arrange everything according to your planned layout.
Ideal Office Is Your One-Stop-Shop for Conference Room Furniture in Boston
You can create a well-equipped, functional meeting room with conference room furniture from Ideal Office. We’re locally based in Methuen, MA and serve the surrounding areas of Boston, Andover, Salem, and more. Contact us online or call (978) 327-5327 today to get started. We provide everything you need from new and refurbished office furniture to design services, delivery, and installation.