Tell Me More: Conference Room Tables You have different options for conference room tables depending on how many people you will host, how intimate you want meetings to be, and the quality you seek. Boardroom tables: Conference room tables available in a variety of shapes such as boat top (featuring a curved width), racetrack (its oval shape resembles a speedway), or rectangular. Boardroom tables typically feature wood and wood veneers with top quality construction. Depending on the length and width of the table you select, you can comfortably seat six to 16 people. Boardroom tables typically ship fully assembled. Round tables: Appropriate conference room tables for areas with limited space. These are best suited in additional conference rooms for employee use only. The small size keeps participants closer together for more personal discussions. Round tables ship fully assembled and feature a solid base. Wood tables: Provides the best appearance so guests form a strong perception of the type of company you run. Wood tables are the costlier option, but the high quality construction will make the tables durable for 10 to 15 years or longer. Laminate tables: Lower cost conference room tables best for providing a solid writing surface for employees and guests. These could feature a lower-grade of wood with a laminate, which is a thin transparent plastic coating to protect the finish from scratches and nicks. Armrests: Armrests can be adjusted vertically or horizontally to support the forearms and elbows while typing, helping employees avoid discomfort in the shoulders, wrists, and neck. Padded armrests can offer even more comfort. Some chairs feature armrests that fold out of the way when not in use. Regardless which conference room table you decide to buy, be sure to research your purchase in advance. Check out the manufacturer’s website to get all details of the materials used, the customization options, and the type of warranty you get. You should also check out reviews of the table at vendor-neutral furniture review websites. If possible, try to visit the store so you can see the quality of the table in person to decide if it’s the best fit for your business. Meeting room tables You have multiple options when it comes to arranging meeting room tables for your business. Many desks are available in various shapes and sold in pieces so you can form one large work area for your participants. For instance, you can surround rectangular tables with half-circle tables to create an oval “racetrack” style setup. This allows comfortable seating for everyone at the meeting, includes those sitting at the corners. Meeting room tables can provide a mobile and modular solution for presentations and brainstorming sessions. Casters provide mobility to transport sections of the table around. They can be lightweight and portable for easy setup and storage. Special connectors can lock individual pieces of the tables together. You can also order tables with a thick laminate top to provide a nice work area for writing or reviewing documents. Meeting room table usage There are many ways to layout your meeting room tables depending on how close you want participants to sit and where you want the focus to be: Square: Enhances close discussion and eye contact for small group sessions U-shaped: Horseshoe design that allows easy exchange of ideas E-shaped: Add-on to U-shaped tables that allow you to invite more people T-shape: Add-on to U-shaped tables that provides a center table for more work space V-shape: Angled tables towards the front of the room to encourage eye contact and open discussion Classroom style: Several rows of tables and chairs facing the front of the room for training sessions or orientations