Revamp Your Boring Boardroom In Five Easy Steps

The boardroom. A place where pitches are won, important decisions are made and ideas are born. A well designed meeting room can inspire creativity, encourage collaboration and boost productivity. With so much importance placed on this area of the office, it only makes sense to ensure that it looks the part. If you want to transform your boring boardroom into an appealing and inspiring space, follow these five easy steps.   1. Make sure your furniture is up to scratch   When giving your boardroom a makeover, your first port of call should be to make sure that the furniture is up to scratch. After all, we all know that meetings and conferences can sometimes go on for longer than expected, so it’s important to ensure that you and your attendees are as comfortable as possible. As well as preventing aches and pains, having high quality furniture can also work wonders for your brand. If your chairs and tables look worn out and shabby, this is what others will think of your business. By giving your furniture a modern update, you’ll be able to project a sense of success and instil confidence in your employees and clients that you are sufficiently equipped to complete the task at hand.   With such a wide selection of high quality, affordable ergonomic tables and chairs now available, there really is no excuse for having inadequate office furniture. When selecting chairs, make sure that they can be adjusted by height and tilt. It’s also important to choose a table that is suited to the purpose of the room. For example, round tables can help to encourage collaboration and promote teamwork, while long, rectangular tables are suitable for more formal meetings or conferences.   2. Focus on the aesthetics   When it comes to boardrooms, first impressions count. The appearance of the room can have an impact on both productivity and how your business is perceived by others. Whether you’re conducting an interview, trying to impress a prospective client or delivering an important presentation to your team, having an aesthetically pleasing space will help you to leave a favourable impression.   Sometimes, a fresh lick of paint is all you need to breathe new life into a room. Forget monotonous beiges and opt for colours that mirror your company’s personality. For example, if you want to project a sense of fun and innovation, choose bold, bright hues such as oranges, reds and yellows. Greens and blues can be used to achieve a sophisticated, professional look while blacks and dark shades are more commanding and can project a sense of authority. Be careful not to go overboard with your colour scheme though - you don’t want your walls to become too much of a distraction.   Having the right lighting can also help to set the tone and mood of a space. If possible, try to let lots of natural light into the room, as this can make people feel more relaxed and nurture productivity. Get rid of those headache-inducing fluorescent lights you had installed 10 years ago and replace them with something more subtle and up to date. Dimming lights work especially well in rooms where meetings are held as they can help to create a more intimate atmosphere.   3. Make the room reflect your brand   Office design provides the perfect opportunity to express your company culture and aspirations. Whether you’re a new creative agency or an established law firm, your boardroom should be a seamless extension of your brand. Think beyond simply displaying your logo and having branded stationery and try to base the entire design of the room on how you want others to view your business. For example, to create a formal, traditional appearance, opt for a classic wooden table and black leather chairs. For something a little more cutting edge, choose a high gloss table and colourful, modern chair designs. Whether it’s ultra modern and creative or trustworthy and traditional, be consistent with your style. Displaying awards and accomplishments in your boardroom is also a great way to help boost your brand.   4. Leave plenty of space   Another important consideration is space. Having plenty of room helps to foster creativity and promote free thinking. If you have to shuffle against the wall to get to your seat and you’ve got a filing cabinet blocking the entrance, now’s the time to rethink your layout.   A well designed boardroom not only leaves enough space for the table and chairs, but it also allows ample room for people to move about freely. It’s important to ensure that the room is clutter-free too. Having glass partitions and hanging large mirrors can also help to create the illusion of extra space.   For companies that are continually fluctuating in size, it can be hard to know how much room you need around the table. For added flexibility, consider investing in a modular boardroom table that can be adapted to suit your changing requirements and accommodate for the growth of your company. This way, you can add more space as and when you need it.   5. Update your facilities   As well as the appearance, you’ll also need to think about functionality. If you want to create a contemporary, multi-functional space that isn’t just style over substance, it’s important to make sure that your boardroom is well equipped.   Whether it’s being used by employees or clients, your meeting room should include all the essential amenities, including presentation aids, projectors, white boards, lecterns and any video conference equipment you need. However, that’s not to say you have to splash out on state-of-the-art technology. Small touches like a water cooler, air conditioning units and promotional pens and paper can also make a big difference and will show your staff and visitors that you’ve taken their needs into consideration. Your boardroom says a lot about the success, aspirations and personality of your company, so it’s crucial that the design scheme is carefully considered. Here at Furniture At Work™, we offer a wide range of boardroom furniture that can help transform a lacklustre room into a stylish, boast-worthy meeting space. Whether you’re looking to accommodate 10 or 50 people, we have a solution to suit your specific needs and budget.