It is a powerful communication instrument, a tangible expression of the company’s identity which revals the company’s values, aims and culture to workers, customers and partners.
And in a time when image is fundamental to market positioning, this gets very important, becoming the way to interpret the company’s essence itself.
If you have the opportunity to decorate or renovate the meeting room, you therefore have to aim at creating an environment which favours communication and efficiency but also which reflects the company’s identity.
This guide is conceived to move among design trends, materials choices and functional solutions to turn the meeting room into a space where beauty and business are pleasantly combined. An ode to beauty, which employs usefulness in the world of art and design.
Space, materials, lights, design objects: some recommendations to furnish a meeting room
1. How to organise a meeting room keeping space integrity unchanged
The first step to organise a meeting room in the right way is to consider the available space you have. This requires a careful study of various key elements in order to create a functional, nice environment which can encourage interaction and co-operation.
First of all, it is important to consider the size of the room and if it can comfortably house the expected number of participants. This implies having enough space for chairs and tables and also an arrangement which improves visibility and mutual listening, encouraging efficient communication. Ergonomics is pivotal: design pieces of furniture have to be nice, of course, but also suitable to long sessions, preventing weariness and inconveniences.
Meeting room in the office: which materials to choose?
Choosing the materials for a meeting room in the office is not only an aesthetic matter. Various resarches have proved this process directly affects the working atmosphere.
High quality materials enhance the design of the room and affect the participants’ well-being.
Which materials to choose to create a functional, elegant, cosy space?
- Wood: it is an evergreen, able to decorate the meeting room with warmth and naturalness. Choosing high quality wood as walnut and durmast for the table adds a touch of elegance and strength and insures reliability and stability. Wood can be also used for decorative elements and finishes, creating a cosy, stimulating atmosphere.
- Glass: it is ideal to convey openness, transparency and modernity. Tables, dividing walls or decorations made of glass help to create a well-lit, visually wider environment, enhancing natural light diffusion. Glass can be used with metal or wood, for a modern, cosy combination.
- Metals: they offer a modern look and they are appreciated for their durability and easy cleaning. Used for the table feet, to display technological devices or as decorative, structural elements, metals give a modern, industrial touch to the meeting room, enhancing its atmosphere of efficiency and innovation.
3. Lighting: a scenographic element in a modern meeting room
Lighting is pivotal in the design of a modern meeting room.
A well-conceived lighting can totally change the way space is perceived, it can affect the participants’ mood and improve concentration and productivity.
In order to obtain this, it is fundamental to consider various types of lighting which, combined one with the others, create a dynamic, versatile environment able to suit various needs and various moments in the working day:
Natural lighting: it is the best to enhance one’s mood and productivity. Whenever it is possible, it is very important to design the meeting room in order to allow as much natural light as possible through windows and skylights. It is anyway equally important to use solutions to control natural light intensity, such as adjustable curtains or roller shutters, to avoid dazzles which might disturb the meeting.
Direct room lighting: room lighting provides a uniform lighting base which prevents shades and creates a cosy atmosphere. Pendant lamps, built-in spotlights or strategically placed led stripes are perfect for this.
Table lamps which improve visibility and attention without fatiguing sight are very useful to highlight specific areas. Choosing design models enhances refinement, turning lighting into a real furnishing element.
Eye-catching lighting: it is useful to create centres of attention in the room, highlighting works of art, informative panels or architectural elements. This type of lighting can visually enlarge space and create a dynamic, stimulating atmosphere, enhancing creativity and inspiration during the meetings.
4. What is necessary in a meeting room: the furnishing objects which turn work environment into design space
Besides fundamental pieces of furniture like tables and chairs, there are some furnishing objects thanks to which the meeting room turns from functional space into stimulating, cosy environment.
Although these elements could seem of secondary importance, they are crucial in the room, since they improve its look and have an important role in defining its atmosphere and encouraging a positive, productive working mood.
Bookcase: if it is well organised, the bookcase offers a practical solution to keep professional books, catalogues, documents; it is also a decorative element which makes the room look nicer, more interesting. The materials the bookcase is made of and its style should match the general look of the room, embellishing it.
Bookends: useful to organise books, reading material or important documents, they can turn into wonderful design objects which embellish the interior they are used in. You can choose their materials and style according to the room interior design, for coherence and elegance.
Wall clock: it is both a tool to monitor the passing of time during the meeting and a decorative element. Choosing a clock which reflects the company’s style can give a touch of elegance and personality to the meeting room, while making sure the participants respect the meeting schedule.
- Vases: putting vases with fresh plants or flowers in the meeting room is a simple, effective way to bring a touch of nature in it, improving the quality of the air and creating a relaxing corner. Decorative vases without plants can be objects of art which add colour and textures to the room, creating a livelier environment.
- Paintings: high-quality paintings can enhance the exclusivity and refinement of the meeting room, also acting as “transfer” of quietness, concentration, creative energy.
It is important to keep the colour and the style of the existing interior design into consideration, choosing products which match them even when slightly differing from them.
The painting size has to be proportioned to and balanced with the room size, insuring art is visible from any parts in the room.
5. Integrated, discreet technology
In our digital era technology is a necessary aspect in every meeting room. From a design point of view, however, it must be integrated in order not to hinder the visual harmony of the space.
Hidden screens, disguised audio-visual systems and solutions to handle the cables are necessary for the room to look clean and organised.
Furnishing a design meeting room is a challenge that requires a deep understanding of the balance between form and function.
Materials, lighting, decorative objects: every element contributes towards the visual and emotional characterisation of this environment, turning it into a place where ideas are generated, developed and shared in an atmosphere of co-operation.
The creation of such a unique, personal space requires a vision. Where to start from? Discover L’Oca Nera’s proposals!
