Meeting rooms in workplaces can be quite dull and tired-looking, making employees and visitors alike feel uncomfortable and unproductive when in important meetings. Having plain, boring décor paired with uncomfortable and old furniture in meeting and conference rooms gives employees a lack of motivation and switches their brains off, not listening to any vital information that is being discussed.
If your business’s meeting rooms are looking tired, or feeling old, or you are planning on making new meeting rooms, then transform your meeting spaces with these useful tips to create functional and stylish meeting rooms. This may feel unachievable if you have a strict budget, particularly if you are a smaller or newer business. However, these tips are simple and cost-effective strategies to completely transform your meeting spaces.
Have A Purposeful Layout
Before you get to decorating and transforming your meeting spaces, it is ideal to ensure each room has a purposeful layout. The layout of meeting rooms creates the foundation for productive and effective communication. It should be tailored to encourage employees to interact and collaborate amongst the group. Plan to arrange seating in a way where face-to-face discussions can occur. Ensure that everyone who will use that space will have a clear view of presentations and can easily engage with participants.
Alongside this, you need to think about the flow of movement within the room too. You need enough space for everyone to safely and easily filter in and out of the room, as well as allow for people to float across the room when needed. You need to reduce obstacles and optimize the use of space for various types of meetings. This means having an adaptable meeting room layout will be best so employees can alter the room for different meeting styles.
Think About Seating Capacity
Seating capacity within meeting rooms is also another hugely important aspect of achieving a comfortable, stylish, and functional environment. You need to think about the meeting needs of your employees and the typical sizes of the meetings. Striving to avoid overcrowding is critical to maintain a productive meeting atmosphere. Participants need to move freely and not feel trapped in the room as this can lead to anxiety, sweating, feeling sick, and possibly fainting if the room gets too hot from too many bodies. The rooms need to be spacious and inclusive for everyone, making everyone feel at ease in meetings and increasing productivity.
Have Plenty Of Natural Light
Having lots of natural light is a great way to make meeting spaces look good while creating a positive and inviting atmosphere. Make sure to maximize the use of windows, avoiding blocking windows to allow as much natural light as possible into the room. This means you can also save energy as you will rely less on lighting during the day. Use window treatments that can help light control to ensure a well-lit space while avoiding any glare on screens in the room.
Consider Sound
Echo and background noise can disrupt meetings and make communication worse. To reduce this, incorporate acoustic elements like curtains, carpets, or acoustic panels to absorb the sound. This helps to create a quieter environment to maximize focus and encourage interaction.
Have Flexible Furniture
Flexibility is key when decorating your meeting rooms on a budget. Being able to adapt and transform the rooms makes a huge difference and allows employees to have various styles of meetings.
Start with modular seating so you can rearrange the seating layout depending on the type of meeting. This encourages collaboration and will enhance comfort and safety. In addition, multifunctional tables and storage solutions should be provided to meet brainstorming requirements and to keep the space clutter-free. To save money you can make these tables and storage solutions with durable materials such as mfc cut to size for table surfaces and drawers.
Integrate Appropriate Technology
Technology is needed in any meeting room but having too much can be overstimulating. For a budget, it is best to only invest in the technology you need that improves efficiency and safety.
Having high-quality video conferencing technology and clear audio systems is a must for conference calls for those who aren’t in the office. It is also ideal to have an interactive display or smartboard for engaging presentations and successful brainstorming sessions.
Ensure Wi-Fi is available in each room and provides a good, clear signal so all technology can be used seamlessly. You could even consider integrating mobile apps to encourage active participation in your meetings.
Pay Attention To Color Schemes And Aesthetics
The overall aesthetics of your meeting room significantly impact the atmosphere in them. Choosing color schemes and aesthetics carefully can make the difference between an unproductive meeting space and a very productive meeting space. You need to strike a balance between professionalism, focus, and inviting.
To achieve this, it’s best to avoid bold colors as the main décor choice. Choose neutral colors that reflect your brand and add pops of color to make the space enticing. This reduces distractions and overwhelming vibrant colors from taking over the spaces. It should strive to encourage collaboration and concentration. You can use color psychology to enhance productivity and improve mood.
Add Greenery and Nature
Adding some greenery and nature brings the outdoors in. This can really improve employees’ moods and boost their motivation. Plants, flowers, and trees can help to create an idyllic atmosphere, bringing a refreshing feeling and enhancing the aesthetic. Also, incorporating greenery cleans the air so that your meeting spaces are healthier for everyone using them.
It’s best to have low-maintenance indoor plants, such as snake plants, as they need little care. This type of plant can survive under most conditions and require little to no maintenance to keep them alive. Place them on windowsills and corners to avoid blocking the flow of the room.
Use these tips to create functional and stylish meeting rooms on a budget to have productive, bright, and stunning meeting spaces that everyone can use safely. Ensure the flow of the room is seamless and there’s ample seating, so everyone is comfortable and focused on important meetings. Remember, these spaces need to be purposeful, flexible, and welcoming to work for any type of meeting.