“What boardroom chairs do you have?” or “Which conference chairs would you recommend for our boardroom?” The answer to these questions is not that straight forward. The term “Boardroom” has become a generic term which can mean different things to different people. Chairs for “meeting” or “conference” rooms are often included under the generic term “boardroom”. Let me explain.
Origins of “Boardroom”
The term “board” seems to have originated around the 16th Century. The piece of wood that Council members congregated round was called the “Board”, or in other words, the table. By the 17th Century the term Board was used to describe a group of people conducting a meeting around a table.
From these beginnings, the Boardroom has been synonymous with power, prestige, and authority. In many instances, power and prestige is synonymous with “bigger and better”. Depending on personal preference, aesthetics and practicality, the boardroom chairs would be on wheels or a fixed frame. Already we can to see that Boardroom chairs are not all the same, and we have not even touched on the various fabrics and finishes of the chair like wood, leather and chrome.
Important Questions to Consider before buying Boardroom Chairs
1. What is the purpose of your Boardroom?
Will it be used solely for high-level strategic conference meetings? Will attendees only use the table as a resting place for their documents? If so, basic office or visitor chairs are a good option. Alternatively, are the attendees going to be writing, using laptops and other mobile devices? If so, ergonomic chairs are preferred as they can be adjusted to suit individual users. 10 Factors to consider before buying Visitor Chairs.
2. What is the duration of meetings?
For long duration and intense meetings or conferences where attendees use laptops and other mobile devices, adjustable ergonomic chairs are the best choice. For infrequent and short-duration use, visitor chairs are a common option.
In some cases, meetings can be very short and no chairs are provided. Instead participants simply stand or use a sit/stand, or similar seat.
3. How big is the boardroom and how much space is there for the chairs?
Planning furniture requirements is easier for new developments. For an existing boardroom, determining how much space is available will assist in selecting the most suitable chairs as shown in various installations detailed in our Project Portfolio.
Common types of Boardrooms
1. Traditional Boardrooms
The term “Boardroom” is more old school. It is typically a room where a group of people meet on a planned regular basis, for example the Board of the company or organization. Traditionally, the boardroom would have a large wooden desk located in the centre with large puffy chairs surrounding the table. The décor often includes paintings on the walls, a counter for making coffee, a bar fridge and an audio-visual system. In a traditional boardroom, the chairs and other fittings are large and luxurious, and aesthetics often outweigh functionality. Hybrid Work – Is the office and boardroom still relevant?
2. Contemporary Boardrooms
Contemporary boardrooms are more functional. In this case the boardroom is not only used for meetings of the “board”, but also business units, one-on-one meetings, and even external parties that require a table, chairs, and some privacy. Instead of the term “boardroom”, contemporary terms include Meeting and Conference rooms, or Collaboration spaces. Each term has it’s own subtleties.
a. Meeting Rooms
The term Meeting room came to the forefront with the advent of open plan offices. To accommodate staff that needed some privacy, meeting rooms and office pods were born. The room could be just a table and chairs, or include a complete audio-visual setup. Often the meeting room is located near the open plan offices to allow easy access. Ideally you would want the meeting room to be soundproof, but I have seen meeting areas cornered off by filing systems to make the required space available.
b. Conference and Training Room
A Conference/ Training room normally caters for a larger group of attendees for presentations, education, and training.
A Conference room is normally a soundproof purpose-built structure with the layout having a central point from where presentations are made. Conference rooms usually include tables, conference chairs, an audio-visual system, projector, flip-charts, white board, TV, computer, etc.
c. Collaborative Space or Area
The term Collaborate, meaning working jointly on a project or activity, is the new buzzword and in my opinion is a term that suggests less formality than “meeting”.
Haworth discusses 4 types of Collaborative spaces, namely Inform, Do, Think and Connect.
Seating requirements can be quite different and are often more casual. The term “room” now becomes a space or area.
d. Meeting Pods
A relatively new innovation is that of Meeting Pods. Meeting Pods explain that their primary usage is in areas where space is at a premium.
Depending on where they are used, pods can take on many shapes and sizes. Pods are usually manufactured off-site. Depending on the type, they can still offer the same connectivity, lighting, and sound proofing as your traditional meeting room.
Once you have defined the type and function of the “Boardroom” you require, selecting the chairs becomes a whole lot easier.
Chairs for your Boardroom and other meeting room areas
In a traditional boardroom, suitable chair options include office chairs or visitor chairs.
Meeting rooms require more functional chair options like Ergonomic office chairs.
In a collaborative space, almost any type of chair can be used.
Suitable chairs include Ergonomic and conference chairs.
Conclusion
The type of chair you choose for your “Boardroom” is very much dependent on the look and feel of the room, and it’s function. In many cases, your “boardroom” may fulfill several roles, in which case you must decide which is the main role and select the most suitable chairs for that application. For some great ideas, see our Project Portfolio.
