You’ve got a new office and you need one or more conference room tables. Or, your old table is on its last legs and needs to be replaced. You want something that will do the job, has some style and you don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for it.

What should you look for in your table? Is it “just” a piece of furniture, or do you want to make a statement? In any case, there are some things to think about before you buy this important piece of office furniture.

The Table’s Purpose

Usually, we think of a table is to put something on, whether it be food or papers or computers. And many times we don’t even notice office furniture unless it somehow catches our eye. And this begs the question – what is the purpose (or perhaps a better term is role) your table will serve?

Will it be relegated to a back room where employees go to have meetings, or will your conference room also be used by non-employees as well? Perhaps you will have meetings open to the public? These are different needs, and deserve a different table style.

The Employee Conference Room

If your table will be in a conference room only used by employees, and for short periods at a time, then a more basic piece of furniture may suit your needs. You need to make sure it’s large enough to hold all the people expected to be at the meeting, and sturdy enough so that a simple bump doesn’t send everyone’s papers flying.

A Semi-Public Meeting Room

If you will have non-employees present on a fairly regular basis, you may want to spend a little more for your office meeting room furniture. You still need the basics, but depending on your audience you might need it a little more upscale.

Here’s where style comes more into play; you’ll want the table in the conference room to reflect not only the style of the office as a whole, but also to your meeting room audience. For example, a legal firm might have a very different style from an architectural company.

Public Conference Room

If your conference room will often have large numbers of people (employee and non-employee alike) present, then you might need a table that is more geared to an audience. At the very least, you will need a large table, and it will have to reflect the style of the company (not to mention the office furniture). You don’t want to skimp, but you don’t necessarily want to go all out either, and spend a fortune.

Buying Conference Room Tables

You can find them in myriad places, but you should at least start shopping online, if for no other reason than to get general price ranges and options. Then you can choose if you want to buy online, or visit a local office furniture store to purchase the table for your conference room.