Your primary consideration when choosing a conference table is how many people will you need to seat on a regular basis. If you plan on using standard sized conference chairs for seating then the accepted rule of thumb is to allow two feet of length for each person you plan on seating, (e.g. you purchase ten-foot table for ten people). If you chose to use overstuffed chairs for your seating you will have to adjust the length according to the actual size of the chairs being used.

Once you settled on a length for your conference table the next question is the type of conference chair seating you want and the features you desire to have your conference table seating. It is essential that the conference table seating you select provide a full range of back support. You want your guest to have good support from your conference room chairs so that whey will be able to concentrate on the materials under discussion.

The standard features for chairs used for conference seating are: caster bases (for easy movement), a full range of tilt and height adjustments. If desired the tilt and height features can be upgraded to be pneumatically operated to make adjustment easier for the variety of people who will be using the chairs. If chair cost is a consideration or the chairs will be used in a smaller conference room, where space is a consideration, sled based office chairs can be used. They are easy to move and you don’t have to worry about the chairs accidentally rolling into a wall.

Your next consideration is the shape of the conference table you are going to purchase. Conference tables are available in a variety of shapes. If there a lack of space in your conference room a racetrack shaped conference table is a good choice, as it is generally a better fit in tight quarters. If you choose a boat-tail shaped conference table you will have extra room for your chairs, this is an excellent choice if you have decided to go with overstuffed chairs for your conference table seating. For use in a private office or a really small conference room a round table is a good choice. A round conference table also as the advantage of being a friendlier setting for conducting business meetings.

After a shape has been decided upon you need to decide on the materials you would like your conference table constructed of. What laminate conference tables are more durable, a wood veneer conference table projects a warmer, more elegant image of your business. You will need to decide how you want to handle wire management, your conference table can have grommets (drilled holes with the edges protected) installed or you can choose to upgrade and have outlets installed in your conference table that provide connectivity and electrical power for laptop computers and other networked devices, such as LCD projectors and wi-fi access ports.

When choosing a conference table be sure to also consider purchasing other conference room accessories such as a display board, projection screen, and credenza to present the professional image you intend for your conference room to project.