When you’re having a meeting or event, it’s important that the set up, atmosphere, and design of the conference room caters to the needs of the attendees. I don’t mean give everyone comfy chairs and pillows, but it’s critical to have a good room flow, and a “vibe” that will spike the attention of the guests. It’s one thing to have interesting and thought-provoking speakers and activities, but it’s also extremely important to have a room in which your attendees can learn and accomplish tasks. Here are three important ideas to think about when creating your conference room!
- Color Psychology: Colors have been thought to have specific affects on our brains and make people react and feel certain ways, according to this article. For example, hints of blue promote productivity, red is inspiring, and yellow is motivating. Add a small burst of color by having colored chair backs, matching notebooks and pens, and interesting (but not too eye-catching) additions. Since color is the first thing people see, add it somewhere you want your guests’ eyes to be drawn to! (Here’s a tip: Having too much color and/or too many different colors might distract your guests, so keep it clean but fun when adding color.)
- Seating Arrangement: The arrangement of tables and chairs is another way to change the vibe of your event, and even change the way people learn. If you’re having a large meeting, you could choose styles ranging from theater style that accommodates the most people, and modified chevron style, which promotes attendee involvement. A smaller meeting can have a typical board meeting or U-shape setup. This is a great website that explains these styles along with other different types of seating plans for conferences or meetings…and even has pictures.
- Decor: Event décor can add some fun and excitement to a room. Adding the right amount of embellishments, like flowers, banners, pictures, Bibles, and even fruit baskets or funny hats will engage your attendees and let them know right off the bat what kind of event you’re having, so certainly have fun with it! When decorating remember the goal of your meeting, you don’t add too many decorations that could distract your guests if your goal is to focus. Oh, and don’t forget to learn the conference center’s safety rules and regulations before decorating!
Have you tried out any other design tips that worked for you?