Conference seating - Tips on the right seating for your next conference
How to choose the right furniture for your conference
When planning a day of meetings for you and your colleagues, it's easy to focus on the content - what to say, who will say what and how. But something that is often forgotten is the furniture. The way the room is set up affects the energy, the interaction and the outcome of the day. Good furniture can lift the mood, facilitate collaboration and create better focus.
Here we look at the most common furnishings - and when they're most appropriate.
U-sitting - discussion at the center
Tables are set up in a U-shape and participants sit around the outside.
Benefits: Everyone sees each other and the speaker can move around the center for proximity and engagement. Good for discussions, presentations and small groups.
Cinema seating - maximizing the audience experience
Chairs in rows, facing the stage or the speaker.
Benefits: Accommodates the most participants in a small space and allows full focus on the stage. Ideal for lectures, presentations and larger meetings.
Islands - For group work
Small tables with 4-6 people sitting around each table.
Benefits: Promotes collaboration, creativity and conversation in smaller groups. A more relaxed set-up suitable for meetings where group discussions, workshops and creativity are on the agenda.
School sitting - notes in focus
Chairs placed behind tables in rows, just like in a classroom.
Benefits: Participants get a surface for computer or notes, while having a good view ahead and few distractions. Suitable for trainings, courses and workshops.
Board meetings - formal and clear
Participants sit around an oblong table. No need for a presentation, the agenda is controlled from the table.
Benefits: Creates a professional feel and allows everyone to see each other. Particularly suitable for decision-making meetings, management teams or more formal meetings.
Horseshoe sitting - interactive lecture
Participants' chairs (with or without tables) are placed in a horseshoe shape facing a speaker. Groups of 6-8 participants.
Benefits: Provides both forward focus and space for interaction between participants. Ideal for trainings, workshops and interactive presentations.
"Walk and talk"
Not a sit-down but a great way to meet for smaller meetings or group discussions. We can almost guarantee that creativity will increase. Hand out some discussion topics and go for a walk for a predetermined time.
Benefits: You get fresh air and new energy.
PS. If you start with us at Teamfabriken Malmö, you reach the quayside with a view of Öresund after 750 m and the cozy marina and the beginning of Ribersborg after about 1 km (14 min walk).
Executive summary
There is no 'best' furniture - it depends on what you want to achieve with your conference and the size of your group. Is the goal to inspire a large group? Then cinema seating works best. Do you want discussion and collaboration? Then islands or U-tables are smarter choices. The goal is to give you and your participants the best possible conditions for a rewarding and inspiring conference.
Our conference rooms
Are you planning a conference with us at Teamfabriken Malmö? Below you can see what the different sessions can look like in our premises. You are welcome to contact us to book your next meeting!