Modern Conference Room Design Ideas for Every Workplace

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min read

Patrick Isitt
Senior Content Manager
Content specialist in office design and build.

Conference rooms are an important part of any modern office. They provide a designated area for people to meet, communicate and collaborate effectively.

But it’s not just about space. Well-designed conference rooms go beyond four walls with facilities that make meetings seamless. Think presentation capabilities and video conferencing equipment – especially important with the rise of hybrid working.

They should also prioritise professionalism and privacy, providing the right environment for both internal team meetings and engagements with partners or clients.

How do you achieve all of this? Below we’ll discuss the key elements of modern conference room design, including layout, facilities and aesthetics. You can also see some of the best conference room ideas from UK offices.

How do you design a conference room?

Designing any space starts with its purpose – what it’s for and how it will be used. So, what about your conference room? Some important factors to consider are:

- Group size – How many people will use your conference room at once? And how might this change week to week or grow over time?
- Meeting types – What kind of meetings are being held? Are they formal or informal, fully in-person or remote, presentations or discussions?
- Technological needs – With the above in mind, what technology do you need to facilitate seamless meetings? Presentations, voice calling and video calling are all common requirements for modern businesses.
Seeking employee feedback is always a good idea at this stage. Consulting the different groups who will be using the space can give you a better, broader idea of what’s required from a conference room. It ensures that everyone’s needs are considered and reflected in the finished design.

What should be in a conference room?

Before we get onto more elaborate conference room ideas, let’s cover the basics. All designs should include the following conference room essentials:
- Ergonomic seating – Ensuring participants are comfortable and supported is the first step towards an engaged, active group.
- A well-sized table – The table should be big enough for all physical participants to sit around comfortably. You should also factor in their devices or notepads, plus space for any other items in the centre of the table such as product models, samples or presentation materials.
- Video conferencing tools – Video calling has become the norm. In addition to hybrid working models, it allows you to hold meetings with clients far and wide. But remote participants shouldn’t feel like an afterthought. Modern video conferencing tools can ensure everyone gets the same great experience.
- Whiteboards or interactive screens – An invaluable tool for visual mind-mapping or presentations, which doesn’t impact much on your available floor space.
- Strong connectivity – Fast connectivity is a must for your conference room. It enables seamless video calling and avoids any delay for quick research during team discussions.
Combining all of the factors above will ensure that your conference room is a welcoming, inclusive space. Without these basics, people can easily feel uncomfortable or left out, whether that’s participants having to stand because of a lack of space or remote team members feeling alienated by a poor experience.

What is a conference-style room layout?

The traditional conference room layout features a large rectangular table in the centre of the room with seating around it. This is also known as a boardroom-style layout. While it creates a professional impression and has good visibility, this layout can be quite rigid.

Design tips and trends for conference rooms

Flexibility and adaptability

One of the trickiest aspects of conference room design is size. For comfort and inclusivity, it needs to be big enough to house the maximum number of participants. However, this poses two challenges:
- Will the room feel oversized for smaller meetings?
- How do you justify taking up that much space for a room that might not be used on a day-to-day basis?
Modular furniture is a useful tool to overcome these issues. With modular tables, for example, you can reconfigure the space depending on how it’s being used. This allows you to create a multi-purpose space, which can be utilised as a conference room, social area or hot desking space, depending on your requirements.

Technology integration

Modern conferences aren’t just verbal conversations. They’re multimedia discussions with images, videos, 3D models and presentations coming into play. To facilitate this, your conference room should integrate seamless AV solutions. We’re talking about large display screens, high-definition projectors, wireless presentation systems and a choice of connectivity options including HDMI, USB and Bluetooth.

Hybrid participation is another important point. To avoid remote employees or clients feeling like second-class participants, invest in high-quality microphones and cameras – not to mention speakers so their voices can be heard!

If tech is your thing, take a look at these top five workplace tech trends for 2025.

Acoustic solutions

Privacy is vital when it comes to conference room design. With board meetings, team sessions and client discussions being held in the room, sensitive information could come up time and again. Nobody wants to feel like their conversations are being overhead, which is where soundproofing comes in.

Sound-absorbing materials can be used on the walls, floor and ceiling to stop noise passing through. This can also control noise in the room itself, so sound waves don’t reverberate around the space, which can lead to a noisy, echoey environment.

Aesthetic appeal

Don’t forget the importance of aesthetics for your conference room. The space will reflect on your brand for potential clients and could influence the atmosphere at important team discussions. With that in mind, you’ll want your conference room to look professional, welcoming and on-brand.

Colour schemes are a key element of the design. They can be used to set the mood, incorporate your branding into the room or both.

Lighting is another important consideration. Natural light is an obvious plus and outdoor views can enhance the appeal of your conference room layout. However, adjustable lighting may also be useful to make the room adaptable to different events.

Don’t forget biophilic design, which can create a greener, more airy feeling in any part of the office. As above, natural light is one option, but plants and natural materials can also be used to create a calming environment.

How do I make my conference room look professional?

If professionalism is your main aim, you can combine the tips in this article to great effect. Start with a well-sized table with comfortable seating around it, minimising clutter to keep the room neat and polished.

Use a professional, muted colour scheme with ample natural lighting, and ensure technology is integrated so presentations don’t come with messy wires or awkward delays.

3 cutting-edge examples of conference room designs

Keen for more conference room ideas?

Here are three examples to give you some visual inspiration…

Podium Space

The conference room at Podium Space’s London office features a rustic wooden table paired with industrial-style light fixtures to create a setting that’s professional, inviting and interesting. The use of high-end materials creates a luxury design, which reflects the premium experience offered to members at their London locations.

Gill Jennings Every

The team at Gill Jennings Every were working with a reduced amount of space, but meeting facilities were still highly important. A flexible conference room layout was the solution, supporting the shift to a more dynamic working environment. It comprises four meeting spaces with a double-folding wall, which can adapt to various configurations. The room provides versatility for staff and client meetings, whether they’re small or large. That’s topped off with floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise natural light.

Barratt & Wilson Homes

Adaptability is a key objective at Barratt & Wilson Homes too. Their conference room doubles as a training room thanks to a flexible folding table. It allows them to customise the space when needed, demonstrating their commitment to progressing employees’ careers.

The colour scheme is simple, reflecting the monochromatic Barratt Homes logo. By using predominantly white and light grey shades, the room has a light, airy feeling.

Elevating your conference room design

When designing a conference room, it’s important to consider how it will be used. Group size, meeting types and technological needs are all vital factors. Key features include ergonomic seating, a well-sized table, video conferencing tools, whiteboards and strong connectivity.

Using an adaptable conference room layout can make the room multi-functional, allowing you to make the most of the space for different events. Integrated technology and good acoustics are also highly sought-after by employees and clients alike.

Aesthetics are also important, and your conference room design scheme depends on how the room will be used. Colour schemes can make it professional or welcoming as well as reflecting on your brand. Biophilic features like natural light can ensure a calming environment, while adjustable lighting can add to the adaptability of the space.

If you’d like to find out more about the possibilities for your office or discuss your conference room ideas, the Oktra team is ready and waiting. We’ve designed exceptional workplaces for clients throughout London and across the UK – and you can join them. Request a callback to get started.