Five meeting-room setups that impress every client

The same pitch lands differently around a boardroom table than it does in a circle of armchairs. After hosting thousands of meetings, here are the five layouts our members request most — and when to use each.

1. The classic boardroom

One long table, chairs both sides, screen at the head. Best for decisions: proposals, negotiations and sign-offs. Keep groups under twelve so everyone stays in the conversation.

2. The open circle

No table, just chairs in a ring. Best for honesty: retrospectives, brainstorms and difficult conversations where hierarchy should disappear for an hour.

3. The classroom

Rows facing the screen, space for laptops. Best for teaching: workshops, demos and training sessions where one person leads and the rest follow along.

4. The lounge pitch

Sofas, coffee table, no screen at all. Best for trust: first meetings and chemistry checks, where you want talking, not slides.

5. The hybrid studio

Camera, microphones and a screen showing remote faces life-size. Best for distributed teams: everyone equal, nobody a tiny square in the corner.

All thirteen Brightdesk Commons rooms can be arranged any of these ways. Browse the meeting rooms or book by the hour.