Which Table is Right for You?
Office tables come in a great many shapes, sizes, patterns and styles. How are you to know which is right for your business? Determining which table will best suit your business’ needs goes far beyond comparing prices. Keep reading to discover just what else you should consider when hunting for the right table.
What Kind of Table Do I Need?
While many people may think all tables are created equal, there are several different types of tables that are each designed to fulfill a specific purpose.
Let us take a look at the most popular kinds of tables used by our customers.
Side Tables
Side tables are typically smaller and shorter tables that used to enhance the collaborative qualities of a space or provide a convenient surface. For example, side tables are frequently seen in a private office suite if the desk is placed up against the wall or in lounge and reception areas to provide a surface for guests.
Community Tables
Community tables cover a broad spectrum of tables. They can range from a small (two to three users) table in a breakroom setting to a large, counter or bar height surface that is shared by many users to work, collaborate, eat or socialize.
Training Tables
Training tables are incredibly flexible tables for the office (or education) setting. Training tables are most commonly seen with casters (wheels) so that they can be quickly reconfigured within a space, depending on the needs of the day.
These tables can be great as a temporary workstation for remote workers, breakout spaces for collaborative work, or can be rearranged for larger groups either in a classroom layout or pushed together to form one large table.
Meeting or Conference Tables
Exactly what the name implies, meeting or conference tables are used in board, conference and meeting rooms. They are typically longer to accommodate a larger group. Since these tables are used for external client-facing meetings, many businesses choose to use more aesthetically appealing or premium finishes for their conference tables.
Key Considerations When Selecting a Table
There are many, many options when picking a new table for your office. Once you have selected the type of table that will best suit your needs, your desired dimensions and the perfect finishes (most people’s favourite part), there are a few other critical questions that you need to answer.
- Will you require built-in power, data or A/V?
- Do you want to incorporate a wireless mobile charging solution?
- How frequently will the table be moved? Should it be on casters or glides?
- Should the table be café, counter or bar height?
- Is the table going to be in a high-traffic area? Your chosen finish must be sufficiently durable!
How Much Does a New Table Cost?
Unfortunately, tables can vary so drastically in price that giving you a range as we have with our other furniture products would not be helpful. A modest side table is orders of magnitude less expensive than a 30-foot, solid oak conference table (yes, we did indeed receive a request for a 30-foot table).
However, we can break down the factors that most impact the cost so that you can better judge what a fair price is, and what is not.
Size & Shape
Naturally, the larger the work surface you elect to use for your table, the more expensive your table will be. Your desired shape can also increase your cost. Many manufacturers will add surcharges or “special” fees for non-standard worksurface shapes that require additional labour or materials during manufacturing.
Base
There are two primary types of table bases, fixed and height-adjustable. Electing for a height-adjustable base over a more traditional fixed-height table base will increase your final price.
If you go with a fixed table base, the next decision is which of the base styles you prefer. A few common base styles include the disc base, X-base, C-leg and T-leg.
Finally, choosing to incorporate cable management in the table base will also increase your base cost.
Finishes
Picking finishes is arguably the most fun step in purchasing new office furniture. There are just so many colours, materials, patterns, and edge styles to be combined! When selecting finishes, though, it is essential to be aware of the impact your selections will have on the price of your table.
For example, one important consideration is choosing whether you would prefer a laminate or veneer surface. Going with a wood veneer will markedly increase your pricing, but even if you choose a laminate finish, you then must select if you would prefer a moderately priced HPL finish or a more budget-conscious TFL finish.
Should I Buy a Height-Adjustable Table?
While only you can accurately answer that question, we can certainly weigh in with our opinion. The science is clear that actively using a height-adjustable desk or table to keep your body moving throughout the workday is good for you, and we encourage our customers to add height-adjustable functionality to their teams’ workstations.
That being said, not everyone is thrilled with a height-adjustable table. Some people find them distracting, others a hassle to use, and for some, they just are not worth the additional expense. As we mentioned in the pricing segment above, it does usually cost more for a height-adjustable table base than a fixed height table base.
Ultimately, whether you should buy a height-adjustable table will come down to how you answer one crucial question: Will you use it?
Looking for More Advice About Office Tables?
If you still have questions about buying tables for your office, we have you covered. We have sold thousands of office tables to businesses across the Maritimes, if you have a question, someone on our team will have the answer.
Would you prefer to self-educate than speak with our team? Check out our Office Furniture Buyer’s Guide. Perhaps you have a tough question, are ready to get a quote, or just feel like speaking to a real, live human being? We can help with that too, just send us a note, and we will get in touch!
