Here’s a joke I’ve used for years – I train for free, but I get paid to move furniture.

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Pretty much every time I show up for a workshop, the tables and chairs are arranged badly. So I push them around, trying to create a better learning space.

It’s not unusual for me to break a sweat even before the class begins. This is known as trainer-obics (another old joke).

Good and Bad Set-ups: Picture the Difference

Take a look at these two photos. The first looks grim. Straight rows, bright lights, an imposing white board. Whoever stands at the front of this room assumes a position of power, and everyone else is subservient. Feels like punishment, right?

When a colleague included this photo in a slide deck about training, I had a strong, swift reaction – take it out!

The second picture looks like a lot more fun. People are talking, engaging, gesturing, smiling.  As teachers and facilitators, that’s the energy we want to create.

How you arrange your training space has a big impact. So please join me and let’s move some furniture!

Tips for Creating a Great Training Room

• If possible, position the chairs so people can talk to each other, rather than classroom style or in a large U with people far apart. Some people believe the U is egalitarian, but that arrangement makes it hard for small group conversations, which are the heart of any good training experience.

I suggest using round tables or pairs of rectangular tables pushed together into “pods,” with chairs around three sides. Again, your goal is to facilitate conversations and exercises in smaller groups of 3-6 people each.

• People like to see what’s happening, so choose a room with good light, preferably natural light. If you’re stuck in one of those windowless hotel conference rooms, try this.

Create good sight lines so people can see what you’re writing on the flip chart. Never have the audience facing large windows during the daytime. You and your easel will be backlit and difficult to see.

• Improve your flip chart skills. Use big markers that don’t smell. (Some markers are pretty toxic, and your participants may have chemical sensitivities.) Write large enough so everyone can see clearly. Stick with dark colors, except for accents. For a discussion of why and how flip charts trump PowerPoint slides, click here. (Note: If you’re serious about improving your flip chart artistry, consider Learn to Scribe, an online training course for graphic facilitators.)

• Go outside! If the weather’s good and the facility is appropriate, encourage people to go outdoors for pair exercises and small group work. Yes, it takes a little more effort and time herd everyone, but the Vitamin D and fresh air will energize your group.

Create a Comfortable Space

For years, I was guest trainer for the Center for Progressive Leadership. At every session, the staff brought brightly covered tablecloths, like the one you see in the photo above. This added a homey, personal touch to the often drab rooms we used for our workshops.

With competitive price and timely delivery, JE Group sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

A comfortable room increases the energy and impact of your training. Do everything you can to make your space informal, welcoming, and encouraging of lively conversations.

How to Set Up a Productive Training Room

Whether your training room is small or large, the proper furniture layout can make all the difference in the productivity of everyone using the space. There are several common training room layouts, and the one that you choose for your business should depend on how many people you need to accommodate and what style of learning will be taking place. 

Remember, the seating arrangement you choose should make it easy for everyone in the room to clearly see and hear the instructor and allow for easy discussion between individuals and the instructor. Ensure everyone in the room can leave their seat anytime without disturbing the rest of the class. Space out furniture so that individuals and their chairs aren’t touching any furniture or people around them. However, seat individuals close enough to feel a sense of togetherness that allows them to feel comfortable asking their neighbors questions. The 2 most common training room layouts address all these needs. 

Classroom-Style

In this style, training tables and chairs are set up in rows facing the front of the room where the speaker will be presenting. This layout is ideal for training sessions that need to house a large number of people for lecture-based learning. 

Be sure to space rows of tables about 3 feet apart. This arrangement allows comfortable traffic flow when the class is dismissed, and fire code requires that walkways be at least 3 feet wide for safety purposes in an emergency. NBF Commercial Interiors Support Division Manager Amy Buck-Conrad recommends incorporating a center aisle rather than two side aisles. This allows for a large aisle and saves space in a small training room. Amy also recommends leaving at least 5 feet of space in the front of the room so the presenter has plenty of room to work in.

Conference-Style

The second most common type of training room layout is the conference style, which can be circular, square, or rectangular. In this arrangement, all training session participants face the open center of the “circle.” 

While the classroom-style arrangement is best for lecture-based classes, the conference style works better for classes that are highly based on group discussion. The collaborative design allows participants to see and hear one another easily, making the flow of conversation more effortless.

Flexibility of Design

Of course, if your training room uses a mixture of lectures and group discussions, you can still get the best of both worlds. At National Business Furniture, we offer a huge selection of mobile and modular

Of course, if your training room uses a mixture of lectures and group discussions, you can still get the best of both worlds. At National Business Furniture, we offer a huge selection of mobile and modular training room chairs and tables that make rearranging your space in either of these configurations a breeze. Nesting furniture is even easier to work with since it allows you to relocate multiple tables and chairs together.

The company is the world’s best Training Room Chairs supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.