Let's be honest. That big, beautiful meeting room you invested in? Too often, it’s sitting empty. And an empty meeting room is a drain on your revenue, a blank space where your brand’s energy should be.
The problem isn't that people don't need meeting rooms. The problem is that most meeting rooms are forgettable. They're beige boxes with a table and some uncomfortable chairs. They lack purpose, personality, and the tech that modern teams actually need.
This guide changes that. We're moving beyond generic lists to give you strategic, modern design concepts that will make your meeting rooms the most sought-after spaces in town. Get ready to turn that empty room into a waiting list.
First, strategy: Match your room to your revenue
Before you pick a paint color, you need a plan. Don't just offer a "meeting room"; design a specific experience that you can market to a specific client. Each type of room solves a different problem and can command a different price point.
- The boardroom 2.0: This is your premium, high-stakes room. It's for closing deals, hosting investors, and impressing corporate clients. Think a solid, impressive table, executive-level ergonomic chairs, soundproofing, and flawless video conferencing tech. Don't be afraid to price this one at a premium.
- The brainstorm hub: Forget rigid layouts. This room is built for creativity. We're talking wall-to-wall whiteboards or idea paint, mobile furniture like beanbags and stools, and plenty of natural light. Market this as a space where "big ideas are born" for creative agencies, startups, and team off-sites.
- The hybrid hub: This is the new essential. It's not just a "teleconference room"; it's a seamless bridge between in-person and remote attendees. Invest in a high-quality wide-angle camera (like an Owl Labs camera), excellent microphones that pick up everyone's voice, and a large, clear display. A clunky hybrid experience will kill repeat bookings.
- The focus booth: These small, single-person pods are gold. They're not just for phone calls anymore. They are bookable "deep work" zones for members who need to escape the open floor, record a podcast, or take an important video call without distractions. They are easy to monetize and always in demand.
- The workshop: This is your flexible multi-purpose space. It's for training sessions, skill-sharing events, or product demos. The key is modularity: tables and chairs that can be easily reconfigured or cleared away. Think durable floors, a good projector, and plenty of power outlets.
20+ Design ideas that get people talking (and booking)
Here are fresh, modern ideas—from full-scale themes to high-impact details—that will make your rooms stand out.
Category 1: Immersive themes (create an experience)
People pay for an experience. A themed room is a memorable destination.
- The library: Dark wood, green banker's lamps, built-in bookshelves, and plush leather chairs. It feels permanent, smart, and serious. Perfect for: Lawyers, consultants, and anyone needing quiet focus.
- The greenhouse: Fill the space with plants (real or high-quality fake), natural wood tones, and tons of natural light. Biophilic design is proven to reduce stress and boost creativity. Perfect for: Wellness brands, creative teams, and anyone tired of the corporate grey.
- The speakeasy: Go moody and exclusive with dark velvet curtains, warm Edison bulb lighting, and rich textures. It feels private and luxurious. Add a self-service coffee or drink cart for a premium touch. Perfect for: High-end client meetings and evening masterminds.
- The local vibe: Commission a local artist to paint a mural of a city landmark. Use materials from local suppliers. Name the room after a neighborhood hero. This creates a powerful connection to your community. Perfect for: Attracting out-of-town companies and showing local pride.
- The sci-fi bridge: Instead of just "futuristic," go all in. Curved walls, integrated LED strip lighting, and sleek, minimalist furniture. It feels like a command center for innovation. Perfect for: Tech startups and forward-thinking companies.
Category 2: Built for modern work (solve a real problem)
Design that makes work easier is design that gets booked.
- The content creator's studio: This is a massive value-add. Equip a room with a high-quality microphone, a ring light, an adjustable tripod, and a few different backdrops (a brick wall, a solid color, a bookshelf). Perfect for: Podcasters, YouTubers, and any member building their personal brand.
- The agile hub: Think like a software team. Cover multiple walls in whiteboard paint. Provide standing-height tables on wheels and stacks of sticky notes and markers. This is a room built for action, not passive listening. Perfect for: Tech teams, project managers, and interactive workshops.
- The zen room: Create a tech-free zone for mindfulness and calm discussion. Use floor cushions, low seating, soft rugs, and maybe even an essential oil diffuser. This is a unique offering that sets you apart. Perfect for: Meditation groups, therapy sessions, or stressful negotiations.
- The gaming lounge: A room with a large TV, a couple of gaming consoles, and comfortable seating isn't just for fun. It's a bookable "team building" experience that companies will pay for. Perfect for: Company social events and morale-boosting breaks.
- The pitch room: Designed for one purpose: nailing a presentation. Have a top-tier projector or screen, integrated audio, and dramatic lighting that can spotlight the speaker. It shows you're serious about your members' success. Perfect for: Startups seeking funding and sales teams.
Category 3: High-impact details (big results, smaller budget)
You don't always need a total renovation. These details can transform a boring room.
- Sculpt with light: Ditch the flat overhead fluorescents. Layer your lighting: dimmable recessed lights, a statement pendant light over the table, and task lamps.
- Ditch the boring chairs: Seating is a huge part of the experience. Try a mix of ergonomic chairs, soft armchairs, or even a professionally installed swing or two for a brainstorming nook.
- Go big on art: One massive, impactful piece of art is better than ten small, forgettable ones. It becomes the room's signature feature.
- Use smart shapes: A round table encourages more collaborative conversation than a long rectangle. Curved walls or furniture can make a space feel more dynamic and inviting.
- Incorporate texture: Exposed brick, wood slat accent walls, or acoustic felt panels don't just look good; they absorb sound and make the room feel warmer and more premium.
- Reflect local culture: Use design motifs, colors, or materials that are significant to your city or region.
- White is a strategy: An all-white room isn't boring if done right. It feels clean, airy, and hyper-modern. Use different textures of white to add depth.
- Create meeting nooks: Use clever furniture arrangements or semi-permanent dividers to create small, bookable meeting spots in an open-plan area.
- Play with eccentric furniture: A uniquely shaped table or wild-colored sofa can be a great centerpiece and an Instagrammable moment.
- Go flamboyant: If your brand is bold, don't be shy. Bright, clashing colors and Art Deco patterns can create a high-energy space that creative clients will love.
The system: Turn your amazing room into effortless revenue
A beautiful room is useless if booking it is a hassle. Manual management with calendars and spreadsheets is a recipe for double-bookings and admin headaches. An automated system is essential.
Your goal is a frictionless booking experience for both members and, crucially, non-members. Your system must allow anyone to:
- See availability in real-time on their phone or computer.
- Book a room and a time slot in a few clicks.
- Pay instantly with a credit card, invoice, or member credits.
A modern coworking space platform (like Spacebring) handles this automatically. It frees up your community manager from endless admin to focus on what matters: member experience. Plus, you get invaluable data. Which rooms are most popular? What are your peak hours? This data is crucial for optimizing your pricing and maximizing your revenue.
Design isn't a cost—it's a magnet
Stop thinking of your meeting rooms as four walls and a table. They are one of your most powerful marketing tools. They are a physical representation of your brand's creativity, professionalism, and commitment to your members' success.
By investing in strategic, human-centered design, you create spaces that people not only need but want to be in. You create rooms that get talked about, shared on social media, and, most importantly, booked solid. Now is the time to get started—book a demo with Spacebring to see how you can manage that success effortlessly.