Hello, and Namaste! Welcome back 🙂 dear reader,

Today, we’ll explore some basic thoughts on ideal furniture for a mediation room.

This writing post only scratches the surface of the topic. There are many more aspects of furniture in a mediation room to cover, like the psychology of furniture placement, color choices, traditional versus modern styles, and even the materials used, such as glass or wood. Even then, with the ever-changing world of furniture design, there will never be single definitive answer to finding best mediation-suitable-furniture: neither subjectively nor objectively.

Well, at least, we can try to align with the basics!?

This writing will explore the following:

1. Firstly, What About the Tables?
2. Then, What About the Mediation Tables?
3. Further, The Mediation Table Concundrum!
4. Lastly, A Message to Those Considering Mediation.

What About the Tables?

Imagine you’re shopping for a table. Is it for dining, studying, coffee breaks, or maybe a bedside table? How do you decide?

Colour: Does it match the room’s vibe?

Size: How many people will use it?

Chairs: Comfy cushioning for long study sessions, or a simple wooden one for quick meals?

Purpose: Can it be a study table during the day and a dining table during meal time?

Shape matters too, no?! Round, rectangle, square, or oval? And who’s involved? Are you picking just for yourself, or considering family preferences? What if choices differ? How do you find a table that everyone likes?

What About the Mediation Tables?

A mediation table is a table at which mediation parties, with mediator, and parties’ mediation counsel will seat together, when the mediation sessions are scheduled and at this table, will be all the discussions, you can term them as difficult, uncomfortable, aggressive, dirty, and everything that a disagreement will imbibe in itself.

Contrary to popular belief, mediation isn’t just for resolving disputes. At Dialogue den, for instance, many mediations have involved people who are already in agreement to their final decision. They value the guidance of a neutral facilitator only to navigate their discussions smoothly.

My experience comes from working with conscious people who choose mediation during separation or when dissolving agreements/contracts. They value a neutral environment for their discussions, which of course, will touch on sensitive topics like splitting assets and liabilities while considering the impact on any third parties involved.

What I’ve learned from my mediation mentor, the importance of table decoration and placement, and how it can subtly impact mediation discussions, is very interesting for any mediator to consider. In fact, this is one of the primary reasons I don’t have a fixed mediation office venue, even after years from the decision of providing mediation services.

Therefore, in my opinion, a dedicated office might not be the best approach for a solo mediator, unless you have a different perspective for me to consider.

Renting meeting rooms allows me to tailor the environment for each mediation, ensuring everyone feels comfortable and the process is productive. This flexibility is further confirmed by the fact that even established mediation institutions who have invested in building structures and carefully designed their mediation room, allow solo mediators to rent their space for mediations.

However, I do dream of one day having a dedicated office where even the wall paint and ceiling fan design complements my mediation process.  Well, dreams don’t cost money, is what we Indians say as “dekho dekho, dekhne k paise thodi lagte he….”    

The Mediation Table Concundrum

One thing that keeps me cautious about mediation tables is finding a design everyone involved will like. That’s why I firmly believe comfort before communication, will be the key to successful mediation!

This question keeps popping up! How can a single table be equally comfortable for everyone? A teenager, a mother with a baby, and a business professional with a laptop – their needs are all different! Perhaps a sensitive interior designer has the answer. If you’re one reading this blog, I’d love to talk to you further on these ideas.

Hey! Think of walking into a restaurant with a variety of seating options to choose from! I like that over a restaurant with standard seating design.

Also, I confirm, there’s no doubt that comfort is key to a party agreeing to participate in mediation. Accommodation and flexibility during the sessions will be crucial.

Can we confirm here that comfort extends beyond the physical space? Isn’t it all about creating a comfortable atmosphere that will assist the productive dialogue and resolution?

Meeting room options with a variety of tables IS crucial. Assessing the needs of the parties, the type of discussions, table size and area space, chair comfort, and even the possibility of needing a high chair for a baby are all important considerations. This flexibility challenges the idea of a fixed mediation office.

Well, I suddenly remembered another point to consider and write here, what if one party is 4.5 ft tall and the other 6ft tall :).

So many thoughts on this topic, but to keep this writing till here—– at the end of this writing exploration, I come to a truth we all likely know: when parties are physically comfortable, they can concentrate better on the discussion.

A pleasant environment further reduces anxiety, making it easier for parties to communicate openly. When everyone’s needs are met, parties are more likely to cooperate and reach a resolution. At least, these considerations would certainly be prerequisites for me if I were ever to be a party to mediation.

We will get back to this topic, in further detail, soon :). For now, just this much.

We’ll delve deeper into this topic soon, so stay tuned!

Thank you for your time and interest in this topic! I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Wait!!!! Don’t leave without reading the following message!

A Message to Those Considering Mediation

If you are still thinking about whether mediation is the right choice, know that mediators take great care to ensure you feel comfortable enough to have those difficult conversations. The attention to detail in creating a supportive environment is a testament to the commitment mediators have towards facilitating productive and respectful dialogue. So, take that chance! Opt mediation!

Ok, bye, Thank you, 🙂