This week, Robert and I are preparing for a meaningful conference room makeover that has me both excited and a little nervous. It is the kind of project I have always hoped Bless’er House could be part of: using design to create spaces that feel welcoming, supportive, and full of care.
Our friend Amber is the Coordinator at The Cottage, a year-round emergency safe shelter for homeless women. The Cottage is located at the Pathways Community Center in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in partnership with The Life House Women’s Shelter.
When Amber asked if we could help decorate their small conference room, I immediately knew the answer was yes. This space serves an important purpose, and we are honored to help make it feel more comfortable, functional, and encouraging for the women who use it.
The Life House Cottage gives up to 35 women in need a safe place to sleep seven nights a week. It also provides access to showers, laundry, meals, and snacks. Over the past year, I have brought Olivia with me to volunteer there, and the experience has been deeply humbling. Sitting with these women and hearing even small pieces of their stories has reminded me how strong, brave, and resilient they are.
We will be transforming the shelter’s conference room, which is used for counseling, case management, employment assistance, and financial education. Because of that, this office meeting space is not just a room with a table and chairs. It is a place where women can receive guidance, take important steps forward, and work toward self-sufficiency.
Conference Room Design Plan
Our goal is to create a conference room design that is practical for staff and visitors while also feeling warm, calm, and safe. From the moment someone walks in, we want the room to communicate that they are valued, supported, and welcome.
I can already picture the finished space, and I am so eager to bring this design plan to life. The room has a lot of potential, and with the right furniture, lighting, color, and storage, it can become a much more inviting place for meaningful conversations and important meetings.
Related: How to Make a Mood Board Room Design on Canva
Conference Table
Since this room will sometimes host meetings with several women at once, we need a sturdy, large table that can comfortably seat six to eight people. A reliable conference table will become the center of the room, providing a place for planning, paperwork, counseling sessions, and group discussions.
For seating, these Midcentury Modern style dining chairs are compact enough for a smaller meeting room while still feeling comfortable and supportive. Choosing the right chairs is important because the space needs to work well for longer conversations and meetings.
To soften the small window, I would love to add a pair of jewel toned curtain panels. A traditional rug will help warm up the industrial painted floor, while a plug-in pendant lamp can add a cozy layer of lighting to balance the fluorescent bulbs overhead.
Wall Decor
The room has only one small window and two small doors, so the walls need to do a lot of visual work. To make the space feel more open and less closed in, we plan to use artwork and wall features that create the feeling of additional windows.
One idea is to attach mural wallpaper panels to sheet metal, creating two large memo boards that are both beautiful and useful. Staff members will be able to hang documents, reminders, and important messages with magnets, which will help keep the room organized without sacrificing style.
On the back wall, I plan to frame a few vintage art pieces in a gallery wall. Adding table lamps on either side will bring in more soft lighting and help the conference room feel less institutional and more personal.
Storage
Storage is essential in a working conference room, especially one used for case management, counseling, and administrative support. To create the look of one large sideboard, we plan to place three small reeded accent cabinets side by side. This will provide hidden storage while giving the room a more finished, intentional look.
We also plan to create a simple coffee bar on top of the cabinets. A welcoming drink station can make the room feel more comfortable for staff, volunteers, and the women using the space.
Amber needs a desk in the room as well, so we will use this secretary desk. It has built-in storage for files, which makes it a smart choice for a small office meeting room where every piece of furniture needs to serve a purpose.
Reading Corner
To make the conference room feel even more peaceful, I want to include a small reading corner. An armchair paired with a floor lamp can create a quiet spot for reading, reflection, or one-on-one conversation.
A large windowpane mirror may help reflect light around the room and make the space feel larger. Since the room does not have much natural light, mirrors, lamps, and lighter visual elements will be especially helpful.
A few plants will also bring life and softness into the meeting space. Even small touches of greenery can make an office or conference room feel more relaxed and cared for.
That is the vision for this small conference room makeover. We are hoping to complete it quickly and cost-effectively so the shelter can begin using the refreshed space as soon as possible.
More than anything, we want this room to support the important work already happening at The Cottage. If the design can help make the space feel safer, warmer, and more hopeful, then every effort will be worth it.
I will be sharing behind-the-scenes updates from the process in my Instagram Stories along the way.
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