Need to hold an important meeting in your home and wondering where to accommodate your guests?

Then turn to your dining room and, within a couple of steps, you could have yourself a board room set-up to rival any office based headquarters.

• Clear away non work related items from the dining area eg laundry, toys etc
• Arrange notepads at each place setting and a collection of pens in the middle of the table
• Place refreshments (water,coffee, biscuits etc) on the table or nearby. If you can, have someone else serve the drinks whilst you stay focused on hosting the meeting
• Have some fresh flowers in the room; the aroma of flowers and coffee will get your meeting off to a good start   
• Turn the landline phone onto 'silent' during the meeting or have someone cover to take your calls. The sound of an unanswered phone can be distracting for your meeting guests and a message being broadcast via answerphone from your young niece asking about a recent date is not so timely when you are just about to agree a sales contract!