THE ICON
THE ICON
FURNISHED VS. UNFURNISHED EVENT SPACES WRITTEN BY JULIE GLENN
vent spaces set the scene and are the foundation for any
often includes existing tables, chairs, linen, bars, and audio-visual
ALLOCATE YOUR BUDGET DOLLARS BASED ON YOUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
equipment. Unfurnished or nontraditional venues are often blank
When it comes to budget, it’s best to start with essential
great event. When you begin planning and are on the hunt for a venue, part of the process may include deciding between a furnished versus unfurnished space. A furnished venue
spaces that may not have been created with events as the primary purpose, such as building lobbies, airport hangars, historic banks, and more. Here are five pro tips to help you decide which might be the right fit for your next event!
items such as venue, food and beverage, audio-visual, event planner, etc. and then allocate remaining dollars based on your must-haves. Furnished venues can often save you time and money when it comes to event rentals and décor, provided the included furnishings match your desired
DETERMINE YOUR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE EVENT. If the purpose of the event is to create a one-of-a-kind experience unlike anything else, you may want to consider an unfurnished space that can be tailored to your own design and theme. Alternatively, if the purpose is less about the uniqueness of the space and more about the content that’s being shared, you may prefer a traditional space with great acoustics, existing furniture, and built-in AV equipment. A great starting point is to think about what you’re looking to accomplish and go from there. 5
theme and event setup. Unfurnished venues often appeal to those who want a fully customizable space where they can let their creativity run wild. If your vision is to have a branded mega bar in the center of the room surrounded by soft seating vignettes that your guests are posting, tagging, and sharing on social media, you might lean more towards an unfurnished space. In this case, much of your budget will be allocated to furniture and décor rentals, but you may find the value add of creating a post-worthy event to be worth the extra spend.