SIZE & SEATING GUIDE FOR CUSTOM CONFERENCE ROOM TABLES
Your productivity and ability to communicate effectively are greatly affected by the size, shape, and seating layout of custom conference room tables. Every room is unique, and your meeting participants need to be comfortable and able to collaborate with other attendees. We specialize in large conference table and boardroom table designs built to our client’s specifications.
At Paul Downs, our custom conference room tables can be hand-crafted to fit any space and accommodate any number of guests. We’ve been producing custom conference room tables and furniture since 1986. We also make other furniture including lecterns, credenzas, reception desks, and much more. We’re a workshop, not a factory. We make every commissioned piece from scratch, one at a time.
3 Ways
To Select The Best Conference Room Table Size
When determining the best custom conference room table for your office or meeting room there are a few important factors to think of. First would be how many people you need to seat at your table. Second would be the desired table shape as the shape is important for the function of your meeting space. Third would be the room size. You can’t put in a large table that blocks entrances and allows minimal space for meeting participants. You can peruse the size and seating guides below or have someone from the team at Paul Downs can help you decide the best conference table design for you.
The spacing between participants at your table is more important than ever. When deciding how many seats to have at your table, allowing participants to have personal space is paramount. The traditional spacing that is recommended for each seat at your table is at least 30 inches. A distance of 36 inches is recommended for boardroom tables or meeting tables where attendees will have computers or other personal materials with them.
With social distancing now a factor in meeting sizes, we recommend having 42 inches between seats to accommodate the extra space needed to keep everyone safe.
Different shapes provide different amounts of perimeter for a given length and width. Rectangles, boats, and squares provide the most for their size, racetracks and rounds the least. Videoconference tables are efficient when all 4 sides are used, but less so when the wide end is empty. U’s and V’s come in many proportions, but are very inefficient because so much of the perimeter is not used for seating. Here’s more detail for each conference table shape:
2. Desired Shape
Different shapes provide different amounts of perimeter for a given length and width. Rectangles, boats, and squares provide the most for their size, racetracks and rounds the least. Videoconference tables are efficient when all 4 sides are used, but less so when the wide end is empty. U’s and V’s come in many proportions, but are very inefficient because so much of the perimeter is not used for seating. Here’s more detail for each conference table shape:
Your custom conference table should have enough clearance between walls and other barriers so that your guests can easily navigate to their seats. The distance from your table edge to the walls will depend on the size and dimensions of the room. We suggest a minimum clearance on each side of a rectangular conference table should be around 20% of the table length and width. If your room is 20 feet long, the space on each side and end should be around 4 feet, meaning your table should no longer than 12 feet. Many conference rooms also include a credenza or other furniture so be sure to account for them when sizing your table.
The Paul Downs Difference
No mass-produced, cookie-cutter tables here. When it comes to custom conference room tables, Paul Downs is the pinnacle of craftsmanship. We design truly unique meeting and boardroom tables that are hand-crafted to your specifications, from power and data hatches right down to the grain of the wood we use. If you need a conference room table for your business, organization, or school, we’re just a click or call away. Someone from our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.