Five Minutes of Measuring Saves You a Second Trip to the Showroom
Most buyers measure the conference table they want but forget to measure the room they have. The table then blocks a door, or crowds those sitting around it, and the table ends up on the curb. A short prep list allows you to buy a conference table that fits your space the first time. Santa Fe Office Interiors in Overland Park serves Kansas City metro businesses, and the steps below will prepare you to purchase a conference table you love, and which fits your office perfectly, the first time you visit.
Measure the Room You Have Before You Shop for a Conference Table
A conference table whose footprint leaves no space to pull back a chair or reach the door is a no-go, no matter how good it looks. Starting with the room limits your search to any conference table for sale that fits the space.
If you have concrete numbers for your conference room in hand, you’ll be able to narrow your search on Santa Fe’s site and find the conference table that fits you best.
Gather Three Simple Tools Before You Start
You need a tape measure, a notepad or the notes app on your phone, and a rough sketch of the room. The sketch can be a plain box with the doors and windows marked, and it does not need to be to scale. Just note the measurements of your space so you can read them to someone else.
Measure Usable Space, Not Just Wall to Wall
Start with the longest wall, then record the room’s length and width. Next, mark everything that takes space away from the table. Note the swing radius of each door, since a door that opens into the room needs a clear arc. Mark windows with low sills, columns, any built-in cabinet, and wall outlets if the table will need power. Write down the distance from each obstacle to the nearest wall. Those numbers show where the table can sit and where it cannot. Also measure the width and height of the doorways the table has to pass through on its way in.
Subtract Clearance to Find Your Maximum Conference Table Size
Meeting attendees will need room to pull out chairs and sit down, and space to walk behind anyone seated. Allow about four feet of clearance around the table for this purpose. Subtract four feet from every side of your usable room dimensions, which removes eight feet from the length and eight from the width. For example, a room that measures 18 by 14 feet leaves a maximum table footprint of 10 by 6 feet. That footprint filters the conference room tables for sale down to the ones that will comfortably fit your space.
If a door or column cuts into one side of the room, measure that side’s clearance from the obstacle instead of the wall. Large conference tables leave the least margin for error, because a table that looks great in a photo can block the walkway once the chairs are pulled out.
With your maximum footprint written down, call Santa Fe Office Interiors at (913) 901-8800 and we’ll tell you which tables in stock will fit.
Match the Table Shape to the Room
Shape adds a second constraint. Narrow rooms favor rectangular or racetrack tables, which run the length of the room and leave walkways on the sides. Squarer rooms can handle boat-shaped or round tables. For a deeper comparison, read our post, Conference Table Buying Guide: Consider Shapes, Sizes, and Materials Before You Visit.
To compare shapes in person, visit the Santa Fe Office Interiors showroom.
Write Down Two Numbers Before You Call or Visit
After your prep, you should have two numbers: the maximum table length and the maximum table width. Put them at the top of your notes. These are the figures to bring into the showroom or read over the phone, and they let our team pull options that fit without guessing. When you ask about a conference table for sale, use those numbers.
Inventory at Santa Fe Office Interiors changes daily, so these figures will help us find the perfect conference table for your office when you call.
Bring Your Measurements to Santa Fe Office Interiors
The last step is a phone call or a short drive to the showroom. We’re open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are located at 8106 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS 66204.
Owner Jim Lust and his team can pull tables that fit your maximum footprint and talk through layouts, lead times, and delivery while you look. If the showroom hours do not suit your schedule, ask about setting an appointment.
Find a conference table that fits your measured space. Call (913) 901-8800 or visit, and we’ll find the ideal conference room table for sale which fits your size range.