8 Must-Know Types of Seating Arrangements for Events

Seating arrangements have the power to make or break deals, relationships, and even event goals. &#;Much of getting what you want comes down to where (event attendees) sit,&#; says Brian Lee, Chief of Product Management at Lifehack. And where people sit depends on the type of seating arrangement that&#;s chosen for the event, meeting, conference, etc.

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Read on to discover 8 must-know types of seating arrangements, along with expert advice from professional event planners. Plus, learn how the psychology of seating arrangements can help planners make the best possible choices when creating their event diagrams and floor plans.

How do you choose a seating arrangement type?

Choose the type of seating arrangement based on what activities you have planned for the event as well as how long the event will be and any specific needs attendees may have. For example, a week-long conference with lots of lectures won&#;t work with pod seating for every major agenda item, but a single-day creative workshop for a small team will. 

Discover 8 types of seating arrangements all event professionals need to know:

Keep in mind that the type of seating arrangement you choose depends on the space you have available, your goals for the event, and what furniture you have at your disposal. 

1. Chevron

Chevron style seating offers two columns of short, angled rows with an aisleway down the middle. A successful strategy of many planners who use this seating arrangement style is to create a clear focal point front and center to direct attention towards a speaker, then strategically seat participants you&#;d like to group together for discussions. 

Pros:

• Everyone can view the speaker and work in small groups as needed
• Maximizes space using angled rows
• Best of both worlds for presentations

Cons:

• Not ideal for large group discussions
• Attendees may have sightline issues if seats aren&#;t staggered

Best for:

• Trainings
• Presentations with audience participation
• Conferences

2. Auditorium

An auditorium style seating arrangement involves built-in seats or rows of chairs that face a single point of focus, which is typically a professional stage or a podium. Take advantage of stage space and set up a background that will be attractive for photos such as textured fabrics or logo prints. 

Pros:

• Great for large groups, lectures or speaker series, and ceremonies

Cons:

• Sound can often be an issue
• Audience participation or group breakout sessions can be uncomfortable

Best for:

• Award shows
• Press conferences
• Product demonstrations

3. Banquet

Banquet seating means using round tables evenly spread out throughout the space. Keep in mind that tables in banquet seating arrangements usually accommodate between 8-10 people. For best results, group together people who are familiar with each other, such as family members or co-workers. Otherwise, seat people according to shared interests such as hobbies or project goals to encourage natural conversation. 

Pros:

• Socializing is easy and comfortable
• Ideal for networking and relaxing

Cons:

• Each table becomes an island, making it difficult to interact with other tables unless prompted to do so

Best for:

• Weddings
• Parties
• Award shows
• Banquets
• Charity events

4. Boardroom

Boardroom and conference seating offers one long, rectangular table for guests to sit facing each other. Keep the following principles of conference seating psychology in mind when creating your seating chart:

• The VIP should sit at the head of the table
• The VIPs&#; closest advisors should flank them
• People in the middle or towards the opposite end will spend most of their time listening
• Anyone sitting opposite the VIP will likely feel inclined to disagree with them, but if not, they should be a verbal supporter so that others take note

Pros:

• Facilitates discussion
• Directs focus to one person
• Offers strategic placement for business meetings

Cons:

• Not ideal for long visual presentations
• Can lead to group disagreements if the VIP and the person sitting opposite don&#;t see eye to eye

Best for:

• Brainstorming sessions
• Small team meetings
• Strategic mergers
• Influencing those seated in the middle to agree with the VIP

5. Cabaret

Research from Cornell University found that physically sitting (or standing) closer to someone makes you feel emotionally closer to them too, which may explain why cabaret style seating at events helps build relationships. Whether you choose cocktail tables for your entire space or mix them in with other seating types, make sure to place the chairs in a U-shape around them with an opening that faces a chosen focal point. 

Pros:

• Socializing is encouraged yet guests can remain focused on performances or presentations
• Has a laidback and organic feel to it

Cons:

• Doesn&#;t maximize space

Best for:

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• Award shows
• Passive training presentations
• Live entertainment

6. Classroom

A study published in the Social Psychology of Education proved that &#;teachers need to be informed about the possibly preventive and intervening effects of a seating arrangement on students&#; academic and social behaviors.&#; This means event planners should also pay special attention to the type of seating arrangement they choose, since it has a direct impact on participant aptitude and actions in a learning environment. For best results, limit small tables to four attendees and leave at least three feet of space between each seat at long tables. 

Pros:

• Focuses attention to the front of the room
• Naturally primes attendees for learning
• Ideal for note-taking

Cons:

• Tends to feel overcrowded if attendees aren&#;t properly spaced out
• Can feel too nostalgic for a professional setting

Best for:

• Group trainings
• In-person certifications
• Product information workshops

7. Hollow square

Similar to both banquet and U-shaped style seating, the hollow square style looks exactly how it sounds. Everyone can see each other while maintaining a comfortable distance, which makes it ideal for eating meals or working on laptops. Use this seating arrangement type for groups that would be too crowded at a regular banquet table and to give those sitting on each end some extra elbow room. 

Pros:

• Supports eating and working
• All attendees are visible to one another and can have comfortable discussions

Cons:

• Doesn&#;t work well with presentations
• No clear leadership seat or focal point
• Doesn&#;t maximize floor space

Best for:

• Collaborative meetings with fewer than 30 guests
• Working lunches
• Workshops

8. U-shaped

U-shaped or horseshoe seating features a group of tables in the shape of a box with a hollow center and one open end. Make up for the loss of floor space by placing decorative or presentation materials on the walls. Use this type of seating arrangement for attendees who have worked together before or are planning to do so in the near future to facilitate relationship-building. 

Pros:

• Ideal for both presentations and group collaboration
• Everyone can see each other at all times
• Audience can comfortably interact with speakers

Cons:

• Requires a facilitator or designated leader to help keep the dialogue going
• Not suitable for large groups over 30 participants

Best for:

• Team meetings
• Presentations

Create the perfect seating arrangement for every event!

Now that you know about some of the main types of seating arrangements, what they look like, and the pros and cons of each, it&#;s time to check out some seating tips and trends from accomplished planners for even more inspiration.

Decide How Much Window Needs Replacing
If the window jambs&#;the vertical sides of the window frame&#;are in good shape, you could buy and install just a new &#;sash pack,&#; which includes just the upper and lower sashes that hold the glass in place. The more common &#;pocket&#; replacement includes both the sashes and frame; once the old sashes and the tracks they run on are removed, this type of window fits inside your existing frame. New-construction windows, requiring the removal of the entire old window, sill, and other components, are appropriate when the window frame is rotted or damaged; they&#;re the most costly type of replacement. Windows in Consumer Reports&#; ratings include both pocket-replacement and new-construction replacement windows.

Read the NFRC Label
Before you buy, look on the window you&#;re considering for a label from the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), an industry group. It will have a black arch in the top left corner, framing a sun shape. The figures on the NFRC label give you a snapshot of the window&#;s energy performance, which you can use to compare it with other windows on the market. That information includes the U-factor, which indicates how well the window keeps heat from escaping from the house, and the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), which indicates how well the window prevents heat from the sun from penetrating the house. In both cases, lower numbers indicate greater effectiveness. The sticker includes other information that can have an impact on energy efficiency, too. Check CR&#;s guide to making sense of a replacement window label for more details.

Look for the Energy Star label
The Energy Star logo and zone map you see on a window won&#;t tell you how much that particular model will save you compared with others&#;as it does with major appliances&#;but it will tell you whether the window meets Energy Star standards for your area of the country.

As of late October , Energy Star tightened its standards for certification. For example, under the new Energy Star criteria, U-factors must be no higher than 0.22 in the Northern Zone (encompassing most of the upper half of the country) and no higher than 0.32 in the Southern Zone (encompassing Florida and southernmost areas of Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, and California). The new criteria for the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient was adjusted to no less than 0.17 in the Northern Zone and no more than 0.23 for the Southern Zone.

Find a Capable Installer
Even the best windows won&#;t deliver the look or comfort you expect if they&#;re installed incorrectly. Professional installation is key, especially if you have an older home where, say, window frames have shifted over time and are no longer square at the corners.

Many major window manufacturers train and certify installers for their specific brand of window. Using the same contractor for purchase and installation means that if a problem arises later, there will be no doubt who is responsible for fixing it; the window seller can&#;t blame the installer or vice versa. 

Get multiple bids and look online for certification from the American Window and Door Institute or Installation Masters. Any bid you receive should include specifics such as window brand and model, number of windows, size, and type, plus any add-on features. Installation details should be noted and labor and material costs broken out separately. If your home was built before , look for an installer who knows how to deal with lead paint on the sills and moldings, advises Tom Kraeutler, host of The Money Pit home-improvement radio show. The Environmental Protection Agency offers a database of trained and certified &#;lead-safe certified contractors.&#; A handful of states, mentioned on that EPA page, have their own programs.

While contractors often have their preferred brands, don&#;t rely on the contractor to choose your windows for you. Check out our replacement window ratings for details on which did best in our tests for keeping a home comfortable and dry. 

Mind the Warranty
The window and your installer may each have their own warranty, with its own terms. A typical replacement-window warranty lasts 10 years, though some brands and models offer terms as long as 20 years or promise a &#;lifetime&#; warranty, says Andrii Gurskyi, owner of New York City-based Mr. Glazier Windows and Doors. Installation warranties, covering problems arising from poor workmanship, usually are shorter, from one year to five. Check the fine print carefully for exclusions, such as failure to cover glass repairs after five years or mechanism repairs for 10 years, Gurskyi advises.

Custom Replacement Windows May Take Longer
Replacements for oddly shaped windows or those requiring special features can take 6 to 12 weeks to arrive from the time you order them, says John Kolbaska, owner of Windows & Doors By The Men With Tools in Staten Island, N.Y. That said, a popular style may take less time, even if it&#;s custom-ordered. Michael Wandschneider, director of product management at Marvin, a national brand in Warroad, Minn., says several of his company&#;s top-selling window and door collections are currently available as soon as five weeks from the order date. And very basic windows are likely to be available relatively quickly.  &#;If you&#;re ordering a stock window right from the manufacturer&#;a basic white window that comes in a standard size&#;it should only take about a week or two,&#; Kolbaska says.

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