The Furniture Decision That Kills Your Camera Angles

Key Takeaways

• Table width and position determine whether cameras can frame all participants without dead zones

• Custom tables ordered without AV input often create mounting problems discovered during installation

• Table shape affects camera field of view with some configurations making even coverage impossible

• Height differences between tables and camera mounting positions impact framing angles

• Furniture and AV teams need to coordinate before orders get placed not after delivery

• Simple coordination steps during design prevent expensive compromises later

1. Why Table Width Creates Framing Problems

Conference tables come in standard widths, typically 42 to 54 inches. Executive boardroom tables can go wider to make a statement or accommodate specific needs.

Width becomes a problem when you consider camera field of view. Most conference cameras have horizontal viewing angles between 90 and 120 degrees. That sounds like plenty until you factor in where the camera can actually mount.

Cameras typically sit at one end of the room, either wall mounted behind the display or integrated into a video bar above the screen. As table width increases, people at the far edges move outside the frame unless the camera sits very far back.

A 60 inch wide table creates a span of five feet from edge to edge. Someone at the far left and someone at the far right might be eight feet apart. Capturing both requires either a very wide field of view or significant distance between camera and table.

Most rooms do not have that distance available. The camera mounts above a display on the wall opposite the table. If the table is too wide, people at the edges get cut off or appear as partial heads at the frame edge.

The fix needs to happen during furniture selection. Knowing the camera position and field of view before ordering the table lets you specify appropriate width.

2. How Table Position Against Walls Blocks Sightlines

A conference room has a long wall and a short wall. The table gets positioned against the long wall to maximize usable floor space and create an asymmetric layout. From a furniture standpoint, this makes sense. The problem emerges when you try to mount a camera.

Cameras need to see faces, not backs of heads. When a table sits against a wall, people on that side have their backs to the most natural camera position. The camera would need to mount on the opposite wall, but that wall might have windows or a whiteboard that prevent mounting.

The alternative is mounting the camera on the same wall as the table, high enough to shoot down at participants. This creates an unflattering angle and makes it difficult for remote participants to see presentation content.

Some rooms try multiple cameras that switch based on who is speaking. This works technically but costs more and introduces switching delays. The simpler solution is positioning the table away from walls so cameras can frame the entire group from a single position.

3. The Shape Problem

Round tables create a specific challenge. Everyone sits facing the center. There is no clear front of the room. This works beautifully for in person collaboration but makes video framing difficult.

The camera needs to capture everyone, but people are distributed around a 360 degree circle. A single camera from any direction shows some people from the front and others from the side or back.

Some manufacturers make 360 degree cameras that mount in the center of the table. That helps but the camera sits in the middle of the workspace. People need to avoid blocking it with laptops or papers.

Tables with unusual shapes create similar problems. A guitar pick shape, curved edge, or asymmetric design might look striking but can make camera coverage complicated.

Rectangular and boat shaped tables work most reliably for standard camera positioning. They create a clear front of the room. Everyone faces roughly the same direction. If the design calls for a different shape, the AV team needs to be involved in that decision.

4. When Height and Mounting Points Matter

Conference tables come in standard heights, typically 29 to 30 inches. This works for seating and ergonomics. It also affects camera mounting in ways that are not immediately obvious.

The camera needs to sit at a height that frames faces, not tops of heads or people from an extreme angle. When the camera mounts above a display on the wall, its height is largely fixed.

If the table sits lower than expected or seating is at an unusual height, the camera angle becomes more severe. People appear to be looking down at the camera instead of at eye level. Extreme angles feel impersonal.

Some tables integrate AV equipment directly. They have recessed areas for microphones, cable pass throughs, or display screens built into the surface. These integration points need to be specified when the table is ordered. Adding them later requires modifying a finished piece of furniture.

Custom tables often require detailed shop drawings that show equipment locations, mounting plates, and cable pathways. Both teams should review these drawings before fabrication starts. Changes cost significantly less on paper than after the table is built.

5. What Needs to Happen Before Ordering

The coordination process does not have to be complicated. It requires specific conversations at specific times.

During schematic design, when space planning is happening, the project team should identify where cameras will mount and what field of view they need. This informs table placement and orientation. A rough furniture layout and camera position sketch takes an hour to create and prevents months of headaches later.

When selecting furniture, share table dimensions and position with the AV team. Let them verify that the chosen configuration works with available cameras and mounting options. If problems exist, this is the time to adjust the table size, shape, or position.

Before ordering custom tables, request shop drawings that show AV equipment integration points. The AV team should review these drawings and confirm that cable routing, equipment placement, and mounting details are correct.

During installation, schedule AV equipment mounting to happen at the same time furniture arrives. This lets installers coordinate placement and verify that everything aligns as planned.

6. Common Scenarios and Solutions

Some patterns repeat across projects. Recognizing them helps avoid predictable problems.

Very long tables in narrow rooms create framing challenges. Solution: Use multiple cameras or position the table to maximize distance from the camera mounting point.

Tables positioned against windows make camera mounting difficult. Solution: Identify camera positions during space planning and orient the table to accommodate them.

Custom tables ordered before AV design begins often lack integration points for equipment. Solution: Include AV requirements in furniture specifications from the start.

Round or unusually shaped tables ordered without considering camera coverage. Solution: Verify camera solutions exist for the chosen shape before committing to the furniture.

Height mismatches between seating and camera mounting positions create awkward angles. Solution: Coordinate table height, chair selection, and display mounting elevations together.

The pattern across all these scenarios is the same. Problems get solved most easily when furniture and AV design happen together rather than sequentially.

FAQs

Can we add cameras to an existing room with custom furniture already installed?

‍Usually yes, but you may need to accept compromised camera positions or add more cameras than would have been necessary with coordinated design. The table position and shape limit available options.

What information does the AV team need before we order a custom conference table?

‍Table dimensions, position in the room, any equipment integration requirements, cable routing paths, and confirmation that the planned furniture layout allows proper camera framing of all participants.

How do we know if our table shape will work with standard cameras?

‍Share the table dimensions and room layout with your AV integrator. They can create a field of view diagram showing what the camera will capture and identify any coverage gaps before furniture gets ordered.

Should the furniture vendor coordinate directly with the AV team?

‍Yes, particularly for custom tables with integrated equipment. Direct coordination ensures that mounting points, cable pathways, and equipment clearances get built correctly the first time.

What camera mounting options exist when tables sit against walls?

Options include ceiling mounted cameras shooting down at the table, cameras mounted on the opposite wall with wide angle lenses, or multiple cameras covering different table sections. Each approach has tradeoffs that affect cost and user experience.

Ready to Coordinate Furniture and AV from the Start?

Camera angles and furniture placement affect every video call that happens in your conference rooms. Getting these details right during design prevents compromises that limit how well spaces work.

See how we approach conference room design from concept to completion. From furniture coordination to camera placement, every project starts with understanding how people will actually use the space.