My poolroom is in the former living room of my house. It's 16'x20' and quite adequate for my 9' Diamond table. That said, I am very limited by the furniture options that will fit around the table. I do have four high chairs placed at intervals around the table, none of them at either end rail as it would impede a player shooting from there. There is a cue rack that extends out approx. 3" from one side wall (the table is slightly closer to this side). Players have been known to contact cues in the rack on their back swing if they're not careful.
At one time I had a couch along one side of the table (The side opposite the cue rack). It was no problem to cue over the seating area of the couch, but it affected the players stance so I finally decided to remove it. So even with more than adequate room for my table, I have limited options on the furniture around it and even what extends from the walls. There is no furniture of any kind at either end of the table! Those are both open areas in a 20' long room. Once again, more than enough room to shoot, but not enough room to have chairs, tables or anything else. A properly situated shelf or shelves would work if I wanted them. I don't need them as I have an adjoining dining room with a large table to set drinks or food on.
This is another area where I see poolrooms and homes make a mistake in locating a shelf. You better place it high enough so you can cue comfortably underneath it, and that's quite a bit higher than the playing surface of your table. The back end of your cue is elevated several inches, as is your arm on the back swing. A low shelf (or narrow table) actually works better in many situations. Okay that's about it for my table tutorial. Carry on. :wink:
P.S. You will often find that the four corners of your room have the most space for small tables or chairs.
