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Top tips for ordering school furniture

Blog
The YPO Team
05 May 2023

You may have also had that feeling of dread when you realise the table you've ordered is far too big for the room it's going in or the stool delivered is a little high for the breakfast bar it's sitting under! But never fear. We've got you covered! Here's our complete guide to ordering chairs and tables, made easy.

Chairs

When placing an order for educational chairs, there are four areas you'll need to focus on, labelled in the image below.

Chair height (choose your chair seat height using the chart below)
Shell colour
Fabric colour (optional extra only available on some chairs)
Frame colour

(You have the option to choose the colour you'd like the furniture to be when ordering)

Chair height guide

Choosing your chair height

As we all come in different shapes and sizes, it is always best to check what currently works for you and your colleagues/pupils. Before doing anything, make sure to check the seat heights you currently use!

When buying new chairs, it's important to consider stature (overall measurement from feet to the top of the head) and popliteal height (measurement from the floor to the seat).

The chart below can be used as a guide for ordering the correct chair for height and age group. It also shows the correct table height to match the chair.

Chair height guide for different age ranges

Tables

Similar to ordering chairs, there are also four areas to consider when placing table orders.

Table height (choose your table height using the chart above)
Top colour
Edge style
Frame colour

(You have the option to choose the colour you'd like the furniture to be when ordering)

Table guide for schools

Choosing table frames, edge styles and top styles

There are so many different options to choose from to customise your tables to suit your school's individual needs. Here's a handy guide to help you choose the best-fit option:

Guide of different table styles

Top tips and key takeaways

Always check that the item you're ordering details the correct seat height/table height you require in 'mm' as different item numbers cover different seat/table heights.
Make sure to check the table width (between the two legs) and the widths of two chairs next to each other, for example, to ensure enough room for pupils.
Student table frames can be labelled as crush-bent or fully welded. A crush-bent frame is helpful as it allows you to stack the tables one on top of the other, rather than spirally.
If you're ordering to match current tables, please check your current frame type, edging and colour to ensure they match.
Student tables are usually supplied with a PU Duraform edge or an MDF edge. PU Duraform edges can often be ordered in contrasting colours, providing a bold, modern alternative to MDF edging.
For settings where stool-height tables are required (such as design and technology workshops or art rooms), search for 'heavy duty' or 'craft' tables. Heavy-duty tables can also be supplied in Trespa, which is very hard-wearing and commonly used in science lab settings.

Looking to refresh or update your furniture?

We’ve got a fantastic range of durable and long-lasting furniture, designed for a range of educational and office settings on our website. Browse the range here.

YPO's dedicated design team also provide a unique service for designing, supplying, and installing loose and fitted furniture solutions. Our service includes complete project management, CAD design and product and space planning advice. Find out more here.

Author

The YPO Team

YPO supplies products and services to a wide range of customers including schools, local authorities, charities, emergency services, public sector and other businesses such as nurseries and care homes. YPO are 100% publicly owned, by 13 local authorities, which means the profits made are returned to public sector customers, delivering even better value for money.