Can chairs move and a visitor sit without blocking the entrance?
Backyard office planning starts with the task you need to complete. Compare the disclosed examples below, then replace their assumptions with your measurements and keep your decision in one supplier brief.
Reference answer: A 60 × 24 in desk, chair and 30 in chair-back allowance share the room with measured storage and equipment. The smallest passing footprint in this three-candidate example is 10×12. This answers the disclosed example, not an unmeasured personal project.
Authored planning examples, not measured customer projects or product specifications. Dimensions are inches. No construction or safety approval.
Measure the conditions that change the answer.
Desk and chair
How to measure: Measure complete desk and chair footprints, plus the clear distance the chair moves back during use.
What it changes: The chair-back area is reserved before storage; it cannot be used as permanent equipment space.
Second seat and equipment
How to measure: Measure a second seat for collaboration mode and the actual storage/equipment footprints and heights.
What it changes: Compare solo and collaboration using the same shell. If access fails, revise the furniture arrangement or footprint.
Working conditions
How to measure: Measure the real opening and usable height. Ask separately about power, ventilation, daylight and applicable use/occupancy requirements.
What it changes: Passing furniture geometry is not an office-use or habitability approval.
Two ways to frame the decision.
Reference 1 · editable assumptions
Solo office
What you gain
A desk, chair-back movement, storage and equipment are kept in one measured solo-office arrangement.
What you give up
A visitor seat is not included; power, ventilation, light and permitted use remain open questions.
When to choose it
Start here for one regular desk user.
Dark: equipment or storage. Pale areas: activities or zones. Dimensions in inches; scale changes with the view.
1. Desk: 60 × 24 in
2. Chair-back movement: 60 × 54 in
3. Entry circulation: 24 × 58 in
4. Storage: 18 × 36 in
5. Storage service space: 24 × 24 in
6. Equipment: 18 × 18 in
7. Equipment service space: 24 × 24 in
8. Chair at desk: 24 × 24 in
The stated geometry fits this arrangement.
Approaches test an entered square circulation footprint with fixtures retained. Turning bodies, door leaves, ventilation, utilities and safe occupancy are unassessed.
Every input, finding and limitation
desk / width: 60
desk / depth: 24
desk / height: 30
chair / width: 24
chair / depth: 24
chair / height: 42
second Seat / width: 24
second Seat / depth: 24
second Seat / height: 36
storage / width: 18
storage / depth: 36
storage / height: 60
equipment / width: 18
equipment / depth: 18
equipment / height: 24
chair Back: 30
aisle: 24
mode: solo
Approaches test an entered square circulation footprint with fixtures retained. Turning bodies, door leaves, ventilation, utilities and safe occupancy are unassessed.
Reference 2 · editable assumptions
Collaboration space
What you gain
A second seat adds its footprint and service area to the same office task.
What you give up
The visitor space competes with circulation and storage; nominal floor area alone does not resolve it.
When to choose it
Start here if a second person needs a real seat rather than occasional standing room.
Dark: equipment or storage. Pale areas: activities or zones. Dimensions in inches; scale changes with the view.
1. Desk: 60 × 24 in
2. Chair-back movement: 60 × 54 in
3. Entry circulation: 24 × 58 in
4. Storage: 18 × 36 in
5. Storage service space: 24 × 24 in
6. Second seat: 24 × 24 in
7. Second seat service space: 24 × 24 in
8. Equipment: 18 × 18 in
9. Equipment service space: 24 × 24 in
10. Chair at desk: 24 × 24 in
The stated geometry fits this arrangement.
Approaches test an entered square circulation footprint with fixtures retained. Turning bodies, door leaves, ventilation, utilities and safe occupancy are unassessed.
Every input, finding and limitation
desk / width: 60
desk / depth: 24
desk / height: 30
chair / width: 24
chair / depth: 24
chair / height: 42
second Seat / width: 24
second Seat / depth: 24
second Seat / height: 36
storage / width: 18
storage / depth: 36
storage / height: 60
equipment / width: 18
equipment / depth: 18
equipment / height: 24
chair Back: 30
aisle: 24
mode: collaboration
Approaches test an entered square circulation footprint with fixtures retained. Turning bodies, door leaves, ventilation, utilities and safe occupancy are unassessed.
Same task, three candidate footprints.
Reference 1 stays fixed. These are authored clear dimensions, not guaranteed interiors of products bearing the same nominal size. Each diagram uses the same scale; failed objects remain full size.
At least one shown arrangement passes the modeled geometry; read the remaining limits before making a choice.
8×10
Dark: equipment or storage. Pale areas: activities or zones. Dimensions in inches; scale changes with the view.
1. Desk: 60 × 24 in
2. Chair-back movement: 60 × 54 in
3. Entry circulation: 24 × 34 in
4. Storage: 18 × 36 in — outside shell
5. Storage service space: 24 × 24 in — outside shell
6. Equipment: 18 × 18 in — outside shell
7. Equipment service space: 24 × 24 in — outside shell
8. Chair at desk: 24 × 24 in
This arrangement needs a change.
Storage: no non-overlapping position was found in this bounded arrangement search.
10×12
Dark: equipment or storage. Pale areas: activities or zones. Dimensions in inches; scale changes with the view.
1. Desk: 60 × 24 in
2. Chair-back movement: 60 × 54 in
3. Entry circulation: 24 × 58 in
4. Storage: 18 × 36 in
5. Storage service space: 24 × 24 in
6. Equipment: 18 × 18 in
7. Equipment service space: 24 × 24 in
8. Chair at desk: 24 × 24 in
The stated geometry fits this arrangement.
Approaches test an entered square circulation footprint with fixtures retained. Turning bodies, door leaves, ventilation, utilities and safe occupancy are unassessed.
12×16
Dark: equipment or storage. Pale areas: activities or zones. Dimensions in inches; scale changes with the view.
1. Desk: 60 × 24 in
2. Chair-back movement: 60 × 54 in
3. Entry circulation: 24 × 106 in
4. Storage: 18 × 36 in
5. Storage service space: 24 × 24 in
6. Equipment: 18 × 18 in
7. Equipment service space: 24 × 24 in
8. Chair at desk: 24 × 24 in
The stated geometry fits this arrangement.
Approaches test an entered square circulation footprint with fixtures retained. Turning bodies, door leaves, ventilation, utilities and safe occupancy are unassessed.
Test the task in use.
Chair-back movement with other furniture retained
Dark: equipment or storage. Pale areas: activities or zones. Dimensions in inches; scale changes with the view.
1. Desk: 60 × 24 in
2. Chair-back movement: 60 × 54 in
3. Entry circulation: 24 × 58 in
4. Storage: 18 × 36 in
5. Storage service space: 24 × 24 in
6. Equipment: 18 × 18 in
7. Equipment service space: 24 × 24 in
8. Chair at desk: 24 × 24 in
Route to Desk
Dark: equipment or storage. Pale areas: activities or zones. Dimensions in inches; scale changes with the view.
1. Desk: 60 × 24 in
2. Chair-back movement: 60 × 54 in
3. Storage: 18 × 36 in
4. Storage service space: 24 × 24 in
5. Equipment: 18 × 18 in
6. Equipment service space: 24 × 24 in
7. Chair at desk: 24 × 24 in
8. Full-footprint translation sweep: 24 × 84 in
9. Full-footprint translation sweep: 66 × 24 in
10. Full-footprint translation sweep: 24 × 76 in
Route to Storage
Dark: equipment or storage. Pale areas: activities or zones. Dimensions in inches; scale changes with the view.
1. Desk: 60 × 24 in
2. Chair-back movement: 60 × 54 in
3. Storage: 18 × 36 in
4. Storage service space: 24 × 24 in
5. Equipment: 18 × 18 in
6. Equipment service space: 24 × 24 in
7. Chair at desk: 24 × 24 in
8. Full-footprint translation sweep: 68 × 24 in
9. Full-footprint translation sweep: 24 × 24 in
Route to Equipment
Dark: equipment or storage. Pale areas: activities or zones. Dimensions in inches; scale changes with the view.
1. Desk: 60 × 24 in
2. Chair-back movement: 60 × 54 in
3. Storage: 18 × 36 in
4. Storage service space: 24 × 24 in
5. Equipment: 18 × 18 in
6. Equipment service space: 24 × 24 in
7. Chair at desk: 24 × 24 in
8. Full-footprint translation sweep: 48 × 24 in
9. Full-footprint translation sweep: 24 × 24 in
Route to Chair at desk
Dark: equipment or storage. Pale areas: activities or zones. Dimensions in inches; scale changes with the view.
1. Desk: 60 × 24 in
2. Chair-back movement: 60 × 54 in
3. Storage: 18 × 36 in
4. Storage service space: 24 × 24 in
5. Equipment: 18 × 18 in
6. Equipment service space: 24 × 24 in
7. Chair at desk: 24 × 24 in
8. Full-footprint translation sweep: 24 × 24 in
9. Full-footprint translation sweep: 24 × 88 in
Controlled failure
What changes the answer?
Increase only chair-back space to 180 inches.
Chair-back movement exceeds the usable interior in this arrangement.
Chair-back movement overlaps Entry circulation.
Dark: equipment or storage. Pale areas: activities or zones. Dimensions in inches; scale changes with the view.
1. Desk: 60 × 24 in
2. Chair-back movement: 60 × 204 in — outside shell
3. Entry circulation: 24 × 24 in
4. Storage: 18 × 36 in
5. Storage service space: 24 × 24 in
6. Equipment: 18 × 18 in
7. Equipment service space: 24 × 24 in
8. Chair at desk: 24 × 24 in
Sources and the questions to take further.
Layout conclusions come from the disclosed rectangular geometry and entered clearances. A source supports only the specific guidance stated here. Site, structure, ventilation, actual door operation and local requirements need separate review.
Version 2026-09-08-decisions. These files reproduce the public examples, including failed arrangements. Your private measurements are only included when you generate your own brief.