I would like to propose a new layout for the main room , the idea is (I heard this many time) to get rid of the sofa and join the two table on the long side or 90 degree take a look at my not on scale confusing diagram :
I think that will vastly improve the space usage and will give a more open feel to the room 
Why would you want to get rid of the sofas?
I can’t make out the orientation of your suggestion on my mobile. It looks like you’ve put tables across the red strip?
I don’t , I want to use more sides of the tables…
But the tables can be moved if needed. I quite like the ‘everyone around a big table’ feel.
The red stripe has to be left clear so people (and potentially chunky materials) can easily get in and out of the workshops.
Get rid of which sofa? I noticed that one of the two had been turned round to face the TV in order to play video games the other day. That’s ok for a time-to-time activity, but that area was designed for socialising face-to-face and relaxing.
Here’s a to-scale (1:100, so 1cm = 1m) PDF of the whole space to aid with planning:
Floor Plan.pdf (31.5 KB)
If you want to get at all sides of the tables on an occasion, you can just pull them apart, can’t you? When you are done, you can put them back together. I do not see the need to leave them permanently in an ‘L’ shape or end-to-end, and am not in favour, sorry.
Making the tables easier to move – probably with castors – might add a lot to flexibility of the space. Easy enough to do.
That would be nice , yes 
Is just for the Electronics night, most of us need some working sourface and between project and laptop we easily finish the space…
TBH the table are wobbly and unstable ATM , some of the feet are separating , they need some TLC…
The legs on the tables should be properly secured, and casters added, agreed. Then any number of temporary arrangements of the tables can be arranged as needed.
That’s a perfect solution 
It was laid out in a different way and people didn’t like it.
The social area is an important statement.
I would like to keep the sofas. I enjoy having some comfortable seating in the space.
I agree, but its more than that, I think - it says that socialising and the relationships and connections we build at Makerspace are as important as the making that goes on.
They are being used right now for exactly what they were intended for, socialising, not just making.
It would be nice to sand down and refinish the tops of the tables and repaint the chairs too - they’re all looking a bit battered. I’d be up for helping with this.
Yeah. That would lift it all hugely!
As has been pointed out we need to brace the tables a bit – at the moment they feel like they might collapse if you move them too much.
Yes let’s have a fixing & finishing party for the tables & chairs. Plenty of low skilled work like painting & sanding that anyone can do. We just need someone who has the skills to fix & wheelify the tables to lead it.
I can sand them, varnish them, make them resilient table tops, happy to. Jackie xox
Like ‘wheelyfi’ lol
