In short: the number of open sides decides how visitors reach your stand, where walls and storage can go, and how much of your budget goes on finishing faces that people will see. Choose the layout from what the stand has to do, then check the organizer’s exhibitor manual, because the organizer’s rules on height, walls and open sides override any general advice.
This guide compares layouts by open sides. It is not about the choice between shell scheme, modular and custom builds, which we cover in shell scheme, modular or custom booth.
The four layouts at a glance
| Layout | Open sides | Visitor access | Walls available for storage, screens and graphics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inline | 1 (front) | From the aisle in front only | Back and both side walls |
| Corner | 2 | From two aisles that meet at the corner | Two walls |
| Peninsula | 3 | From three aisles; backs onto one neighbour or a wall | One wall, usually the back |
| Island | 4 | From every side | None by default; any wall is built inside the footprint |
Exhibition halls and organizers may use different names, and whether a stand counts as corner or peninsula is set by the floor plan. Check the stand type shown in your organizer’s documents.
How each layout changes visitor flow
Inline. Everyone arrives from one direction. The front edge does most of the work: the main message, the product or the screen that stops people needs to sit there. Meeting space goes to the back, where it is quieter.
Corner. Two streams of people meet at one point. The corner itself is the most visible spot, which makes it a natural place for a tall element, a product or a screen. Visitors can cut across the stand between the two aisles, so plan where you want them to walk.
Peninsula. Three open sides give strong visibility, with one back wall that can carry the largest graphic or screen and hide storage. The back wall faces into the stand, so the stand can feel like a small room with a clear front.
Island. There is no front. Visitors can arrive from any aisle, so the design has to work from every angle. Storage, meeting rooms and any screen need to be built inside the footprint, and every face that can be seen needs finishing. Islands suit brands that want a strong presence and have enough content to fill four sides.
Questions to choose the right layout
- What is the main goal? Many short conversations favour open sides; fewer, longer meetings favour a stand with walls that can create privacy.
- How many meetings at the same time, and do they need to be private? Closed meeting space is easier on inline, corner or peninsula stands, where an existing wall can be used.
- What are you showing? Large products may need access from several sides; screen-led stories need a wall that faces the main aisle.
- How much storage do you need? Storage takes floor space. On an island it is built inside the footprint, which reduces usable area.
- How many staff will be on the stand? More open sides means more entry points to cover.
- Will the stand be reused? A design that works as both corner and peninsula is easier to adapt to the next show’s floor plan.
Organizer rules to check before design
These vary by show and venue, so we do not give fixed figures. Look for them in the exhibitor manual and the technical regulations:
- maximum build height, and whether it changes near aisles or neighbouring stands;
- rules on closed walls along open sides, and how much of an open side can be closed;
- treatment of walls that face neighbouring stands, including finishing the back of walls above a certain height;
- rigging and hanging structures, if allowed, and how they are ordered;
- whether a multi-storey stand is allowed, and what extra approval it needs;
- power points and where they can be positioned;
- drawing and approval deadlines.
Some organizers price stands differently by number of open sides. Check the space contract rather than assuming.
A simple way to sketch the options
- Draw your stand footprint from the floor plan and mark each open side with the aisle name.
- Mark the main visitor flow: which aisle leads from the hall entrance or the busiest feature.
- Place the main attraction where that flow first sees the stand.
- Place storage and meeting space where they block the least visibility.
- Check the result against the manual’s height and wall rules before going further.
Hypothetical example
This example is invented for illustration and does not describe a real project.
A company is offered a 6 × 6 m corner or a 6 × 6 m peninsula at the same show. Its goal is a product demo every hour plus up to four private meetings at a time. The peninsula’s back wall can hold a meeting room and storage, leaving three open sides for the demo. On the corner, the meeting room would take one of the two walls the screen needs. The team chooses the peninsula and checks the manual’s rules on closing part of an open side before briefing the designer.
How BiliEvent can help
We design and build exhibition stands in Saudi Arabia, from brief and 3D design to technical drawings for organizer approval, fabrication, installation and dismantling. Send us the floor plan with your stand number and open sides, the exhibitor manual and your goals, and we will reply with questions, a plan and a quote.
Request a booth proposal or see our booth production service.
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026