I'm short also and for me the solution was a student wood desk (veneer - hollow inside type) that measures 60 x 25 inches so there is quite a bit of space. The desk is 28.5 inches high but very sturdy so I set my embroidery machine on that. The best part of this desk is the extension table that slides in an out. Fully extended it measures 27.5 by 15.5 inches and is 26.5 inches tall. That where I have my straight stitch machine. Neither machine is set-in but this is working well for me so far.