Reception areas are among the most important of spaces in your office where you create an impression on your existing, and prospective, clients. To make sure that impression is the right one, it’s essential that your reception area not only looks great but is comfortable and inviting too – somewhere that visitors will enjoy waiting. The best reception areas go one further; use this space to inform visitors of your core values and brand message through furniture, layout and accessories.
Easier said than done, right? Well, lucky for you, we’ve put this handy guide together to get you thinking creatively, and to help make sure you get it right!
Reception Desks – The Right One, for the Right Company…
A bit like Cinderella’s shoe, your reception desk needs to fit your company perfectly. If you’re a design agency, for example, use it to express your creative side – don’t be afraid of bright colours, rustic looking timber or even some well-placed astroturf! However, if you’re a law firm, for example, you’d be much better off with something sleek, minimalist and clean – think neutral colours and subtle, refined details.
Whichever direction you go, remember that your reception desk is the first place people head when they walk through the door – it’s the focal point of your reception area, a quality product will pay dividends.
A Great Looking, Comfortable Place to Sit
Equally, if not more important, is the place where your visitors sit while they’re waiting. They’ll expect somewhere comfortable and inviting, where they can relax and collect their thoughts. If you’ve ever had to wait in an uncomfortable reception, you’ll know this isn’t a place where you’ll want to make a bad impression.
Modular seating is an excellent way to create a stylish waiting area – one which can be configured, and reconfigured, to suit almost any space. Modern seating ranges can incorporate tables, storage, power, wireless charging and even lighting modules. They’re also available in a huge range of fabrics, leathers and vinyls, so can be specified to truly represent your business.
Show Them What You’ve Got
Your reception area is the perfect place to showcase the best that your business has to offer to prospective clients. If you’ve won any industry awards, display them proudly. Do you sponsor any community projects? This is the place to shout about that.
If your business sells products, use this space to showcase them. Display any impressive case studies, facts and figures; let your visitors know. This is the place to tell your customers exactly who you are, what you do, and why you’re better than your competitors.
Keep Your Visitors Entertained
The best way to keep visitors relaxed is to keep them occupied. Most businesses provide newspapers or magazines in their waiting areas or have a TV with the news on. If you want to make a real impression though, how about a couple of carefully curated board games? Or, to build an edgy and creative vibe, what about a vintage arcade machine?!
Every reception is different, so whatever approach works best for your business, having something which allows visitors to pass time and feel relaxed will go a long way in helping to create that perfect initial impression.
Tea and Coffee Go a Long Way
One of the best ways to make a visitor feel welcome is to offer them something to drink when they arrive. After all, they’ve probably just spent a fair amount of time on the train, or in the car. Consider offering a couple of types of tea, (Earl Grey anyone?), and in an ideal world, coffee wouldn’t be the instant kind, (Nespresso or Tassimo machines can be picked up for a great price, and are quick, easy to use). Want to do a little extra to impress? A well-positioned fruit bowl will not only give visitors something to snack on; it will reinforce your brand image as a health-conscious organisation. It’s also a great way to add a splash of colour in any reception area.
Now that this quick guide has your imagination racing, click on the button below to take a look at our products – Jetty modular seating looks the part in any reception area; if you’re after something a little more quirky, check out Soapbox. In any case, we’d love to hear about your ideas, we hope you’ll get in touch to talk them through!
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