The furniture found in reception areas can be expensive. While purchasing new might not always be an option, there are some tips on how to get the best possible return on investment such as:
If you can afford it, buy high-quality items made from real wood and avoid laminate or veneer because even though these tend to look more modern they will often scratch and chip much faster than their solid counterparts.
Coloured Upholstery
Choosing a coloured upholstery is usually a good choice due to its timelessness – solid colours won’t go out of fashion and feel like they could date your office quickly whereas prints may seem “trendy” now but could become dated soon after purchase so stick with standard colours such as black, grey or brown for the best results.
Maintainance
Invest in chairs that can be easily wiped down because people will spill things and if you’re unlucky even vomit on them as sick bags, as well as chewing gum or food could leave a very unpleasant smell; stains may not always come out of the seat cushion which is hard to cover up.
Hire a professional cleaning company to refinish your chairs and refurnish your waiting area every few years (even though this will incur extra costs) because it will look much better than pieces that have been poorly maintained by yourself.
Numbers
Take into consideration how many people might use the office reception furniture at any one time – for example, if you only have two visitors then three armchairs would provide more than enough seating space but if you have six visitors then you should purchase the standard four chairs to avoid any overcrowding.
Modularity
Modularity is good if you need to rearrange your furniture layout, but it can be more expensive than fixed office reception furniture.
The cost of the waiting area chairs depends on where they are to be used and how large they will be (e.g., armchairs or single seats).
Office Reception Furniture – What To Look For When Buying Waiting Area Seating?
When purchasing new office reception furniture, people often forget about their visitors and think only about what will work best for them in the office. However, having well designed and comfortable reception furniture can really make a difference in terms of first impressions which are very important when trying to impress new customers or winning back old ones. So, it’s worth thinking about what your visitors might need when they come into your office and how you can make them feel comfortable and at ease.
To achieve this aim, there are a number of things to look out for when shopping around for reception furniture:
What To Look For When Buying Waiting Area Seating?
When purchasing new office reception furniture, people often forget about their visitors and think only about what will work best for them in the office. However, having well designed and comfortable reception furniture can really make a difference in terms of first impressions which are very important when trying to impress new customers or winning back old ones. So, it’s worth spending a little time thinking about the impression you want to give.
Office reception furniture such as chairs and sofas should be comfortable and stylish, but that’s easy enough if you have an eye for design. It’s also important that your guests feel relaxed and at ease while they’re waiting in your office foyer or reception area. Here are some tips:
Look out for seating arrangements which invite people to sit and stay a while: pouffes make great footstools; coffee tables can provide magazines, newspapers or even drinks; low armchairs with squishy cushions will look inviting; soft fabric on walls and ceilings is soothing; rugs break up cold flooring (and add colour); flowers add colour too (but not dead ones which look depressing).
Make sure your furniture is sturdy and durable. If you’re trying to create an impression of luxury, don’t cut corners on cheap chairs or sofas with plastic legs. Make sure you invest in quality if comfort is important to you. You’ll be more likely to attract returning customers if they feel comfortable the first time they visit your office.
Choose creative lighting for your reception area too: soft downlights are flattering on skin tones; track spotlights will highlight objects for dramatic effect; up lights can help separate areas visually; candles give a warm welcome especially at night when you switch the room lights off.
For really effective mood lighting, try changing colours subtly through the day by using dimmer switches on overhead lights. A red, pink or orange hue at the end of the day will enhance and warm up existing colours and add a new dimension to your branding story.
The receptionist is the face of your company so it’s about time you treated them like stars too. Make sure they have their own special space with good storage and comfortable seating where they can greet customers in style without looking over-stretched or squashed into a box. Introduce different work stations for different days, create a more productive working environment by using standing desks , allow breakout areas with plants and comfy chairs for brain storming sessions and encourage staff to use the garden area if possible: fresh air and sunshine has been proven to reduce fatigue and stress levels which will help increase motivation and productivity.
So what do you need to consider when choosing office furniture for your front of house staff?
If the reception is large, more than one person will be sitting at the desk so they’ll need enough space to work comfortably with an adjustable chair. A small stool might seem like a good idea on first impressions but actually there’s not much difference between that and just standing all day long. What you should aim for is adjustable seating that lets them sit or stand as they choose throughout their shift. There should also be enough leg room around the desk too – no-one wants to knock their knees every time they turn round!
Is it going to be open plan? Make sure you have an area where people can take their breaks, eat lunch or just chat for a few minutes if they need to. Planning this in advance is important too – it can’t be left until the last minute when you’re rushing around buying furniture and equipment.
Seeing as your receptionist’s desk is usually the first thing people see when they enter your business premises, you’ll want to make sure it looks good! Opt for something stylish but functional. Looks are important but so is comfort so remember to look at things like height of seating before making any final decisions on that new colour scheme.
Don’t forget about storage either! If there’s not enough space for everyone then you might find some staff members feel trapped behind their desks because there aren’t enough filing cabinets and cupboards which detracts from the overall appearance and gives a cluttered impression.
Now let’s look at what you should be looking for when buying reception furniture;
The Receptionist’s Desk
Think about size first as you’ll need to make sure there is enough space for your staff, storage space like drawers and filing cabinets, as well as room to walk around it if necessary – this becomes more important if you have larger customers who will want to sit down for a chat. There are various designs of desk available but generally they’re rectangular and made from wood or glass with the option of having drawers and cupboards underneath.
For something simple yet stylish, try an executive style wood desk with metal legs – these come in all shapes and sizes and a good one will last years if you look after it. Alternatively, for a slightly different look, go for an oval shaped desk with metal legs – the curved design is more unusual and eye catching.
The Receptionist’s Chair
When choosing your chair think about how far away from the desk the receptionist needs to be at their computer or talking to customers. You might want them to have enough space to stretch out but still be close enough so they can hear any incoming phone calls clearly. Make sure there is ample leg room as this not only makes working at the desk more comfortable but also avoids people accidentally kicking a drawer shut when they walk past!
Another important thing to consider is how supportive your staff need their chair to be, and if they need back support whilst working. You can vary the level of lumbar support and tension on your chairs for optimum comfort and performance.
The next thing to think about is how adjustable you want your seating to be, because we all have comfort preferences that are different from one person to the next! That is why it’s great that there are so many options with most office furniture designs. For example with gas-strut assisted levers at the side or back of the seat meaning adjusting height is made quick and easy meaning everyone can reach their perfect position.
You might have noticed in most offices employees love having a footrest for extra leg room , an ideal accessory when considering how far away you want desks to be positioned. These swivel and fold-out footrests are often best incorporated underneath the desk, this will save valuable floor space.
A great addition to any reception area is a height adjustable chair . Concerning corner units , you can choose where the monitor arm should be placed making sure it’s at eye level for your employees. The choice of colours that are available means that they will fit in seamlessly with existing office furniture while also matching the style of other products in your office.