Updated November 2021.
Think about the last time you sat in a reception area. Were you comfortable? Was it attractive? Was the wait long?
The reception area is where everyone must sit. It’s one of the great equalizers in life. But, it doesn’t have to be akin to riding on a plane waiting to get where you are going. If your company knows what it’s doing, you can make the reception experience a comfortable and enjoyable one. Businesses that rely heavily on a reception area for guests, potential hires, VIPS, and clients, should go the extra mile to ensure waiting is as painless as possible.
The Desk
The reception desk, not the receptionist, is the first impression in an office. Convey your commitment to customer experience and design by installing something sleek, cool, and glass, or warm up the room with something rich, woody, and curved. Your guests will feel soothed by the elegance, thoughtfulness, and intention behind the modern reception desk and your first conversation has started without a single word.
Proper Furniture
The furniture in your reception area sets the tone and expectation for what people want to find when they hear their name called. Tattered couches and chairs made of inferior fabrics won’t have anyone sitting pretty while they wait. Seats that people sink into won’t be a hit with anyone so remember that quality truly matters. Instead, look to sleek modern sofas that are comfortable and functional. A solidly made contemporary chair and an occasional table will hint at the sophisticated office that awaits them.
Businesses that rely heavily on a reception area for guests, potential hires, VIPS, and clients, should go the extra mile to ensure waiting is as painless as possible.
Choice Colors
In a study titled “Impact of color on marketing,” researchers found that up to 90% of snap judgments made about products can be based on color alone, depending on the product. If you consider your reception area as a byproduct of your business, you’ll understand that a bright orange room isn’t going to result in a calm zen-like space. Instead, look for muted hues and add appropriate pops of color with accent pieces. This way, if the wait goes a little longer than expected, everyone will feel a little calmer.
Modernize your Reception Area
Make sure your reception area is built for the times. Busy people don’t have time to wait, so when they have to, they want to recharge – their phones, laptops, earbuds, iPads, and themselves. Install extra USB/power outlet options wherever you can. Clients will appreciate good Wifi on a secure network with a password they are given at the reception desk – without having to ask for it. Your guests won’t notice a long wait if they have a coffee, water, or tea while they get some work done, so have a drink station at the ready.
Businesses don’t need to sacrifice style to make an accommodating reception space.
Signature Statements
Good design makes a statement. Bring one thing to your reception area that makes it truly yours. Consider fresh bouquets of flowers, rotating sculptures from local galleries, a bold company message graphic, or a hand-blown glass chandelier. Remember that guests respond to local goods and appreciate a company that does, too.
Businesses don’t need to sacrifice style to make an accommodating reception space. Spend the money to make this room as user-friendly as possible. After all, this is the place that makes the first impression on anyone meeting your business for the first time, or those who are coming back again, and again.
Ready to create the reception area of your dreams? Ask us for a quote.
