When you walk into your office building, the first thing you see is the reception area. And whether it’s decorated with a cheery welcome mat or filled with people who are looking at their phones, that first impression sets the tone for everything else.
A welcoming waiting area can make visitors feel secure and at ease, which will help them be productive once they get past security and into your office space. To set up a welcoming reception area that people will enjoy spending time in, follow these easy tips!
Comfortable seating
First impressions are everything. This is why it’s important to present a clean, elegant, and welcoming front when answering your company’s call of duty. There are many ways that you can keep things tidy while reducing clutter at the same time without having to be overly strict about it – you just need the right tricks up your sleeve. One of the most important things in a reception area is comfortable seating. It should be, at the very least, plush and comfortable for people to sit in for any length of time while they wait. Otherwise, this will make your waiting room an uncomfortable and uninviting space.
If you’re not sure what type of seating to go with, consider armchairs or couches that can easily accommodate multiple people at a time. Also, you can have vinyl chairs for the reception area that will last a lot longer and will be easier to clean. Remember that when considering seating options, opt for something that looks good and is also comfortable at the same time. A great way to make your reception area seem like less of an entryway is by including plants when you decorate it. This will make your waiting area feel homier no matter what the size is.
Lighting
Comfortable seating not only makes your reception area more inviting but it also improves the overall look of your waiting room as well, because you can use lighting to emphasize certain areas and make them seem better. In the reception area, you should have lights overhead as well as softer lighting sources such as lamps around the walls. This way, people feel comfortable while they wait and their first impression of your business is a good one.
You can also have nice sconces that put out warm lights behind curtains or blinds or you could use floor lamps with higher wattage so they emit brighter lights. You will find that if you can use this kind of lighting, you can create a more relaxing environment for your customers to be in while they wait. To achieve this kind of lighting, you need to use higher wattage bulbs about 150 watts or so. If the room is small, you may even need 200 watts for brighter lights. It’s also important to replace burnt-out lightbulbs as soon as you find them. This way, you can maintain a nice ambiance instead of having to turn on all the lights once one bulb goes out.
Great reception desk
Another great way of welcoming people on their arrival is by making sure that there’s enough space on top of the reception desk for everything they might need when they get inside (‘iPad chargers, copies of contract documents for example), while still leaving plenty on what will soon gracefully become their ‘work field’.
Here are some pointers to make sure your reception desk isn’t getting in its own way:
- Make sure it’s large enough to house all the reception essentials, while still leaving enough room for an ergonomic workstation.
- Have everything you might need at hand – pens, notepad, water, extra pencils or sharpies, brochures about your company, etc.
- Don’t forget that you can get creative when decorating your reception desk. The general rule of thumb here is to use elements that are made from wood. Nothing screams ‘high end’ like a few intricately carved pieces or wooden furniture in general. What this does is make people feel more comfortable and welcome while they wait without them even realizing why they feel this way in the first place!
Interior with a unique design
A unique design is an excellent idea for a reception area. This design can incorporate different features that are tailored to the specific company, such as company names, logos, and colors. The use of warm colors in the reception area will make the room seem more inviting than cool or stark colors. A waiting room with carpeting or padding on the floor is also something that will really help to make your reception area feel more welcoming to visitors. Notice how these simple changes go a long way towards giving visitors an experience that they’re satisfied with when they walk in.
Bathroom signs
Your waiting room will probably have multiple entrances which means it’s important for people to know exactly where the washrooms are located. The best way to do this is by placing a sign that clearly stands out and states both male and female symbols.
Plants
One other thing that makes a big difference in a waiting room is plants because this gives it a natural feeling which people like to see when they’re waiting for something or someone. If you do want to put any actual potted plants in your reception area but don’t want to use plastic ones, consider using silk flowers instead. This way, you can keep them neat and make sure they last for as long as possible. Keeping plants in your reception area is a quick and easy way to add some color and life to the space.
Fresh coffee and refreshments
Lastly, one of the best things that you can give people in a waiting room is refreshments. If it’s available, fresh coffee should be first on the list because this has a stimulating effect on other areas of the brain besides taste buds. The smell alone will increase your clients’ comfort levels and make everyone happier after their visit. Other things like snacks, juices and bottled water can be offered as well. They don’t have to be anything extravagant or expensive. If you want to cut down on costs, make sure that the products offered are something everyone will like and not everybody has access to.
There’s no reason why your waiting area can’t be as inviting as any other space in your building. All it takes is a few additions and changes that aren’t too difficult or time-consuming and you should see satisfied customers coming through your door soon enough.
