Whether it’s a client making a site visit, a potential employee arriving for a first interview, or current employees coming to work each day, your office space says a lot about you to everyone, which can directly affect your bottom line. I’m sure you’ve heard that many people feverishly clean their house before a cleaning service arrives. Why? Because they don’t want the cleaning people to think they’re slobs! As funny as that sounds, it drives home the point that a good impression really does matter.
A client that sees a messy, unorganized, run down workplace may perceive that their business dealings with you are handled in the same manner. A potential employee may be immediately turned off by this as well, thinking that the company may not have its act together or doesn’t care much about their employees. Current employees may want to be more organized or work in more cheerful surroundings, but instead feel undervalued, demoralized, and unmotivated because of their work environment. These perceptions could be totally untrue, and these may only be three examples out of many. But as you can see, they can have a substantially negative impact on your business.
Customers can think long and hard when choosing from our visitor seating range Office Monster, and that’s because they realize the importance of a reception area in how a business is perceived. Reception areas have been tagged as the ‘business card‘ of office spaces because of their ability to leave a lasting impression, be it positive or negative. In this blog, we will run through why it is important to get the design of your reception area spot on, and ways to go about the process.
Human nature
While we might form an opinion of a person by looking at their face, the same could be said about the reception area of a building. Visitors can form a quick initial impression or an assumption about an organisation from the way in which their reception area is presented.
A desk decision
The desk is typically the standout piece of furniture in a reception area – whether it is glass or wood you go for, ensure the desk is stylish, smart and also ticks the boxes in terms of the practical elements. That means accommodating all the receptionist’s activities, from making and receiving calls to storage and welcoming visitors. A big tangle where the cables of telephones, computers and fax machines meet is a big no-no – wires should be as invisible as possible to visitors.
Who are you?
If you are an organisation which is aware of its brand values – or at least have a marketing department who are! – then the kind of furniture and layout you choose should be easily informed by your characteristics. Want to project an impression of creative talent, and the ability to think outside the box? Then maybe an alternative and quirky design will suit your organisation best. If exuding stability and reliability is a priority, then a more formal and spacious design could do the trick – but remember, comfort should never be far from your thoughts in reception design.
Tricks of the trade
There are certain elements of reception design which are proven winners. For instance, a curve to desks and tables is understood to have a welcoming effect, while using tones of blue and green can be calming and friendly. Ensure you use all the methods available to you in ensuring your reception is a pleasurable place for guests to be!
