As the first thing any visitor will notice on a trip to your premises, your reception desk is key in influencing your client’s first and lasting impressions. More than just a waiting area, with a little consideration, your choice of reception desk and reception area can set the tone for your entire building and be used to promote your company message.
Establish your requirements – how will your reception desk and area be used?
The first thing to establish when planning your reception area is the number of people who will be working there. As well as helping to determine the space you will need, this will also give you an idea of how many people need to be seated at your reception desk.
At this stage, it is important to decide what kind of tasks will be undertaken. Will your reception employees purely manage your switchboard or will they require space for administrative tasks? Once these have been decided, another important consideration is security. Do you need a separate exit behind reception for employees or an emergency alert button installed? Once you are clear on your requirements, the next stage is to find the right reception desk.
Finding the right reception desk
As your customer’s first point of contact, choosing your reception desk needs careful consideration. Before making any decisions it is wise to visit an office furniture showroom where you can experience a wide range of reception area furniture designed for various budgets and tastes.
Here you will be able to consult a furniture and interior design specialist who can explain the benefits of different styles including the most popular types, such as traditional or contemporary reception desks. You should also explore the option of designing a bespoke reception desk which can be tailored to your exact specifications. Whilst more expensive than a standard, cheap reception desk, a bespoke design can leave a great impression on your visiting customers.
As well as being on hand to produce reception desk drawings, an experienced office interior designer will also be able to advise you on additional features for your reception desk such as hatch entry, integrated storage, top boxes or hidden monitor screens.
Choose your look
While choosing your reception desk is an important part of your reception refurbishment, it isn’t the only consideration. Spend some time thinking about the look and ambience you are trying to achieve and the colours you could use. Are you hoping to create a warm and friendly environment or a more vibrant and modern feel? Remember that this is a good opportunity to include your corporate colours and enhance your branding.
It is also important to consider how busy your reception area is likely to be. Using bright colours will encourage people not to linger and to move quickly to their destination while calm, more natural colours will promote a feeling of relaxation for visitors. With this is mind, you should also think about your choice of flooring. While a wooden floor may look stylish and be easy to keep clean, it can become very noisy as well as easily damaged or marked. To combat this, consider carpeting all or part of your office reception area using tiles so that in the event of an accident or general wear, only the damaged parts need replacing.
When it comes to lighting, many companies make the mistake of just looking at essential, functional lighting. While this is obviously critical, task lighting should also be considered to highlight certain reception area features. Examples include spotlights emphasising your company sign and led lights on stairwells.
Before making any decisions and for further inspiration, it is again wise to consult an office interior designer who will be able to space plan the area providing 3D plans and reception desk drawings.
Think about your visitors
When planning your reception area, think about your visitors. Do you need disabled access? Will your entrance need to include a ramp or double doors? Consider whether your chosen reception desk will accommodate wheelchair users. It may be worth looking into a modular reception desk which could have a lower section enabling eye contact between your employees and visiting wheelchair users. It is also advisable to speak to your health and safety team to help you establish the width of any required walkways and fire routes.
At this point, spend some time deciding whether you would benefit from including a separate waiting area with visitor’s chairs and coffee table. As well as being functional, these could also be branded by having your company logo embroidered onto the seating or etched onto the table.
Maximise your communication
As well as branding chairs, coffee tables and even your reception desk itself, your reception area is the ideal space to showcase your company literature and message. This can take the form of wall mounted or standing leaflet holders or even a digital signage solution displaying your latest products and services. As the first and last place your customers will see on a visit to your premises, it makes sense to invest time into making this area achieve the best for you and your business.
acs office solutions is experienced in all areas of business relocation and is proud to deliver a comprehensive and thorough service comprising everything you need to make your office move both simple and stress-free. Call 01604 704014 for help and advise on choosing the right reception desk.
