Arriving for an
interview or business meeting can be intimidating enough,
especially if it is not clear what you have to do or where you
have to go to speak to someone. While it might be easy for an
employer to think that the receptionist will be able to greet
everyone who enters a building, very often that person will be
taking a call or helping other visitors. The best way to create
a welcoming, professional reception area is to find the right
sort of reception furniture and accessories, which will suit the
reception staff and visitors alike.
Reception desks
The first thing to consider will be the amount of space you have
available, which will determine the general shape of your
furniture and the number of seats on offer: sometimes the
supplier will be able to advise. Then, you'll need to choose the
material that the furniture is made from, and this could be a
traditional wooden veneer, or feature glass or metal for a more
contemporary look.
If you have more space, you may opt for a reception counter,
which will cleverly combine work space for the receptionist with
a space or higher shelf for visitors to sign in. It also looks
pretty smart.
Waiting areas
A reception waiting area provides welcome respite for visitors,
and can feature armchairs, settees and coffee tables. You will
need to consider how hard-wearing you want your upholstery; the
reception area in a doctor's surgery, for instance, will need to
be much more durable than a typical office waiting room.
Other options for a reception area
Massage chair: my optician has a massage chair in her reception
area for visitors' partners and a game console for their
children. It always seems disappointing to go straight in for a
check up.
Designer armchairs: designed by German designer Ludwig van der
Rohe, the Barcelona Chair is a design classic, with its
characteristic cross-shaped legs and slanting leather back. For
a more retro feel, a bubble chair, which is a suspended plastic
or glass sphere with padded lining, is a possibility if you've
got the cash.
TV: a small TV screen can set the tone for a more relaxed work
environment, or for a company that is up-to-the-minute with the
news.
Music: I once worked for a company that was situated opposite a
travel company's head office, where they always played holiday
music in their reception area. It sounds tacky, but it really
made you to want to walk in. |
