Fabulous First Impressions Start in the Reception Area

Reception areas say a lot about a company. They can convey a sense of security and reliability or they can tell your customers that you're disorganized and incompetent. Creating one that gives the right impression of your company isn't a simple matter of Fung Shui. With a lot of brainstorming and thought you can pull off a perfectly warm and inviting area for your clients that will welcome them back time and time again.

The Birth of an Idea

Many people throw a bunch of furniture into a room located at the entrance of an office suite and call it a day. This can work if someone with taste and a keen eye does the shopping. But to really pull it all together, it takes preliminary work to get the juices flowing. Your reception area should be a direct reflection of your company and its values. So, start with determining the impression you want to give. Is your company one that is progressive and thinks outside the box? You might consider a modern motif. Is your company saturated in years of tradition and hard work? A classic theme might be right for you. List your company's mission statement on a piece of paper. Then write down several other statements about the impression you want to give your customers when they walk in.

The Focal Point

The single most important part of your reception area will be the receptionist's desk. This will be the one piece of furniture that will get the most use. First, pick the place within the area that the desk will go. It should be facing a direction in which to greet guests head on. There should be no question as to where the client should go once they enter your office. Next, measure the area to find out how much space you have to work with, and then go shopping. I suggest choosing this piece first and purchasing every other piece to match or compliment it nicely. Consult with the receptionist to determine his or her needs in a desk. It's super important that this space has everything he or she will need.

Functionality

It's not enough to simply have the coolest and most expensive furniture crammed into a room if it's not functional. Your client might marvel at your modern industrial theme but as soon as he plants himself in one of your stainless steel loungers, the thrill will be gone. Comfort is king, so think of furniture in terms of your clients' needs. How often will clients be visiting your office? How many of them at a time? Will they be elderly individuals or do you cater to a younger demographic? How long will they likely be waiting in the reception area? The answers to these questions will determine the type of furniture you should purchase. If you have a quick visitor turnover time, you can afford to be a little bold with your décor. Of course, if your customers are typically in their 60s, classic decor will be a comfortable approach.

The Little Things

So you've got the meat and potatoes of the reception area but it's still lacking that extra bit of oomph. Accessories go a long way in areas like this. Here are some things to consider adding to your space:

• Lighting. Placing an ornate lamp on a table or a nice floor lamp in a corner can add ambiance to a drab room as well as extra visual capacity for reading.
• Coat Rack. If the state you live in experiences quite a bit of snow or cold weather, invest in a coat rack for your visitors. Nobody wants to wait all bundled up in a hot office.
• Company info. No matter what type of reading material you have in your reception area, always make company brochures, business cards or flyers available to your guests.
• Snacks and Bevs. Adding a coffee machine and a candy bowl can really make a client feel at home. However, I recommend keeping them behind the scenes to make a really high class impression.
• Art. Never let your walls go bare. Color goes a long way in lightening the mood of the office, so don't be afraid to add a splash. Of course, be careful with dark scenes or abstract pieces as they often leave one feeling confused.

The reception area of your office is perhaps the most important part by sheer aesthetics. Take your time in devising a strategy for decoration and really make sure it conveys the personality of your business. Think about the comfort of your customers first by focusing on creating an atmosphere people will want to return to. Once you've got the perfect area in place, make sure the receptionist keeps his/her desk organized and the rest of the area dusted, swept, mopped and vacuumed. Don't ruin a perfectly inviting reception with clutter and dirt.