Office Reality Buyer's Guide: Reception Furniture

The reception area is arguably the most important space in your office. The reason for this is that this is where the first impressions from your potential clients will be made. It needs to reflect the culture of your company as well as being a comfortable and relaxing place to sit and wait.

The furniture is probably the most important influencing factor in the look of your reception so great care should be taken in order to find the most appropriate furniture to suit your business. Space is often an issue in reception areas and people often make the mistake of trying to fit as much as possible into a small space when actually sometimes less is more. Written below are some helpful explanations and guides to buying the right reception furniture.

Reception Desk - This is the most important piece of furniture in the reception area. You first need to decide whether you want a reception desk or a full counter. This decision can be made on budget alone although if you have the space it may be worth spending a little bit extra money as this will be the first thing visitors or potential clients will see when they walk into your office. Reception desks can be a standard office desk with a raised counter top that faces the customer and can be particularly useful in open plan offices as you can get your reception desk to match the other desks. Reception desks come in all sizes and colours as well as varying in price. Below are some examples of these:

Reception counters are normally always modular and can be made up into different configurations to suit the requirements of the end user. They can range from a single person desk all the way to a long check in desk in an airport. Like reception desks, there are various finishes and styles to choose from as well as varying prices. Trying to work out how the reception counters will fit together and if the will fit into the reception area is quite difficult however furniture dealers will usually be happy to help you in designing the reception area for a small charge, however some dealers, like Office Reality, will do this for free relieving you of this difficult task. It is important that you really spend time in thinking about the finishes and how it will look overall and make sure that you get physical samples of these finishes so you can be absolutely sure you know what you are getting. Below are some examples of different reception counters:

Reception Seating – This is another really important part of any reception. This is where visitors and potential clients are going to be waiting. You need to make sure that the are is warm and inviting, and that the seats are comfortable. Like all furniture in this area it is worth spending that little bit extra to create a really professional area.

Tub chairs are one of the most common forms of reception single seat furniture. The come in a wide range of fabrics, leathers and faux leathers as well as different styles. They provide the feeling of personal space by cushioning the body with it’s natural curved shape without restricting movement. Pictured below are some examples of these chairs:

Another seating option that is common in receptions are sofas. These differ from sofas that you might find in the home as they are used to give a more professional look. You can get sofas that match tub chairs or buy the sofas individually. Thesofas are available in all shapes and sizes and come in a huge range of fabrics, leathers and faux leathers to suit the style and décor of the reception’s environment. Pictured below are some typical examples of reception sofas:

If these two types of reception furniture don’t appeal to you, then you could try looking at modular sofas and seats. The advantage of choosing this type of seating is that they can be arranged into different configurations, adding interest to the space and create shapes that will enhance the reception environment resulting in a welcoming ambiance. Much like all other reception seating, they are available in a wide variety of fabrics, leathers and faux leathers to suit the décor of any reception area. Pictured below are some typical examples of this form of seating:

Benchs and Beam Seating – This type of seating is normally found in waiting rooms. The advantage of using this type of seating arrangement is that it can really help to save space in the reception area. There are many different options and styles available, including wooden seats, upholstered seats and even flip seat versions, with the option to include small tables to break up the arrangement. This type of furniture is modular and can be fitted to the floor which stops movement and prevents the furniture’s illegal removal. Some examples of these are pictured below:

Coffee Tables – Are quite common in the reception area but not essential. They are a great addition to the reception area as they help to break up the seating area as well as complementing the the existing furniture. There are a few different types of table, including glass, wood and even upholstered versions. Some examples of these are below:

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