Reception Furniture: First Impressions Are Everything
Reception Furniture: First Impressions Are Everything
I might be revealing a little too much here, but I'm slightly obsessed with lobbies and reception areas. I make sure to go early to the doctor, dentist, optometrist, you name it, just so I can spend a little more time analyzing and observing their lobbies. (It's a good thing there are so many things wrong with me that I have the need to go to so many of these places.) Unfortunately, many of them haven't been updated since 1972, but every once in a while, I find a real gem. This article will outline the elements of some of my favorite reception areas to help you create a calm, inviting atmosphere (without one of those old wooden bead toys in the corner).
After many hours spent contemplating office lobbies, I've come to the conclusion that a sense of cohesiveness is the most important element to consider; choose a color scheme and work only within those confines. Most often, you'll see neutral color schemes including tans, creams and browns, and maybe a sage or olive green. This is a simple, yet classy combination that is pretty tough to mess up. I'd recommend spicing it up a little bit with a deep red to keep the neutral from being boring.
Naturally, the furniture you choose plays a very large part in the overall appearance and feeling of your reception area. Hopefully you're trying to make this area comfortable, since most times people have to wait in an office they're not waiting for something particularly pleasant, be it having a tooth pulled or wading through legal-ese, so they should at least be waiting in comfort. This is in your best interest, too- who wants a grump in their office? Not me, that's for sure. Furniture that looks and feels like concrete never put a real smile on anyone's face; sit down and think about how long you could stand to stay there.
Along the same lines, your reception furniture has got to be functional. There are plenty of attractive sofas and chairs that no one can actually figure out how to sit in comfortably. You know the type, when you go to someone's house and their couch looks perfectly normal and assuming, but the moment you sit down, one of three things happens: you either sink so far down that it feels like your seat is on the floor, or the back of the couch comes too far forward and makes you feel like you have to literally sit on the edge of your seat, or there are so many pillows that you have to choose between putting your host's pillows in a giant pile on the floor or try to burrow yourself in to an awkward but stable position. Please, don't inflict this on anyone, in your home or your office.
One more thing to think about, importance varying depending on what kind of business you're in, is how easy your reception furniture is to clean. If there are going to be a lot of kids coming in, for instance, you're probably going to need to clean it pretty regularly. Make sure that you'll be able to perform whatever cleaning procedures are required, and maybe even ask to see a sample of what it looks like after cleaning. The easier it is to clean, the better.
It may look like there is a lot to think about, but really, all you need to do is keep in mind what sort of impression you want to give to your potential clients or business partners. You may try to stun them with luxurious items and artwork, but I think the most important thing to do is make them feel comfortable. However, an interesting piece of artwork never hurt anything at all. But please, none of Goya's political statement pieces like Saturn Devouring One of His Sons. No one wants to see that when they walk into your office, trust me. Most people don't even want to see it in a museum. Leave the philosophy at home and keep your office neutral in color and in ideas. Unless, of course, you're in the philosophy business. Ofttimes, the first impression people will have of your office comes from your reception furniture. Is it new? well-cared for? clean? comfortable? If they feel uncomfortable while they're waiting in your lobby, chances are they won't return- not from any conscious disapproval of your business, but the general feeling of uneasiness they had while there. Having a well-designed, comfortable reception area is the first step in creating and keeping a strong customer base.
Built To Order Furniture - Secrets On Buying Handmade, Custom Furniture At Catalog Furniture Prices Home Air Compressors: Saving the World One Job at a Time Home-Based Workouts Vs Gym Workouts: Which One Is Better? A Leather Couch for Your Home Can You Earn Extra Money From Home With A Niche Product? Vital Real Estate Terms: Lis Pendens Indoor Bonsai Tree Travels Through Time Cell Phone Number Finder - Locate the Owner of Any Cell Phone Number Mending plumbing blues with certified London plumbers Ways To Make Your Penis Bigger From Home Looking to Remodel Your Kitchen, While Saving Money at the Same Time Paintball: Load, Focus, Eliminate! Keeping The Rest Of The Bathroom Dry