Designing a great Office Reception
Designing a great office reception area is crucial because it's often the first impression visitors, clients, and employees have of your company. A well-designed reception area creates a welcoming and professional atmosphere, even if you’ve decided not to have a formal reception desk. However you’d like to receive guests and welcome your employees, here are some steps to help you design a great office reception…
Step 1: Define the Purpose
Determine the primary functions of your reception area. Is it primarily for greeting visitors, waiting, or a combination of both? The design should cater to these needs. It might be that your office is only going to be used for employees and all you need them to do is check in on an iPad. If that is the case, the experience, however small should still be welcoming and easy. This step will indicate how much space you need and what kind of experience you’d like to achieve.
Step 2: Understand Your Brand, Culture and Needs
Start by understanding your company's brand, values, and culture. The reception area should reflect these aspects and be consistent with your company's identity. At MVF Global, central to their company culture was wellbeing. Our design embraced this and resulted in textures, finishes and biophillic choices that gave the overall impression of being welcomed into a space that would take care of you.
In this step, you also should consider the practical needs within the space such as:
Technology Integration: what is the necessary technology e.g. phone, computer, and possibly a visitor management system for check-ins?
Security Measures: Consider security measures like access control, visitor badges, and a receptionist-controlled entry system to enhance safety and control access.
Maintenance and Cleanliness: What will be the regular cleaning and maintenance schedule to ensure the reception area remains tidy and presentable.
Step 3: Space Planning
Ideally this should be done by an interior designer who can plan the layout to optimize the available space to ensure there's enough room for people to move comfortably, and consider the flow of traffic to and from the reception desk. A recent project highlighted a stickign point in our client’s reception space in that on rainy days, one small door meant that guests and employees struggled to get into the reception space in the first instance. A reception extension was incorporated to help the flor of traffic and ensure a much better experience. Space planning shoudl also consider aspects such as:
Identifying the focal point / navigation: If you are having a reception desk, this should be the focal point. It should be well-designed, functional, and staffed during office hours.
Seating and Waiting Area: Provide comfortable seating for visitors who may need to wait.
Provision of storage and Organisation: Provide storage for office supplies and personal items. Keep the reception desk clutter-free and organised.
Accessibility: Make sure the reception area is accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities. Ensure that there are clear paths, ramps, and appropriate signage.
Step 4: Look & Feel
An interior designer will help plan a scheme that resonate with your brand and create a warm and professional atmosphere and will consider:
Colour Scheme and Materials: this will be based around a good understanding of your brand and cultural values
Furniture and Decor: furniture, artwork, and decor items that align with your brand and make the space visually appealing. Artwork and plants can add warmth and character.
Branding and Signage: Incorporate your company's logo, name, and signage discreetly but prominently in the reception area to reinforce your brand identity.
Lighting: Use a combination of natural and artificial lighting to create an inviting ambiance. Consider the placement of windows, light fixtures, and the use of ambient, task, and accent lighting.
Sustainability: Incorporate sustainable design principles by choosing eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient lighting and appliances.
Greenery: Incorporate plants and greenery to improve air quality and create a refreshing atmosphere. Plants also add a touch of nature to the space.
Comfort Amenities: Provide amenities like water dispensers, magazines, and charging stations to make visitors feel comfortable while they wait.
Remember that a well-designed reception area not only welcomes visitors but also boosts employee morale and pride in the workplace. It's an opportunity to showcase your company's personality and professionalism while creating a positive and memorable first impression.
Author: Nadia Themistocleous, Lead Interior Designer at Trifle*
Nadia has worked with Trifle* since 2016 and has been the interior lead for some of our most ambitious projects to date including MVF, BenchSci and TriliTech. Prior to Trifle* and managing her own interior design company, she worked for a decade in advertising and the music industry creating and executing creative campaigns and events. She is passionate about translating our client’s culture, identity or ways of working into the spaces they inhabit ensuring that every space created for our clients is as unique as their business or home is.