Reception Areas: Why First Impressions Really Matter?
Your reception space is more than a waiting area – it’s the very first chapter of your brand story. Within seconds of stepping through your doors, visitors, clients, suppliers and future employees form an opinion about your organisation.
- Is the atmosphere calm and welcoming?
- Does the environment feel fresh and ready for future growth, or is it outdated and tired?
- Is it somewhere people instantly feel at ease?
We believe reception areas should inspire confidence, reflect a company’s culture and create positive first impressions that last way beyond the initial handshake. That’s why we’ve put together a blog on how thoughtful reception design can transform an entrance into a powerful brand asset.
Considerations For Your Reception Area:
Your reception should feel intentionally designed rather than a space that exists because it has to.
Ask yourself: if someone only saw our reception area, what would it tell them about us?
A well-designed reception communicates: professionalism, brand identity, company culture and values.
Every detail from furniture to lighting, plays a crucial role in shaping perception.
Design Elements That Elevate Reception Spaces:
Acoustic Comfort: Receptions are often high-traffic areas and can be very echoey.
Consider acoustic panels, ceilings and upholstered surfaces such as furniture to help soften noise and improve privacy.
Technology that makes the difference: Modern reception designs often incorporate certain technology features to ensure the experience for visitors is as efficient as possible.
Consider digital check-in systems, WIFI access for visitiors, Interactive display screens and USB or wireless charging points.
Thoughtful Lighting: Lighting will set the tone, especially for those first meetings with clients, or other important visitors.
Consider using warm lighting especially near reception desks or signing in areas and avoid harsh white light as this can decrease the aesthetic appeal of your reception.
Comfy Seating: Choosing the correct seating for your reception can be the make or break of any interaction with visitors. Ergonomic, quality furniture creates comfort and confidence.
Consider a mix of soft seating – either as a sofa or individual larger chairs and pair these with some smaller coffee tables.
The Big Brand Moment: A curated brand story is a great way to elevate your reception area and allow your visitors to feel a part of something special.
Consider feature walls, finishes and upholstery which mirror your brand colours, custom signage, 3D logos or a living wall which incorporates your brand in the display.
Wellbeing and Accesibility: A reception area must feel welcoming for everyone.
Consider step-free access, appropriate counter heights, adequate lighting for visual clarity, clear signage and calming layout and colours.
Planning a Reception Refurbishment?
Whether you’re refreshing your entrance area or transforming your whole workspace, our team can help bring your vision to life.
Be sure to check out the Inspiration section for some project images to get your ideas into motion and also the lastest case studies on our website.