9 Amazing Office Reception Design Ideas for a Welcoming ...

An office reception area is a requisite part of your office space since it makes a distinctive impression on the visitors. As such, an office reception design must be a unique and experiential to ensure the waiting area is attractive and welcoming. A well-designed office reception area can create the right impression of your brand while also making your customers feel comfortable and curious. 

The office reception design is one of the best spaces for the visitor and the staff to learn about the ethos of a company. Everything from the colours, furniture, lighting and signage speaks about the true essence of the brand and its vision.  

So, if you want to capitalise on your office reception area design, here are some tips and design ideas to help you. 

#1: Design of the Office Reception Table

Since the reception desk design articulates many things about the company, it should be represented innovatively. A creative office reception table is the core element of the entire office reception design. Hence, it is essential that you use the office reception desk to create the right impression about your brand.

Apply subtle brand colours and object prompts about your company culture. For a striking backdrop, go for a stone finish or fluted panelling. Additionally, you must also ensure that the reception desk design is large enough to accommodate multiple people. The design of your office reception table should anchor the entire space and create a sense of arrival.

#2: Add Some Greenery to Your Office Reception Design

Adding plants to your office reception area can help to create a calming and relaxing atmosphere. However, it’s always best to choose plants that require minimal maintenance.

Some great options to create a sense of nature and homeliness include the peace lily, bonsai, ZZ plants, and snake plants. Moreover, let natural lighting in whenever possible, and use ambient lighting for the darker days.

#3: Ambient Lighting for Your Office Reception Area

Proper lighting is essential for creating a welcoming atmosphere in your office reception area. Use soft, warm lighting that makes the space bright and inviting and incorporate ceiling lamps to add a quirky touch to your office reception design.

Additionally, try to maximise the natural light entering the office space to ensure the well-being of your employees and visitors. Since lighting differs from the intent and ideology of the design, it has to be purpose-driven.

For example, adding an accent light is a great way to attract attention towards the company logo, which would help you stand out. Similarly, ambient lighting is the perfect solution for decreasing the glare with soft lighting effects.

#4: A Creative Office Reception Design Requires Artwork

One of the easiest ways to create a stunning office reception area is with the help of artwork. Choose modern and stylish art that reflects your company’s values and culture.

Selecting the right type of art can make your employees feel motivated to work and create a sophisticated aura for your brand.

#5: The Perfect Colour Scheme

Choose a colour scheme for your office reception design that is both warm and appealing. Add neutral colours such as beige, grey or white that can be paired with pops of colour, resulting in a creative office reception design.

Additionally, you can also use earthy toned materials along with these colours to maintain harmony within the office reception area.

#6: Your Company Branding

It’s a good idea to incorporate your company’s branding into the office reception area.

Display your company’s logo prominently and use the company’s colours throughout the space. The branding is a subtle yet impactful approach to creating a distinctive appearance for your office space.

#7: Use Technology in Your Reception

Install a TV or digital display to endorse and showcase the company’s content in the office reception area with appealing graphics. In addition to this, you can also place hard copies of all company-related information that customers should know.

#8: Comfortable Furniture for a Creative Office Reception Design

Ensure that the reception has a great visual and physical ambience. Incorporate a series of comfortable furniture in the office reception area that allows the user to sit comfortably. Whether they are your potential clients, staff or visitors, an efficient reception can help to portray a vibrant work culture.

#9: Cleanliness in Your Office Reception Area

A good reception should be clean and tidy at all times. Therefore, ensure that there is no clutter in your reception and everything is properly organised. It will help create a positive impression on visitors and clients and show that you value their business.

By incorporating these tips and design ideas, you can create a welcoming reception that makes a positive impression on visitors and clients. Get your space organised with more insights on design with us. Check out our website to learn more.

Your office reception area is where first impressions are made, and you need to make those impressions count.

The space should be beautiful, sure. But that’s not enough. It also needs to reflect your organization’s unique character.

Designing an office reception area around a company brand isn’t exactly simple, especially for those of us with no interior design background. But you don’t need a thick brand manual or a deep budget to inject a little personality into your reception area decor.

Developing a distinctive style means making some choices: Your office reception area can’t be both calming and energizing, for example. It also can’t be both playful and serious, or both approachable and awe-inspiring. By choosing which feelings you want to evoke, you’ll distinguish yourself and stand out from the crowd.

Below, we’ve listed five ideas for office reception area styles that could work, along with some suggestions on how to bring each one to life.

1. Welcoming and Comfortable

If your company wants to relate to visitors personally and put them at ease, you need to add some comfort elements to your office reception area. Skip anything pretentious, and opt for relatable pieces that echo what you might find in a home.

That doesn’t mean that you fill your reception area with leather recliners. You can still keep things professional while keeping your company’s brand in mind.

The “homey” vibe works particularly well for offices whose visitors may come in feeling nervous, such as dentists and therapists. However, it can also be a great fit for any organization that specializes in personal services or that is radically committed to one-on-one relationship building with customers (related reading: Defining Radical Customer Service).

Here are a few things to try to keep your reception area approachable and friendly.

• Comfortable Upholstered Furniture – Of course, reception area furniture gets a lot of traffic, and will see a lot of wear and tear. That’s why many offices prioritize sturdy frames and tough stain-resistant materials in their lobby seating. However, if your priority is comfort, look for seating with a bit more cushion and upholstery, at least for accent seating in addition to the sturdier options. A few throw pillows in there can up the comfort level if you think it would work.
• Warm Colors – While the minimalist, white space dominated look can be very cool, it can also come across as a bit cold and austere. An ideal palette for this style is warm without being too bright. Combined with softer textures, it can make clients feel at home.
• Homey Touches – Domestic-style accents like potted plants, lamps, curtains and area rugs in the reception area can all add a feeling of additional comfort to a space.

2. Tranquil and Calming

Zen-style reception areas use clean lines, minimal clutter, and nature-inspired materials to make visitors feel centered, focused and calm.

This approach is another good one for facilities who want to put visitors at ease or inspire them to relax (it’s a popular choice for spas). It can also be a great fit for organizations with an earth-loving mission. However, this approach can work for any company, because calming spaces are a great way to inspire focus. Done right, they can also be very stylish.

For a more tranquil office reception area, try one of these features:

• Plants – We discussed the trend of “living walls” and “vertical gardens” in our article on “Wow Features” for Your Reception Area. These lush fixtures are relatively low maintenance and can be a beautiful way to make the atmosphere more peaceful and even improve the air quality.
• Water Features – The sound and sight of water, whether it’s from a small fountain or a wall-mounted water feature, has a serious calming effect. Another possibility, if you’re up for the maintenance: an office aquarium.
• Calming Lighting – Organizations that want to inspire calm often stay away from bright or florescent lights and opt instead for fixtures that provide a more ambient glow, such as these or these.

3. Prestigious or Glamorous

This is a good look for luxury brands and for businesses trying to make a good impression on big-spender clients and customers. The main goal of these spaces is to impress visitors and assure them that they’re going to get elite treatment.

The look of luxury doesn’t require an excess of gilded gold frames. There are many styles that can be made to look more upscale with investments in top quality materials or a few beautiful accents. Here are a few ideas for impressing visitors who expect a red-carpet treatment:

• Opulent Bouquets – Little else brightens up a space like a beautiful fresh floral arrangement. Of course, these aren’t cheap, but that’s the message you want to send. You may be able to pull off synthetic flower arrangements instead, but make sure you opt for the most realistic arrangements you can or you’ll give off the wrong impression.
• Dramatic Accents – If you want to make an impression, consider embracing some bold patterns and dramatic lighting. Polished accent pieces in elegant materials such as metal or stone can also add a glamorous vibe to the room.
• High-Quality Materials – Whether it’s a shiny marble floor, an impressive mahogany reception desk, or a leather couch for visitors to use while they wait, investing in a few of the very best options available for your visitors sends the message that the details of their experience with your company are all being considered.

Want more inspiration? Check out these upscale hotel lobbies.

4. Energetic and Exciting

If you want to make sure your company comes across as on-trend, hard-working, and forward-thinking, your reception area should reflect those values. You can project energy and enthusiasm through a combination of modern looks and styles, clean lines and bright colors.

This vibe works well for creative companies, startups, and any other organization that wants to project a sense of passion. If this describes your organization, here are a few ideas to try:

• Pops of Color – Bright pops of color, whether they’re in an accent wall, a piece of art, or a statement piece, can really energize a room.
• Inspiring Words – Boldly posted, inspiring signs and slogans like the one below are a direct way to make a statement about your company culture.
• Bright Lighting – Whether the light is coming from lots of windows, fresh light fixtures or custom lit signs, the spaces that want to appear energized should also be bright.
• “Fun” Features – Along with a sense of energy often comes a sense of playfulness. We wrote a full article on features to add for a fun, playful office, and some companies have successfully added a few of these features into their reception areas.

5. Eclectic and Creative

Plenty of companies and organizations can benefit from an edgier, hipper vibe. When visitors walk into a space like this, they’ll definitely feel like one of the cool kids. This style is great for companies that want to stand out and get people thinking creatively. Here are a few ways to style an office reception area in this vein:

• Art – We also mentioned murals in our article on “Wow Features” for Your Reception Area.
  Some companies have really cool ones right behind the reception desk. Murals and other art are a great way to establish company character.
• Unique Seating and Furniture – There are lots of seating options these days that are a far cry from the standard, wooden-armed furniture that typically lines doctor’s office walls. By choosing a different type of seating, you’ll set your organization apart.
• Statement pieces – Whether it’s a large, colorful chandelier, a sculpture, or a glowing company logo, you can choose a focal point that demonstrates an eclectic aesthetic. For more inspiration, check out these 55 inspirational reception areas.

Perhaps one of these reception area styles has already caught your attention. But if none of them really reflects what your company is all about, that’s OK, too. There are as many styles as there are businesses, because each is unique. Similarly, these styles can also be combined in various ways to create something that’s all your own.

What makes a good office reception area?

A good, well-designed office reception area serves as the first point of contact for visitors. It sets the tone for their entire experience at your office. So, creating an inviting and functional space will leave a positive impression and align with your brand identity. What can do you do to make this happen?

• Comfortable and Welcoming Seating: Choose high-quality chairs, sofas, or benches that provide both comfort and style. Consider the ergonomic aspects to ensure that visitors can relax while waiting, making their experience more pleasant. Additionally, incorporating visually appealing and inviting colors and textures can create a warm and welcoming ambiance.
• Clear Brand Identity: Incorporate elements such as your company logo, colors, and brand visuals in the reception area design. This consistency helps reinforce brand recognition and creates a lasting impression on visitors, ensuring they remember your company long after their visit.
• Thoughtful Layout and Flow: Ensure that the reception desk is easily visible and accessible upon entry. Position seating areas strategically to maximize comfort and privacy while maintaining a clear pathway for movement. This allows visitors to navigate the space effortlessly and reduces any potential confusion.
• Welcoming Decor and Lighting: Use a combination of natural and artificial lighting to create a warm and inviting ambiance. Consider incorporating artwork, greenery, or decorative accents that align with your brand and create a positive atmosphere. Avoid clutter and maintain a clean and organized environment to leave a lasting impression of professionalism.
• Functional and Informative Features: Install a clear signage system directing visitors to different areas within your office. Display up-to-date company information, brochures, or interactive displays to inform and engage visitors while they wait. Additionally, consider providing amenities such as a water dispenser, charging stations, or reading materials to enhance their experience.
• Efficient Technology Integration: Equip your reception desk with modern tools like visitor management systems or electronic sign-in tablets to simplify check-in procedures. Furthermore, ensure that the reception area has a reliable Wi-Fi connection to accommodate the needs of visitors who may need to work or access online resources during their visit.

How does a visitor management system fit in?

No matter how you decide to style your reception area, a visitor management system like The Receptionist for iPad can fit in beautifully with your design aesthetic.

Whether you’re going for tranquil and calming or energetic and exciting (or anywhere in between), a sleek, easy-to-use check-in kiosk will always look better than, say, an old, ratty paper logbook, and is more efficient as well.

Want to know more? Attend a 12-minute Product Tour for a peak at The Receptionist for iPad.

12-Minute Product Tour

Hosted by

 Michael Ashford, Tom Foster

About this tour Want to see The Receptionist for iPad in action and begin to imagine ways a visitor management system can make you a front office superstar?! Let our team guide you through some of the most popular features and functionality The Receptionist for iPad has to offer in this interactive product tour. What you’ll learn During this Receptionist for iPad product tour, you’ll see: * how our visitor management system helps you handle different types of check-ins * why button-based workflows give you ultimate configurability * the efficiencies your staff can gain from taking your visit log and visitor notifications digital Sign up now!

• 8 Ways to Structure Your Front Office Staff
• How to Build a Visitor Management System For Your Company
• 3 Ways Your Reception Area Makes an Impression

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