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Are you finding that guests aren't as comfortable in your waiting room as they should be? The problem could be your reception seating. To keep every visitor feeling welcomed into your business, take our tips on providing adequate reception seating.

 

Add Seating That Fits Every Body Type

Guest chairs do not have a one-size-fits-all solution. Most standard guest chairs are able to support about 250 pounds at a time. But what about big and tall guests? What about children and mothers who want to sit in the same seat? Support every visitor in your reception area by providing a broad range of chair options, including standard guest chairs with and without arms, bariatric chairs, benches and specialty seating such as hip chairs for certain medical facilities. Selecting a furniture collection with every type of chair is the best way to get the variety you need while still maintaining the look you want. Collections such as the NBF Signature Series Hampton collection are specially designed to meet this need.

 
comfortable waiting room

Choose the Right Upholstery

The right furniture design and upholstery type can make a huge difference when it comes to guest comfort. If you're working in a healthcare facility, you'll be more limited in the type of upholstery you can choose, but if not then you'll have more options to choose from. Consider this: fabric upholstery will provide a warmer, more homelike feel, while polyurethane is much easier to clean.

 
comfortable waiting room

Position Seating in the Right Way

Not only should you be choosing the right furniture for your reception area, but you'll also want to consider arranging the seating and tables in the room in a comfortable fashion. People typically don't want to sit next to a stranger in a waiting room, so try leaving some seats separate from the others to provide options for guests. Allowing guests to make their own choices in this manner will help them feel more in control and therefore more comfortable with the situation.

 
comfortable waiting room

Have your own suggestions for keeping visitors comfortable in your reception area? Share them in the comments below!

Waiting Rooms

More From NBF

How to Design a Modern Waiting Room

Designing a modern waiting room can be daunting, no matter how small or large your space may be. After all, your reception area is often the first image guests will have of your organization, so making a positive impression in this room is vital. Here’s what you should add to your space if you want to achieve a truly modern look in your lobby.

Sleek and Simple Guest Seating

Make sure that your guest chairs aren’t too big or bulky. Traditional sofas and lounge chairs take up a lot of space in a room—instead, go with chairs with seats raised from the floor. This will give off a more modern appearance and even help make your waiting room appear larger. You can kick the style up a notch by choosing chairs with a metal framework.

Occasional Tables That Match Your Guest Seating

Match your tables to your guest chairs for a collected, well-coordinated appeal. Glass top tables give off an especially sleek and simple look, delivering the functionality of coffee and end tables without the bulky design elements that many traditional options tend to feature.

Statement Reception Desk

Because it’s likely the first thing visitors see when they enter your office, the reception desk should be the statement piece of your waiting room. Choose something large enough for staff to work comfortably, but make sure it’s proportionately sized to fit the space in your lobby. Additionally, you should select a desk with a transaction counter that will make it easy for guests to fill out paperwork while standing. You may also want to consider reception desks with ADA-compliant surfaces that can accommodate users in wheelchairs.

A Comfortable yet Stylish Receptionist Chair

It is far more important for your receptionists to be comfortable while they work than for you to equip them with chairs that look good, but it’s usually not too difficult to find task seating that accomplishes both of these feats. Select an ergonomic chair with multiple adjustments that can be easily switched up to accommodate different employees as shifts change throughout the day. This ensures your staff is comfortable while working since you can’t expect good work from uncomfortable employees. When it comes to the style factor, you may want to choose an ergonomic chair in sleek mesh or leather upholstery. Additionally, a chair with a white or chrome framework will be much more visually exciting than a chair that’s basic black.

Simple Artwork

Blank walls don’t make much of an impression, so dress them up in just the right way. Remember, less is more. You’ll want to make sure not to go overboard with your décor choices. Try adding framed or canvas artwork in a neutral or minimal color palette.

Functional but Interesting Coat Racks

You’ll need a place for guests to hang their coats and hats when they enter, so why not make that area just as stylish as the rest of the room? Coat racks in a modern style look great whether they’re being used or not.

An Elegant Floor Lamp

Even the most beautiful room is nothing without good lighting. Illuminate your reception area with a chrome or satin nickel floor lamp to light up the space. You can even use matching table lamps in the room for a well-coordinated look.

Cozy Accent Pillows

Adding pillows to the space will make your reception area feel a little more like home, which is often a welcoming feature for guests. This is also an excellent opportunity to bring in some color, which you may want to match to your wall art if possible.

 

The Complete Guide to Waiting Room Furniture

Outfitting a waiting room is easier said than done. Whether it’s a small reception area or a huge lobby, you’ll need to cater to your guests’ needs as well as the needs of your front desk staff. Here’s what you should consider before selecting your new waiting room furniture.

Reception Desks

The receptionist desk is the centerpiece of the waiting room. As such, selecting a desk that will make a positive first impression on your guests and employees is important. The right reception desk should be beautiful, functional, and durable enough to last you several years. Not only do you want to make a positive impression on guests, but you also want to make sure your receptionists have the space and tools they’ll need to work effectively, including a large enough work surface space and plenty of storage. For a full look into how to select the right centerpiece for your waiting room, read our complete guide to reception desks.

Reception Seating

Keep the seating in your waiting room comfortable and mix it up. Offer guests chairs that they won’t mind sitting in for several minutes at a time or longer, depending on your typical waiting room flow. 

In addition to the support of the chair seats and backs, you’ll want to offer a mix of different seating types for added comfort. You should provide guest chairs with and without arms, some bariatric seating, and potentially sofas, benches, and hip chairs if your typical guest requires it. Learn everything you need to know about adding seating to your reception area by reading our complete guide to waiting room seating. 

Décor

Though it may not be as obviously functional as desks and chairs, décor plays a huge role in the overall look and feel of your waiting area, and it can impact how your guests perceive your business overall. By incorporating the right wall décor, area rugs, plants, and light fixtures into your space, you can make your waiting area feel more like home, which guests will certainly appreciate. Get a glimpse into how to decorate your reception area by reading our complete guide to office décor.

Accessories

While décor makes the waiting room more aesthetically pleasing, accessories assist in the overall flow of the space. Adding waste receptacles, floor mats, signs, coat racks, and crowd control tools will make your lobby easier for visitors to navigate and for front desk staff to manage.

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Nicole Groshek

Nicole Groshek is the social media and content coordinator for National Business Furniture. She helps employees discover the true joy in loving what they do, from working in an inspiring office to having a little fun on the job.