Making a good first impression is vital in every aspect of our lives. Whether it’s
making a good impression about us or our homes, it’s something we all have to do to
ensure that people feel happy and comfortable around us. This is definitely no
different when it comes to businesses. Any business needs to make a good first
impression on staff, customers, and clients.
- The reception is the initial contact point: It’s where visitors, customers, clients, and staff first interact with your business.
- First impressions are formed here: People’s perceptions of your company begin in the reception area.
- A good reception area is vital for business success: It needs to be well-designed, relaxing, and welcoming.
- Design reflects your brand and values: The reception area offers an opportunity to showcase what your business stands for.
- It sets the tone and leaves a lasting positive impression: A well-designed space benefits guests, clients, current and potential staff.
Make a good first impression by starting outside
The first impression doesn’t just start with your reception area. In fact, people’s
perception of your business can start from outside the building. Due to this, it’s best
to start with creating a welcoming and safe outside area before delving into the
reception area. If you don’t do this, all the efforts of creating a comfortable and
vibrant reception will go to waste.
Spruce up your outdoor area at the front of the building by keeping it tidy. Make sure
there is no litter around your entrance and provide bins to keep it tidy. Trim any
hedges or trees that surround the entryway to prevent them from overgrowing and
making your business front look untidy. You can also add color to your business front
by planting vibrant flowers in pots, creating a pleasant and welcoming impression.
As well as this, create a safe parking lot by ensuring the flow of traffic around the
area is easy to navigate.
This can be achieved through directing traffic around the parking lot in a one-way system. Having this prevents accidents from occurring and makes the area easier to navigate, making parking a breeze. Make sure there are plenty of spaces for staff and visitors, or that there are multiple parking places around your business. It is also important to have a secure workplace, and this can start with the parking lot.
Everyone needs to feel secure at your business in order to feel comfortable, so show that your business is safe by getting professionals to do a bollard installation. Having security bollards around the parking area instantly shows every guest and employee that they are protected from harm and their vehicles are safe as well.
Represent your brand
- Before redesigning your reception, consider how to represent your brand through design.
- The design should reflect your brand identity and values.
- Aim for a warm and welcoming environment.
- Showcase your business’s personality and culture.
- Tailor colors, designs, and furniture to your business.
- Maintain consistency with the rest of your workplace.
- Consistency reinforces brand recognition.
- Consistency helps build trust.
Have comfortable furniture
The base of any welcoming environment is the furniture. This is especially the case
when it comes to your business reception area because many people will need to sit
and wait. You need to opt for comfortable but stylish seating, such as ergonomic
chairs or sofas. These can come in a range of styles and colors to suit your business
and the atmosphere you want to create. Furniture can easily boost the look of your
reception area while providing a relaxing waiting experience to put people at ease.
Add in nature
Adding nature to your reception area can create a positive first impression for
everyone who steps through the door. Plants and natural elements can boost our
health and well-being. Seeing greenery as soon as you step one foot in the door can
make you feel relaxed and comfortable, which is perfect for making an everlasting
impression. Indoor plants can also add visual intrigue to your reception area while
improving air quality. This puts everyone in your reception area at ease, so it’s ideal
to include potted plants or a living wall.
Provide thoughtful facilities
1. Thoughtful Facilities Enhance the First Impression
- Source: “The small touches make a huge difference to your business’s first impression. To make people feel welcomed and at ease, provide thoughtful facilities in your reception area. Having something different and useful at the first touchpoint of your business creates a very positive experience for visitors, customers, clients, potential staff, and employees.”
2. Offer Refreshments for Comfort and Welcome
- Source: “You could offer a refreshment station that provides people with hot beverages, cold drinks, and water. This can be taken a step further by offering visitors tasty snacks such as cookies, muffins, and pastries to make your business stand out.”
3. Connectivity Through Charging Stations and Wi-Fi
- Source: “Make sure there are also plenty of charging stations for mobile phones and laptops, as well as free Wi-Fi access for everyone to use while they wait. This allows people to keep connected while at your business and even do some work.”
4. Provide Reading Material for Leisure
- Source: “Have a selection of books, magazines, and newspapers to read…”
5. Consider a Play Zone for Children
- Source: “…and even a play zone for any children of customers or guests.”
Create a stylish and welcoming reception desk
The reception desk is a focal point for your reception area, so it needs to be perfect.
Your desk should make people feel welcomed and comfortable, while looking good.
It should reflect your business’s style and values so that everyone understands your
brand. Choose a desk that fits your company, whether that be sleek and modern or
traditional and vintage.
As well as this, the reception desk should have plenty of room for your employees to work efficiently and for guests to check in. The desk should be able to fit all of the needed equipment, like computers, visitor sign-in systems, and phones. Avoid cluttering the desk or making the area feel cramped to have a practical and welcoming space.
Carefully choose décor
Your décor is a key part in creating a unified and pleasant reception area for your
business. It is a chance to reflect your brand identity and what your business stands
for, while making people feel at ease in your workplace. Add colorful artwork,
signage, and branded materials throughout the reception area to create a good
impression through unique and visually pleasing design.
Not only will this make people feel comfortable as soon as they step in the door, but it will also solidify your brand and what your business is all about. Make sure to add a touch of fun in the décor too, whether that be through a neon sign or a feature wall. Doing this will add
personality to your business and make you stand out from the crowd, creating a lasting positive impression on everyone!
Use these tips to design a welcoming and safe reception area for your business to
create positive first impressions for everyone to remember. The reception area of
your business is where assumptions begin, so you need to set the tone. Plus, it’s a
great opportunity to show off your brand identity and increase brand recognition.
