An All-inclusive Guide To Designing A Waiting Room

Sometimes the meeting in the conference room is extended by 15 minutes, and sometimes the guest you are expecting arrives a little early. Whether they like it or not, people often have to wait. If you are running a clinic, a patient spends an average of 21 minutes in the waiting room. Whether you are a doctor, attorney, or any other professional, your waiting room can make or break your visitor’s experience in your office. You must make sure that your visitors feel comfortable and welcomed in the office when they are waiting there. Make sure that they don’t feel unattended.

A professionally designed waiting room reflects you and your organization. So, pay closer attention to the design and layout of this space. We have the following eight tips for you to make this important job easy:

1. Pay attention to traffic
2. Choose the right furniture
3. Choose color wisely
4. Add decor
5. Set the mood with lighting
6. Use layout programs
7. Technology
8. Good services

Pay Attention To Traffic

In many offices, reception areas and waiting rooms are in the same area. So, you need a clear idea of where your guests enter and exit. Mark these areas. Imagine someone shows up for an appointment or an interview and has no idea where to go or where to sit. This does not leave a good impression. Make sure that the waiting room layout lets the foot traffic flow freely. There should be no bottleneck. Keep the traffic moving smoothly.

Choose The Right Furniture

Office visitors chairs in Australia, reception desks and other pieces of furniture make an important part of the waiting room. The level of comfort your waiting room offers also depends on the furniture. Here is the help you need to choose the right furniture:

Reception Desk

Your reception desk is the focal point in the waiting room. The reception desk is viewable and accessible from the office entrance. Choose a table that is inviting and clean. Visitors often come with some documents, packages, or boxes. A reception desk must not look cluttered. So, there should be adequate storage in the desk to tuck away these items. There should be enough space for computers, phones, printers, scanners, and other necessities.

Choose a shape that fits the available space, your preferences, and design requirements, such as an elevated front to conceal confidential information. You might also want it to fit well into your decor. Most importantly, take measurements.

Waiting Room Seating

Taking measurements is also important for the seating area in the waiting room. The seating area should look professional, comfortable, and attractive. There are different types of office visitor chairs, including:

• Guest chairs
• Bariatric chairs
• Club chairs
• Sofas
• Loveseats
• Benches
• Ottomans
• Tandem seating
• Beam seating

You can also look for special feature chairs like:

• Tablet armchairs
• Motion back chairs
• Armless chairs
• Stacking chairs
• Nesting chairs
• Mobile chairs

When it comes to upholstery, you choose one from the following:

• Genuine leather
• Faux leather and vinyl upholstery
• Mesh

Following are different seat types:

• Pocketed coil systems
• Fabricated foam
• Molded foam
• Memory foam

The comfort level your visitor chairs offer depends on the kind of chair, seat type, upholstery, and other features. You can also have a magazine rack in the waiting area.

And as always, budget is the biggest factor when it comes to waiting room furniture.

Choose Colour Wisely

The color of visitors chairs, reception desk, walls, doors, and decors play a part in what your visitors think about you and your office. For example, if you are designing a waiting room for a clinic, pick calming or reassuring colors such as blue or green. The green color is calming, and blue color donates loyalty, honesty, and security. So, you can choose a soft-blue green color. When it is a salon waiting room, choose a pink shade. Also, consider your lighting when you are choosing a color.

Add Decor

Once you have picked the color and waiting room furniture of your choice, it’s time to decorate the space. It should not be a dull and boring looking waiting area. Wisely choose some pieces of decor to set the mood in the waiting room and reception areas. Choose something that your visitors will remember. You can add an aquarium full of exotic fish or a tasteful piece of art. Add something interesting that can give your office a unique look. You can also display some information about the company, such as achievements and awards or when did you start and how far have you come.

Set The Mood With Lighting

Lighting can also enhance the comfort of people sitting in the waiting room. Different types or colors of light also help in setting a specific mood. So, make some lighting adjustments in that area. Choose bright lighting to create a sense of calm. This also increases the appeal of wall arts and other items on display. Low, warm light creates a family vibe. Avoid artificial-looking light. Don’t use the fluorescent bulbs in the waiting room. Use windows to connect the room and the outdoors. Nothing can replace natural light.

Technology

You have your guests waiting in the waiting room. This does not mean that they have no work to do. Make sure that there are easily accessible outlets so that they can charge their laptops, iPads, and cell phones. It is good to have free Wi-Fi. Let them make the best use of their time.

You can also use technology to promote your business. Give them a virtual tour of your office using a flat-screen TV.

Look for Ideas Online

If you don’t know where to start and how to put things together, you can search online for waiting room design tools and ideas. Some ideas cover everything from visitor chairs to wall arts. You can also get advice from your office furniture supplier.

Good Services

You have put together a perfect waiting room. However, this is the only thing you need to keep your guests happy. A receptionist with a smile on her face should be pleasant to the guests. Your receptionist is the first point of contact. Visitors feel welcomed when they have something to hang their coats and a place to drink coffee or water. Don’t keep them waiting.