As soon as a new client walks through your business’ door, the evaluation of your company begins. Wandering eyes will carefully examine the lobby looking for clues as to what you and your business might be like. This room is where your company gets its first impression, so you want it to be a good one. Here are some tips on how to make a positive lasting impression on everyone that walks through your business’ front door.
Before you design your perfect office lobby, you need to think about a few things. Will there be a lot of people in your waiting area? Will there be a check-in desk? And, how much space do you have to work with? These questions are important so you know how to effectively design your space.
After you figure out the answers to those questions, you’ll know what kind of furniture to work with so that you can adequately accommodate your guests. Make sure to plan for enough seating for the maximum amount of people that you think will be waiting at a given time. You don’t want any of your guests uncomfortably standing.
If you have a check-in desk, it’s important to make sure this desk is not too high. If it is, it can cause guests to feel intimidated. So, just be sure when planning your check-in area, that the desk is a suitable height for your guests.
Now it’s time to talk décor. Bottom line, you want the décor in your lobby to be aesthetically pleasing to your guests. This starts with having a lot of natural light streaming through the room because it makes the room appear bigger and brighter. Also, you should not paint your lobby a “loud” color like neon green, hot pink or bright purple. Having an accent wall is one thing, but painting the entire room a loud color is not recommended.
To add some sophistication to your décor, add some art, your company’s logo and some of your business’ prestigious awards to a few walls or shelves. Spice up your company’s logo by adding spot lighting to shine on it. Not only will this be an impressive touch, but it will also reinforce your brand, and what company doesn’t want that? As for art on the walls, frame a piece or two to add a little something about your company’s personality. It could be a framed quote, or a nice picture that preaches determination and the will to never give up. Whatever it might be, make sure it will convey something your brand does or believes in.
For some small impressive accents, we suggest putting some of your branded promotional materials out for visitors to take. Whether it’s a bowl of branded candies, pens, or business cards, these materials will add some pizzazz and a professional feel. Another added bonus to having these promotional materials out for grabs is that your company is more likely to stay at the forefront of your clients’ minds even after they leave. Next time they go to write their “to-do list,” they may just grab that pen they got from you to write it.
Nobody likes to wait, so it’s important to keep your guests happy while they’re waiting. Have some industry-related reading materials out on the table to help clients pass the time. We also suggest having a TV in the waiting room with a news station on. Not only will this keep your visitors occupied, but it will also show to them that you’re staying current with today’s news and trends. For your guests’ enjoyment, we also suggest having a coffee, tea and water station in the lobby area in case guests need some refreshments.
You only get one chance to make a first impression, and in most cases, this impression begins in the lobby. By putting a little extra effort into the design of your lobby, you can be sure that your guests will wait happy and have a positive lasting impression about you and your company.