The reception desk will attract the whole attention of your visitors. But it is not only the image of your company; it is also a good place to put any sort of information for new visitors.

A reception desk with a competent employee taking care of your visitors will help any visitor get to the right place. You can also delegate more functions towards this employee. In some companies, they take care of incoming phone calls, sellers, job seekers, partners visiting the company, incoming mail and packages, and so on. A reception desk is your interface with the world.

According to the work that will be done there, you’ll need a different reception desk. The most simple choice is using an office desk as a reception desk. That is only an acceptable alternative for extreme small offices. Even if your office has less than ten employees, you should seriously consider purchasing a real reception desk. This is not only a matter of first impression, but of functionality. Especially if you are dealing with personal documents at the reception, you should have a save area in the reception desk to place those documents.

When buying one, consider how much space you have, the size of the office door (since many could be bigger than your office door) the work that will be done there, the image that it transmits and its orientation. Some offices need a corner reception desk, others need a straight one. Some reception desks have the form of a “U” and others can be freely structured to fit any space.

The money that you’ll spend in a good reception desk will get back into your pocket. There are many advantages for it. It will help you communicate more efficiently with your visitors. It will make the work flow more dynamic. It will transmit the right professional image. Your employee will have less stress, and last but not least, a good reception desk doesn’t cost much more than an office desk. It is still a desk, but adapted to fulfill a different function.  That first impression is important, the desk says a lot.  However, other, smaller things also matter.  As an example a bowl of personalized chocolates with your company logo is a nice touch and something that’s easily memorable.  A fun way to spark up your office is through office supplies in pink, its fun and an attention grabber!

There are several decisions you should take before you go shopping for a reception desk.

1st: Space. How much space do you have? Don’t only estimate how much space the reception desk will take and measure exactly the space that the reception desk will take. Visitors and employee must have enough space to move around it. Enough space means that even in a wheelchair, any person should be able to use the reception desk from both sides..

2nd: Style. There are, as in the case of every product, reception desk of different styles, prices, sizes and quality. The most important here is that it fits your corporate image. There is no point in investing a lot in a top-notch design reception desk, if you are putting it into your start-up. It could convey the wrong image. That means, it would give the impression that you are already swimming in money, when you are not. A similar case is when you work in a traditional business, like accounting or any legal profession, when people don’t expect that you come up with a creative unusual solution, but much prefer that you are reliable and serious about their project. A traditional reception office desk may be your best choice. It also has to match the rest of the office. So it is better if you buy everything together at the same time and place. This will also guarantee that you get a better price.

3rd: Security, privacy and similar issues. Reception desks have to provide protection. Not only for your employee, but also for any cash he might be dealing with, any documents or bills, everything. That’s why you cannot just use an office desk as a reception desk. An office desk is meant to provide a working space for an employee working within a team. He doesn’t have to protect anything or himself against people approaching him. In the case of a reception desk, a little distance is absolutely necessary. Some sellers won’t accept a “no” as an answer. Some job seekers might turn to upset. Some visitors can get curious about what is on the desk. A reception desk gives protection against all these problems.

First tip: don’t use an office desk as a reception desk. That only makes you look cheap. And an office desk is not actually the same. A reception desk needs to be highly visible, since it is the port that visitors seek when they enter your company. It also needs to provide a certain degree of intimacy for the employee working there. He should have some space to put documents out of sight of everyone, for example. You never know who is going to visit you. Some employees can be loud, so it’s good to have a buffer between the reception area and offices. A reception desk puts a convenient discreet barrier between the employee and the visitors.

When choosing the reception desk remember how many visitors you are getting. If you have loads of visitors, choose a resilient material, since literally everyone will put their elbows onto the reception desk. It might sound odd, but some types of wood simply cannot get much rubbing. Another bad choice of material is glass. Glass looks nice and it is also easy to clean. The only problem is keeping it clean. Most visitors lean on the desk and place whatever they have on it, so it must be rock solid too.

Another, often forgotten issue is that all office furniture, including the reception desk must fulfill the Disabilities Act. That means that a reception counter must have a portion lower to the ground, so that all wheelchair users are able to use it. If your employee is on a wheelchair, you can place a platform on his side of the desk.

Most first time clients look at first for a reception desk. Put it in the most visible place. It does not have to be right in front of the door, the clients will find it if it is at the side. A very good complement to the reception desk is the waiting room or a reception area. Some companies have a separate waiting room and only a small reception area near the reception desk. This small reception area, which sometimes have only a couple of chairs, is intended for relieving the work of the receptionist without making people wait in line.

If the reception desk has a double use for the office, as reception desk and as secretary desk, you’ll need to buy one that suits the needs of a secretary. Normally that simply means more space and some space where you can put things that clients or visitors are not able to reach. It might sound like a useless security measure, but you never know who will be coming into your company. It should meet all the need of the person who is working there.

If personal security is an issue consider choosing a tall and wide reception desk. If security is a top priority, the reception desk will need an armored glass and be entirely bullet proof. There are companies that specialize in these kinds of reception desk, so it won’t be a problem finding one.

Equally, it won’t be a problem finding any variation you want. Matching the reception desk to the office desks is a very important point. At least all desks should match the color and the quality of the material. You’ll need to decide what kind of office impression you want, modern design or traditional, sober or inviting. The reception desk, and all the rest in the office, should also match the image you chose for your company.

When choosing a reception desk consider the industry that you are in.  If you are an attorney than a professional one shows your clientele a level of professionalism and confidence you have.  If you are a manufacturing facility you want something that is warm, inviting and is favorable to your clients. 

Functionality should be your key focus, that and something that provides long term value.  You can find them in wood, laminates, glass, metal or any combination.  They come in styles such as contemporary, traditional, transitional and custom built.  Depending on your budget and needs will determine which style works best for you.

Each reception area is unique, so your reception desk can be created to fit nicely into your space.  You can get them with special options and accessories and they can be set to meet your data and electrical requirements.   Normally you will be able to mix and match materials to create the look and feel you desire. 

The reception area is for your clients, remember that when you set up your reception desk.  Continually ask whether this meets your desired outcome?  Does the desk and area provide that balance of function and comfort? 

Last, will the reception desk be occupied by a person regularly or will it be vacant for the most part?  If it is vacant you may want to consider another option with the space so as to not have it look odd and unused.  An area with chairs, table and desk might prove functional with a sign that states someone will be with you shortly.

Whatever your needs are you can find a solution that fits your objectives and budget.  This is an opportunity for you to add a sense of flair and corporate message, so enjoy the process.