The Complete Guide to Reception Desks

Your reception desk is the centerpiece of your office’s waiting room. As such, it’s important to find one that will make your guests feel welcome and your receptionists feel comfortable all day. Unsure of what to look for in your new waiting room desk? Read on to discover what you should consider and how to make the best choices for your business.

What Size Reception Desk Should I Buy?

The size of your reception desk will largely depend on the size of your waiting room. If you have a small reception area, we recommend choosing a compact waiting room desk with a small footprint designed to be used by 1 receptionist at a time. If you’re working with a larger waiting room, you should utilize the space by equipping it with a larger reception desk. Just as a large reception desk will make a small waiting room look cramped, a small reception desk in a very large waiting room will make the room look disproportioned.

Modular reception desks are ideal for most offices as they can be larger or smaller to fit your space as needed. We’ve designed our Compass collection with this idea in mind, allowing you to configure a workstation that perfectly fits your waiting room, no matter how large or small.

What Shape Reception Desk Should I Buy?

Reception desks come in various shapes, and you’ll want to choose one that best suits the needs of your staff and guests.

Single surface reception desks have a single writing surface for the office staff and a transaction counter for guests to write on. These may be straight or curved and come in a range of sizes to suit your waiting area. Smaller versions of this type of reception desk are also commonly used in restaurants and other hospitality settings.

L-shaped reception desks include a main desk and a return, which provides the receptionist with additional space to work. Most l-shaped desks are small enough that they are best used by a single receptionist at a time, though they come in various sizes to suit different business needs.

U-shaped reception desks include a 3rd work surface for receptionists to utilize. U-shaped reception desks can have curved or straight edges, and they can often be used by more than 1 receptionist at a time in a large waiting room.

Round reception desks have a curved or circular appearance. These reception desks are best suited for larger waiting rooms where they can be the center of attention.

ADA reception desks are ADA compliant to accommodate individuals in wheelchairs. Most ADA desks feature a standard height transaction counter and an attached ADA height surface that measures about 33" high.

What Materials Should My Reception Desk Be Made Of?

There are plenty of materials to choose from! These are the most popular options.

Although laminate can look like it has real wood grains, it is actually made from a form of particle board with or without a wood grain print. Desks with a laminate surface construction are ideal for high-traffic offices because laminate does not scratch or dent easily and is generally easier to maintain and keep clean. Laminate is also affordable, making it a great choice for businesses on a tight budget.

Wood veneer is a good in-between if you want the look of real wood without paying the high cost of solid wood furniture. Veneer desks have a similar base as laminate furniture (such as particle board) but feature a thin layer of real wood on top of that. Veneer desks can be trickier to clean and care for than laminate, but the veneer layer provides a much richer look that many offices prefer.

Although metal desks are available in all-metal varieties, most come with a wood or glass top with a metal framework for stability and industrial aesthetics. Metal desks are usually made of steel, though the gauge may vary. The desk may come in either a chrome or powder-coated finish.

In the case of glass desks, the work surface is usually made of thick tempered glass to prevent shattering complemented by a metal framework. Glass is easy to clean, but it does show fingerprints. If you don’t want a full glass top, there are wood top options with a glass inlay available.

Conference Guides

Reception Area

The Complete Guide to Signage

Signage probably isn’t the first thing you think of when outfitting a new office. Between the furniture and décor, you’ve got a lot to think about already. But consider how important signage is for your space. From directing guests where to go to facilitating effective communication between professionals, signs send a message. Below you’ll find a list of the most common types of signage in offices today.

Freestanding signs can stand on their own via a (usually) changeable sign attached to a long pole with a wide base. This type of signage is ideal for temporary use in offices with constantly changing needs and is also great for directing guests at special events.

Wall-mounted signs attach to a wall and may be changeable or hold a permanent message. Examples of these include restroom signage and signs used to display room names.

Outdoor signs are designed to withstand the elements, including rain, snow, and the sun’s damaging rays. This signage is most often permanent, though changeable options are available. Examples include signs for parking spaces and directional signage.

Desktop signs are usually changeable and commonly used as employee nameplates or labeling for reception desks.

Dual-sided signage is usually freestanding and includes a label or message on both sides of the sign.

Crowd control signage is signage that can be attached to the top of a crowd control post. This type of sign is often used to direct guests where to go in a line.

Healthcare alert signage is specifically for use in healthcare facilities. These signs have movable icons that medical professionals can use to communicate with one another at a glance.

LED signs are most commonly used for open/closed signage, though they can communicate any range of messages.

Dry erase signs are small whiteboards that can be written on and erased, allowing employees to write messages back and forth as needed.

The Ultimate Guide to Conference Room Seating

Outfitting your conference room with the right table is one thing, but finding the best chairs for your meeting space is another matter entirely. When selecting conference chairs for your meeting rooms, consider how many people you want the room to accommodate and what type of look and feel you want it to convey. Then check out our comprehensive guide to conference chairs.

How Many Conference Chairs Do I Need?

Before you start thinking about conference chairs, you should have already selected your conference table.

The number of chairs you'll be able to fit in your meeting room will largely depend on the size of the conference table. A good rule of thumb is that the width of the table in feet is also the number of chairs that can be comfortably seated around it. So, for example, a 4-foot-wide table can seat 4, and a 20-foot-wide table can seat 20.

Space permitting, it's also a good idea to add side chairs against some of the walls in your conference room. This will provide some overflow seating for individuals in larger meetings when there's not enough space around the conference table. We recommend leaving at least 3 feet of walkway space around your conference table to allow for comfortable movement around the room.

What Type of Conference Chairs Do I Need?

Conference chairs have a look that’s similar to desk and task chairs. So what’s the difference? In truth, most desk chairs can also be used as conference chairs and vice versa, but there are some distinguishing features. A task-style seating option is typically referred to as a conference chair if it has fixed arms and minimal ergonomic adjustments. The fixed arms provide support to users while minimizing the opportunity for causing distractions during meetings. Likewise, the lack of ergonomic adjustments prevents users from fiddling with knobs and handles while meetings are in session. Most conference chairs have only an adjustment for seat height.

Big and tall chairs are sometimes used in conference rooms to support big and tall users. These are conference chairs that are rated to support 300 pounds or more.

Petite chairs are not often used in conference rooms, but they certainly can be. Petite chairs have a shorter cylinder and a smaller seat pan to support users of a shorter stature.

Side chairs or guest chairs are often added to the outside walls of a conference room to serve as overflow seating when a meeting is too large to seat everyone around the table.

Stools are often used in conference rooms with a standing or adjustable height conference table. The adjustable height stool allows some members to stand while others are sitting, ensuring everyone can remain comfortable during the conversation.

Are There Any Special Features I Should Look for?

Stacking chairs are, as the name suggests, chairs that can stack on top of one another. Because you can stack them easily for compact storage, this type of seating is ideal when extra chairs need to be kept nearby for occasional use.

Nesting chairs are similar to stacking chairs, but they nest into one another rather than stack on top of one another. Nesting chairs are also great when compact storage is needed, and they are usually mobile so you can transport multiple chairs simultaneously.

Tablet arm chairs are often used as side chairs in conference rooms because they provide a writing surface for meeting members not seated around the conference table.

What Type of Chair Upholstery Should I Choose?

Fabric upholstery is a woven material that helps give furniture a homelike look and feel. Fabric is available in a huge range of colors and patterns, making it an ideal option for conference rooms going for a very specific look.

Genuine leather upholstery is either full-grain or top-grain genuine animal hide. Full-grain leather shows its grain and natural imperfections and is as close to its natural state as possible. Top-grain leather is the most common type of genuine leather upholstery; it’s thinner and more pliable than full-grain options. Top-grain leather is sanded to remove imperfections, giving it a more polished appearance.

Faux leather and vinyl upholstery are man-made alternatives to genuine leather. Faux leather and vinyl are made of either polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), both of which give the look of leather at a lower cost with lower maintenance.

Mesh is a textile that provides more breathability than any other type of upholstery. Mesh is durable, but it can be trickier to clean due to its porous design.

What Different Seat Types Are Available?

Pocketed coil systems are made up of a number of individual pocketed coils that help evenly distribute weight for user comfort. The coils are usually outfitted with a layer of foam on the top and bottom, with the top layer being less dense to create a cushioned feel.

Fabricated foam is one of the most common materials found on upholstered office chairs. This type of foam varies in density; the denser the foam, the more firm it will feel.

Molded foam is made from a liquid foam material poured into a mold—hence the name. This type of foam offers more consistent support and can hold its shape for longer than fabricated foam. This allows for more contour and a more comfortable feel for the users.

Memory foam has a unique chemical makeup that allows the seat to adjust to your individual body temperature. The seats, therefore, retain more heat than others, allowing them to mold their shape as the user moves. Memory foam seats are well known for providing superior customized support. In addition, this material is hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites.

TEMPUR® material is a specific type of material made by Tempur-Pedic® and designed to provide a superior level of comfort. This type of material is specially designed to conform to your body and relieve pressure points.

The Complete Guide to Office Storage

Need a hand organizing your office? A little storage can go a long way, and there are storage options for just about every type of clutter you can imagine. Read our comprehensive guide to office storage to determine what type you might need for your workspace.

Filing Cabinets

Got paper clutter? Get a filing cabinet! Dozens of options are available, making filing cabinets or files ideal for sorting and organizing paperwork. Be sure to read our complete guide to filing cabinets to learn more.

Storage Cabinets

A storage cabinet is a bookshelf with doors that conceal contents. Storage cabinets come in a huge range of styles and sizes and may or may not come with lockable doors. Storage cabinets may be mobile or stationary.

Storage Credenzas

A storage credenza is often referred to as a buffet and is commonly used in private offices and conference rooms to store supplies and office essentials. Credenzas are wider than deep and may have a combination of doors, drawers, or open display areas.

Storage Shelving

Storage shelving is metal open shelving typically used in a utility setting. These shelves are perfect in a mail room or storage closet to store surplus boxes and office supplies.

Wardrobe Cabinets

A wardrobe cabinet is a doored storage unit with a space specifically designed for hanging up jackets and other articles of clothing.

Bookcases

A bookcase is a storage cabinet without doors, though some bookcases may have doors on just a portion of the unit. Bookshelves come in a huge array of sizes and styles, and many include special features such as built-in lighting or an attached ladder.

Storage Islands

An office storage island sits in an open space and is counter-height. Storage islands provide a spacious work surface and a combination of filing, shelving, or doored storage.

Lockers

Lockers typically include multiple lockable compartments in a single unit.

Display Cases

Display cases are a compromise between storage cabinets and bookcases. These units are specifically designed to show off their contents while also protecting them from theft and dust. The glass doors are often lockable for an extra layer of protection.

Machine Storage Stands

Machine stands are also known as printer stands because they commonly house a computer printer. The printer is typically kept on the top of the unit, while the underside usually includes a drawer or open area for ink and printer paper. Machine stands can be stationary or mobile.

Literature Organizers

Literature organizers may include mail sorters, brochure holders, and magazine racks.

Safes

A safe is a heavy-duty lockable storage unit meant to prevent theft.

Fireproof Storage

Fireproof safes and storage units are made of extra-durable material that makes them resistant to damage caused by fire and water.

Storage Hutches

A storage hutch is a hutch designed to sit on the desktop of a specific desk to provide vertical storage instead of using additional floor space.

Binder Organization

Due to their large size, binders require specific storage options. Binder storage comes in stationary and rotating options.

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