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| Row of 3 flip-up waiting room chairs upholstered in different shades of blue antimicrobial vinyl |
There are a wide range of client facing businesses where visitors are required to spend some time waiting. All types of establishments from beauty salons to corporate offices provide some form of waiting area and waiting room chairs for their patrons.
As reception and waiting areas are usually situated within the immediate
vicinity of a building entrance, they are often what clients see first when
visiting an establishment. It is here where they will form their first
impressions of an organisation, and the aesthetic of these spaces will be a key
influence on this.
Waiting rooms should be welcoming places with clear access, comfortable
seating, pleasant lighting, and attractive décor. Whilst the style adopted can
differ greatly, the core principals are the same. If your waiting room does not
meet these criteria, it may be time to give it an overhaul.
A good place to start is to look at your waiting room from a visitor’s
point of view. Follow their journey into your premises and look closely at what
they will see. Sit in one of your waiting room chairs and take a good look
around.
When you see a space every day you can become so over-familiar with it
that you stop noticing issues that others will see. Take time to assess the
surroundings in your waiting room and the comfort afforded by the seats,
bearing in mind that initial comfort can start to diminish if waiting for a
long time. Once you are aware of where there are issues, you can ensure these
are addressed when undertaking any redecoration or upgrading of furnishings. If
appropriate, you could also ask for feedback from clients or acquaintances.
The Importance of Waiting Room Chairs
Whilst waiting room chairs are a functional item, they are also integral
to the image portrayed. Aside from a reception desk, they are usually the most
prominent features in any waiting room and not only do they need to look good,
they also need to be comfortable to sit on.
The type of waiting room chairs you choose will be dictated by the
amount of space available, the number of people you need to accommodate at any
one time, the style you want to create, and of course the budget you have at
your disposal.
In terms of comfort, some form of upholstered seating is usually always
going to be the best choice as it will feature integral cushioning. For high
end establishments where you want to project an image of luxury, you may look
for plush sofas or armchairs whilst in busy barbers shops where space may be
tight, you could be looking for something compact and economical like
wall-mounted flip-up seating.
Even where budgets only allow for low cost seating, you can still make
this have an impact through the use of colour. Multi-coloured seats can have a
striking effect, or you can contrast neutral seats against the backdrop of a
bold wall colour. If you don’t have the luxury of an interior designer, look on
social media sites such as Pinterest or Instagram for design inspiration.
When choosing waiting room chairs you also need to consider the needs of
those who will be using them. Elderly or infirm visitors may require the use of
arms to aid sitting and standing whilst junior visitors could benefit from smaller
or lower height seating more relevant to their age. If children are regular
visitors then it may be appropriate to incorporate a separate waiting area for them
and their parents/carers where space allows.
You may also take the opportunity during upgrade works to reconfigure
the space in your waiting room. Ensure seats are adequately spaced and that
there is clear access for wheelchairs (and prams, where relevant).
