How to Create an Impact in Your Waiting Room

Hospital waiting room with bright orange walls, row of 3 seats in bright pink and purple colours, large feature wall light and wall decoration

Whatever type of establishment you run, your waiting room is the gateway to your organisation. It’s often here where your visitors will gauge their first impression of your organisation and this could have a big influence on their overall perception of how you operate. 

Even if the majority of your offices or facilities are looking tired and in need of renovation, a knock-out waiting room can help create a positive first impression which can compensate for what your visitors might see elsewhere in your premises. 

Whilst you may not have the budget available to upgrade facilities throughout your building, your waiting room could be the best place to invest a little and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to create striking results.

Reception Desk

Reception Desk In A Spa Waiting Room

Your reception desk is usually the largest piece of furniture in your waiting room so is a key piece you can use to create an impact. This can often be the most expensive item you might purchase for your waiting room but there are a lot of budget-friendly options available which still look great. 

If your reception isn’t always manned, a small, standing-height desk can accommodate a phone or intercom which visitors can use to announce their arrival and a visitors book where they can sign in, and it also acts as a focal point in the room. Even the most basic reception desk can be enhanced with the help of some LED lighting in your corporate colors or a sign with your logo on. Alternatively, signage or artwork on the wall behind can help compensate for a plainer style desk.

Waiting Room Chairs

The two important factors when choosing waiting room chairs are that they look good and are comfortable. Dependent on the type of establishment, it’s often a good idea to provide a few different types of seats to accommodate individual needs and preference.

Grid of images depicting different styles and colours of waiting room chairs

Seats with arms are helpful to those who struggle to sit down easily whilst a small sofa or double width seats are appreciated in places where children are visitors, allowing them to sit next to their parents or carers. In hospitals or medical establishments, chairs need to be easy to clean and it’s wise to opt for an anti-microbial vinyl covering. It’s essential to ensure there is suitable access and space for wheelchair users and those with a walking aid, and also prams and pushchairs where relevant.

Wheelchair and row of blue seats in waiting room with plants in corner

Whilst your reception desk is a focal point, your waiting room chairs are a key element that help create an ambience and set a tone, and the colours you choose for your seating have a big influence on this.You can co-ordinate your chairs with your corporate colours, use different colours to create zones of seating or choose a single colour for a more relaxed vibe.

Storage

To make things easier for your visitors and keep your waiting room free of clutter, you could position coat hooks and umbrella stands by the entrance. In larger establishments there may be space for a small cloakroom or wardrobe and this could be accessible only by reception staff if security of items is a potential issue.

Décoration

Waiting room reception decorated in bold orange and green colours

A new lick of paint can work wonders in cleaning and brightening up a space as well as helping to change the tone if this is what you’re aiming to do. If you want to opt for bright and funky furniture it’s often wise to keep the walls plain and neutral, or you can go wacky on the walls and simple on the seating!

Wall décor is another key element that can help make a room feel more welcoming and provide some visual stimulation to those who are waiting. With a wide selection to choose from you can use artwork, photographs or prints to make your waiting room look more interesting and again this can help with creating an ambience.

Waiting room with turquoise sofa matching turquoise feature wall and brightly coloured artwork 

In corporate environments you may want to use imagery of your company’s products or service or you could create a display of physical products on a shelf or in a cabinet. In smaller waiting rooms you could use mirrors to create the impression of a larger space. 

The use of plants is a good way to break up a space, create some height or simply make the area look nicer. Whilst real foliage can be high maintenance there are a wide range of realistic looking artificial plants on the market which will have just the same effect.

Waiting room with blue waiting room chairs and range of plants and foliage on table

Lighting

Natural light is always best but even if there are windows in your reception area it’s likely you’ll still need some form of artificial lighting switched on to make the area bright enough. In public waiting areas you may have to stick with the original ceiling lights but in corporate offices and private businesses you could use floor, table or wall lights to soften the mood. Free-standing lights also serve as additional items of decoration. 

If it’s possible, before committing to purchase any items of furniture, create a visual of the area so you can see how everything will look when put together and how the colours work in the space. There are lots of apps available which will allow you to do this and it’s worth investing the time before investing the money to ensure you will be happy with the results.

How to Keep Children Happy in Your Waiting Room

As adults we know how frustrating it can be having to wait but we tend to accept that it’s something we have to deal with whenever we have an appointment. Imagine however what it’s like from a child’s point of view! Young children particularly find it very difficult to sit still, they usually have a short attention span and like to be constantly active and entertained.

If children are regular visitors to your waiting room then it’s important to ensure you cater for their needs and their size. This not only helps keep them calm and engaged but also makes things easier for their parents or carers, and for other patrons also waiting.

Adult sized waiting room chairs will look huge to little children; they may find it difficult to climb up to sit on them and there could be a risk of them falling off. Whether you provide a play table with some toys and books to keep kids entertained, or have an area where children can sit with their parents, you need to have some child-sized seats.

Range Of Colourful children’s Waiting Room Chairs And A Green Table

Low level waiting room chairs with padded seats and bright upholstery will instantly appeal to children. Double width seats like the blue one pictured above are good because they allow parents or carers to sit next to their children. 

You can choose to distinguish a children’s area with bright, multi-coloured seats like these, or co-ordinate it with the rest of your seating by having it all upholstered in matching colours.

Seats with backs are better where children may have to wait for longer periods – they will be more likely to stay sat down if they can lean back and feel comfortable. This is also good for children who will sit and read or look at a book.

Padded Oval, Round and Crescent Shaped Children’s Waiting Room Chairs Upholstered In Bright Coloured Vinyl

For areas with shorter waiting times, padded bench or stool type seating can be more flexible and again lets parents sit next to their children.

If you can provide this type of seating for children in your waiting room you will make waiting a more bearable experience for them. Combine this with a little play area or some books and toys and you will be able to keep them entertained for a while.

Keeping your young visitors happy whilst in your waiting room will be appreciated by their parents and carers and should hopefully minimise any disruption that could be caused to other patrons who perhaps don’t appreciate the frustrations that little ones feel in these situations.

This in turn will all reflect positively on your establishment and make everyone’s experience of waiting more positive.

Choosing the Right Lecture Room Layout

When it comes to planning a lecture room there are several different configurations the seating can be arranged in. Positioning lecture chairs in straight rows will usually allow maximum capacity in the available space but if fitting in as many seats as possible isn’t the main priority then there are a number of different seating arrangements you can consider. Before deciding on a seating layout you need to understand who will be using the space and what their requirements are: Will a lecturer stand at the front and present information with no requirement for interaction from students? Will there be a need for students to break off for group work during a lecture? Will there be a requirement for students to interact with the lecturer? Answers to questions like these can help determine which seating layout would work best.

Layout patterns for Lecture Chairs

Theatre / Classroom

This layout is still the most popular in universities across the UK but there are a few variations on this theme. In a theatre layout seats are positioned in rows with all seats facing the front of the room. Access is via aisles either down the centre and/or at the each end of the rows. A theatre layout doesn’t always have to be in straight rows however; seats can be in angled or curved rows. 

Lecture chairs can stand alone or incorporate fixed writing desks or fold-away writing tablets – the most appropriate option will be determined by the subjects being taught and the requirement for note-taking or the use of laptops and other devices during the lectures.

Three different lecture theatres with lecture chairs positioned in straight, angled and curved rows

Boardroom

With a boardroom set-up, chairs are positioned around a large central table. To accommodate more seats several tables can be positioned together as shown in the image below. This layout is best for smaller teaching groups and facilitates group discussion and interaction. 

lecture chairs positioned around tables configured in a large rectangular shape

Conference

This seating configuration is again suitable for smaller teaching groups and is ideal for situations where the lecturer needs to regularly interact with students. Tables are positioned in a U-shape with seating running along the outside. This leaves a large central area where the lecturer can present from.

lecture chairs positioned around tables arranged in a u-shape

It’s also possible to use this configuration in larger lecture theatres with tiered seating which incorporates fixed writing desks.

We’ve looked at some of the most common layouts for lecture rooms to give some ideas on options when planning the configuration of teaching spaces. The size of your lecture room and the number of students it needs to accommodate will also influence the seating layout. Loose lecture chairs used in the boardroom and conference layouts shown above usually work best in smaller classroom type settings. For larger lecture theatres with a tiered floor, fixed lecture chairs are a more appropriate option. 

Evertaut is a leading UK manufacturer of lecture chairs. The company offers a complete service from design to installation and offers a free space planning service.

How Interior Design in Education has Changed

One thing that can’t be disputed about old university buildings is the impressive architecture which still creates a sense of grandeur across UK cities today. Whilst from the outside many of these buildings remain unchanged, many of the interiors have been upgraded to offer a more comfortable learning experience.

Look inside today’s educational establishments and you will find modern, vibrant spaces with sleek design and an array of facilities. As universities compete to attract students they continue to enhance their offering from luxury student accommodation to state-of-the-art lecture theatres. And as universities continue to expand and create additional learning blocks, these new buildings combine modern architecture and cutting edge interior design to create hi-tech learning spaces of the future.

You don’t need to look back very far in time however to see how much interior design in education has changed over the years.Learning establishments of the past were usually very serious looking places and lecture theatres were designed purely for teaching with little regard for the comfort of students who would have to sit for long periods of time on hard wooden chairs.

Lecture Hall Chairs

This style of lecture theatre photographed at the University of Glasgow (above)was typical of the design in the late nineteenth century. Much of this style of seating remained in place for many years. Hard wooden seats and rigid backs did not make for a comfortable learning experience!

According to Glasgow University archive sources, this lecture theatre photographed circa 1976 was equipped with a demonstration bench and a long blackboard at the front of the room. There is a platform mounted in the centre of the third and fourth row of benches, on which the lecturer could mount a lantern slide projector.

Moving further on in time, the Boyd Orr Lecture Theatre at the University of Glasgow, pictured below in more recent times, shows how lecture hall chairs moved on from all wood construction. Whilst the seating here looks much more comfortable the lecture theatre interior is pretty dull and uninspiring. This style of lecture theatre interior design was common throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s.

The picture below shows the same lecture theatre, albeit from a different angle, after its modernisation and refurbishment, circa 2010.

Modern lecture hall chairs come in a variety of styles and designs but they generally feature padded seats and backs for comfort and incorporate fixed or folding writing ledges.

Below are two lecture theatres with fixed writing desks which show how the style of chair and fabric colour usedcan dramatically change the look and ambience created. The lecture theatre on the left has a more formal look yet still feels vibrant thanks to contrasting purple and deep red upholstery and a striking colour on the walls. The lecture theatre on the right has a much more vivid look with multi-coloured seats and vibrant orange walls. 

Whilst the majority of lecture theatres still feature seating in straight or curved rows, a new style of seating is starting to become more popular in order to make learning spaces more collaborative and eliminate the need for separate break-out areas for group work.

These cluster seats at the University of London allow small groups of students to sit and work together in an informal learning space.

Universities are starting to experiment with the type and layout of seating in their teaching spaces and many choose to trial new seating in one or two lecture theatres initially to assess the impact it has on learning and teaching. Whether this type of seating becomes the norm in lecture theatres is yet to be seen, but as new university buildings continue to spring up across the country and lecture theatres are upgraded for the future, seating and interior design continues to evolve.

Evertaut is a leading UK manufacturer of lecture hall chairs. The company provides a full service including design, manufacture and installation.

Different Types of Waiting Room Chairs

Seating is a key element in any waiting room and choosing the right waiting room chairs to suit the environment and needs of its users is an important decision. In many establishments waiting rooms are places where people could be apprehensive or worried about what they’re waiting for – whether it’s a job interview or a hospital appointment, or in other circumstances they may just feel bored and frustrated about having to wait. Having the right seating in your waiting room can at least make waiting a more comfortable and pleasant experience – no one wants to be sat on an uncomfortable chair for any period of time, or even worse, have to stand whilst waiting.

There are many different types of waiting room chairs and seating units on the market so it’s important to consider which would be most suitable for both your waiting room and its users.

Waiting Room Chairs for Corridors:

Some establishments don’t actually have space for a designated waiting room and it may be that visitors have to wait in a corridor or narrow space. There are many flip-up seats which take up little space and are an ideal solution for corridors.

This type of flip-up wall mounted seating keeps the floor area clear, takes up very little space and is also DDA compliant. A floor fixed version is also available.

A row of beam seating in this hospital corridor is a space saving yet stylish solution which doesn’t compromise on comfort

Waiting Room Chairs on a Beam

For waiting rooms which need to accommodate large numbers of people, rows of beam seating are a popular choice. This type of seating is often found in doctors’ surgeries, dental practices and veterinary practices. Beam seating can be floor fixed or free-standing and is usually a very robust seating solution which is ideal for very busy waiting rooms with a high volume of traffic. Fixed tables can also replace any seat position within a row of beam seating.

The beam seating in this newly refurbished doctors’ surgery features upholstered seat and back pads for comfort and anti-microbial vinyl which is easy to clean and hygienic.

Flexible Seating for Waiting Rooms – Stacking Chairs

If the number of visitors in your waiting room can vary from day to day or you sometimes need to use the space for other purposes, stacking chairs are a flexible solution. Stacking chairs can be arranged in any configuration and easily moved and stored away when not required. Many stacking chairs can be supplied with storage trolleys which allow you to easily transport them from room to room or store them away.

Waiting Room Chairs for Offices and Reception Areas

Depending on the type of image you want to create in this type of environment there is a range of different waiting room chairs you could choose.

For corporate establishments or informal reception areas, loose seats with matching coffee tables can provide a comfortable and smart solution which is again flexible. There are many different styles available so think about whether you want a traditional or modern style and whether you want a relaxed or formal setting. Another option is informal bench seating which can create a striking look in modern spaces where waiting times are generally short.

There is a huge range of different waiting room chairs on the market today so before choosing seating for your waiting room think about the space you have available, what format of seating would be best and how this would suit the needs of your visitors.

About Evertaut

Evertaut is a leading UK manufacturer and supplier of waiting room chairs. The company’s seats can be found in offices,hospitals, educational establishments, and a range of other public buildings across the country. 

A Buyer’s Guide to Fixed Seating

If you are responsible for specifying or purchasing fixed seating for an auditorium there are several factors you need to consider before making a purchase decision. Whilst you may have a particular style of seat in mind and can search for different seats and suppliers online, it’s always preferable if you can test the comfort and quality of the seating yourself. 

Fixed seating is a high value purchase and most reputable suppliers will be happy to visit you on site and bring a sample chair for you to assess. Whatever type of venue you are responsible for – whether it’s a lecture theatre in a university, a sports arena, theatre or cinema – when patrons are in your auditorium they will spend the majority of their time sitting down. It’s also likely that they will be sat for several hours at a time so it’s important that they are comfortable. If they find your seats uncomfortable this will reflect negatively on your venue as a whole and could prevent them from choosing to return.

Upholstered seats with exposed wooden backs help maintain the original character in a theatre

Space Planning & Layout of Fixed Seating

Whether you’re furnishing a new build venue or replacing fixed seating in an existing building, before choosing a particular seat you need to determine how many seats you need to fit into the space. You need to ensure you offer sufficient leg room and adequate spacing, and that you incorporate the appropriate number of walkways and exits to comply with current regulations. You also need to consider disabled access and provision of space for wheelchair users. Many fixed seating suppliers will offer a space planning service and can produce layout drawings for you if required.

Tiered Flooring

Most larger auditoriums will have a tiered floor to maximise capacity and ensure the audience has the best sightlines. If you also need to replace the flooring in your venue it can often make sense to look for a supplier who can manufacture both the seating and the flooring as this can be the most cost effective option and also ensures the installation process runs smoothly.

Fixed Seating Specification

For maximum comfort in a cinema you may want to offer seats with higher backs so patrons can rest their heads, however in a lecture theatre where the audience needs to remain alert, the opposite may be preferable.Most UK manufacturers of fixed seating will be able to adapt their seats to your specifications so whether you want your seats fixed or flip up, if you require arms, writing tablets, fixed desks or cup holders, ensure you discuss your exact requirements so they can price accordingly.

Lecture theatre seating with beech effect writing desks and co-ordinating seat bases

Refurbishment of Fixed Seating

Sometimes it can make more sense to simply have your seats refurbished rather than replace them – this will usually be a cheaper option and can often revive your seats to look like new again. If you have a listed building it may be your only option so seek out a manufacturer who has experience in this capacity and understands the complexities of the regulations.

Original seating restored and refurbished in a traditional theatre

About Evertaut

Evertaut is a leading UK manufacturer and supplier of fixed seating and tiered flooring for auditoriums. The company’s seats can be found in theatres, cinemas, lecture theatres, stadiums, conference centres and sporting venues across the country. Evertaut also specialises in fixed seating refurbishment and can reupholster and renovate old seats to give many more years of usage.