You office reception area can be one of the hardest areas to plan, as so many variables have to be taken into account. Issues like access, security, health and safety, and lighting all need to be addressed and for this we would also advise contacting a local office furniture dealer for help and advice, which is often free.

But how do you go about deciding of what seating you want in your reception area?

A big part of your decision must be based on price. Quality leather reception chairs are very expensive, as is anything made to your own specification or design. Similarly solid wood frames are also expensive and will take a large part of your overall budget.
However you do have to remember that an image of your company is formulated by visitors within about ten seconds from entering the reception area, the reception unit and the reception chairs must portray the image you wish to convey to your visitors.
A row of cheap metal four  legged chairs, in a basic upholstery fabric, may do the job in your local  tyre fitting waiting room, but will it suit your business.

On the other hand your designer commissioned Nappa leather Chesterfield may look great to you, but is it what you customers are expecting to see in an insolvency office.

The good news about refurbishing a reception area, is that the reception chairs will only be a small percentage of the total cost of the whole reception area project, as you will probably only need a couple of chairs and a coffee table.

In most offices the reception chairs are hardly used, which means that you don’t have to go for the same level of quality as you would for the receptionist’s chair which is going to be sat on for most of every working day.

Plus your visitors will only be sitting in these chairs for a short while, unlike your receptionist, which therefore means that long term comfort is not so important. This is why most office reception chairs are upholstered on the firm side, so that they stay looking like they did when they were new.

A domestic chair or sofa for example would not be ideal as, as they are usually too soft and comfortable- ideal for home but not for your office

Also many leather reception chairs are actually only faced- a matching vinyl is used on the back and lower sides in order to reduce manufacturing costs. You would not notice this in the brochures or on internet catalogues, and probably wouldn’t notice it in the flesh, but it is worth mentioning.

Some UK manufacturers would not mix vinyl with leather, which is why their products are usually more expensive but better quality than many of the imported office reception chairs.

There are also certain ranges of upholstery fabrics which are priced as standard fabrics but actually have the look and feel of  suede leather, and are available in a wide range of colours.
This option gives you the look of a quality leather product at the price of a fabric upholstered one.
The only disadvantage is that the fabric will not wear as well as the leather option, but as reception seating is, in general, not heavily used, this does not matter too much.

So take all of the above on board before you start your search and you will be more likely to end up with what you want at the price your are prepared to pay.

As always, an office furniture dealer will be an invaluable source of information and advice and if you buy from them you will be getting good value for money and the right product for your needs