The function of an entryway – which is sometimes called a lobby – is to create a sense of separation for visitors to your business. After entering the building, the entryway offers an immediate sense of peace and quiet, distinct from the bustling streets outside, but still separate from the main meeting rooms and work areas of the business building.
However, while entryways have a genuine, functional purpose, they also provide opportunity. After all, the entryway is your first chance to truly impress any client or customer who visits your premises – so it’s essential to get the design of the area right by focusing on the four areas below…
Flooring
The flooring of your entryway needs to serve two purposes; the flooring should be robust due to the high-traffic nature of entryways, but it also needs to look the part. There are a variety of different flooring types that can achieve these goals, with options such as stained concrete and vinyl tile perhaps offering the best balance of style and affordability. Furthermore, you may also want to consider some sort of rug or mat close to the front door to help prevent mud and rainwater being carried on visitors’ shoes and spread across the floor.
Greenery
Potted plants and shrubs are a great way to add a sense of life to your entryway, while fresh flowers allow you to create pops of colour in a natural way. However, do bear in mind maintenance requirements when including these elements in your entryway; live plants and fresh flowers are beautiful, but they are also expensive and need replacing regularly, so it may be best to opt for faux options if you’re looking to keep ongoing maintenance levels reasonable.
Seating
Seating is an integral part of any entryway, creating a sense of comfort along with a functional purpose. Wherever possible, it’s usually best to opt for seating that suits the aesthetics of the overall area but is still pleasant to sit on – look for padded seats and wide frames in order to achieve this goal. In addition, it’s also worth thinking about the location of your seating. Placing your seating in corners tends to be the most popular choice for a reason; you want to ensure that the seating does not disrupt the most common walkways through the space.
Signage
There is nothing worse than walking into a building’s entryway and immediately hesitating, confused as to what you should do next. To prevent your customers and clients experiencing this situation, ensure that there are instructions – such as “please report to the front desk” or “ring bell for attention” – placed within the eyeline of anyone entering through the front door. Also, it’s best to place signs next to each door that leads off the entryway rather than putting the sign on the door itself; if signs are placed on the door, they may not be visible when the door is open, so putting it on the adjacent wall is usually the best choice.
In conclusion
After considering the four areas above, you can be confident that your entryway will make the right impression on any visitor to your business premises.