Office Design: Trending Reception Desks of 2014

If you're looking to create a stunning guest welcoming area for your business, then you don't want to miss this article! This year, the industries top office furniture manufacturers have introduced a variety of trend setting reception desks that are sure to take your business entry over the top. Check out the popular models for your office makeover project!

1.) Zira Reception Desks

It's hard to top the incredibly cool new Zira reception desk solutions from Global Total Office. The blending of metal, glass, and laminate materials combine to form some of the most cutting edge stations the world has ever seen. This full service casegoods collection offers rectangular, U shaped, L shaped, and multi user reception desk configurations to meet the specific needs of any business welcoming area. As an added bonus, the Zira line also includes a ton of modular office desks, conference room tables, and versatile office storage solutions to makeover additional office areas with a cohesive look!

2.) Amber Reception Desks

Those looking to stretch their office design budget will love the affordable new reception desks from the Cherryman Industries Amber line. This professional grade collection is the best way to upgrade your office welcoming area without spending a fortune! The Amber line offers rectangular, L shaped, and 2 person reception desk models available in 5 popular laminate finish options. Amber reception desks are available with glass transaction counters for an even more upscale look. Basic models come in well below $400 and ship for free from Cherryman. Choose from a variety of matching desks, tables, and even chairs for accenting office areas.

3.) Verde Reception Desks

Another trend setting line of reception desks to consider from the Cherryman Industries brand is the Verde collection. These rectangular and L shaped reception desk models offer high end modern appeal that's simply unmatched by the competition. Verde stations are affordable and customizable in 2 finish options. These modern welcome desks feature curved side walls, ample worksurface space, and an ultra contemporary white accented transaction counter piece.

4.) Napoli Reception Desks

The perfect combination of modern and traditional design characteristics! Mayline Napoli series reception desks define the term trend setting. Available in rectangular and L shaped models, these modular stations can be configured with a left or right hand entry. Napoli stations are available in a choice of 3 popular wood veneer finish options to compliment the glass transaction counters and metal accents. Add a Napoli reception desk to your office waiting room and enjoy the daily compliments!

5.) Superior Laminate Reception Desks

The Offices To Go Superior Laminate Casegoods Collection has been making major waves in 2014. This line of affordable office furniture includes desks, tables, welcome stations, and storage solutions available in 5 cool finishes. This year, the espresso tone has been a huge hit! Offices To Go espresso reception desks are available in a choice of L shaped and rectangular designs. Priced at $735.99 the L shaped model is an excellent value and includes 2 storage pedestals to help keep any receptionist well organized. These trending reception desks typically ship within 2 business days, a great attribute for those looking to meet tight project deadlines!

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Lesro Impresses with Mystic Reception Furniture

The Lesro Industries Mystic reception furniture collection is truly impressive. This line of high quality guest chairs, bench seating, and accent tables offers the perfect blend of wood and metal accents for a contemporary look that's simply unmatched. In today's post we'll be highlighting a variety of unique products from the Mystic collection and their aesthetic benefits. Enjoy!

First up, the Mystic S1801G7 side chair. This single user guest chair is available in a wide range of fabric and leather upholstery options that work well in lounge, waiting room, and reception area applications. The S1801G7 features wood arm caps available in 6 finish options to compliment your choice of 2 frame finishes. This stand alone chair offers a highly preferred wall saver design and just the right amount of wow factor. Priced at $221.10, the S1801G7 is also an excellent value.


The S1891K8 guest chair from the Mystic Lounge Series is perfect for big and tall users. This heavy duty chair supports up to 750 lbs. and doesn't lack in terms of style. All too often, users are left sorting through a slim selection of quality chairs for bariatric applications. Luckily, Lesro has introduced seating solutions like the S1891K8 to meet the needs of design teams looking to impress while keeping visitors in supreme comfort. This comfy chair is available in all the top upholstery options Lesro has to offer and is a top choice for healthcare based waiting areas.

The Lesro Industries Mystic Collection also offers a wide variety of versatile bench seating solutions for larger reception areas. Products like the S4803G7 bench accommodate up to 4 users at a time without the need for ample spacing between each seat. These space saving bench chairs are great for applications where seating a large number of guests comfortably is top priority. Priced at $867.90, Mystic bench chairs are a bit more pricey than most of the products from this collection, but provide tons of space and style benefits that will be appreciated by businesses for years.

Lesro has also introduced a line of Mystic series accent tables to help design teams and businesses alike further enhance waiting areas. Products like the S2811G7 can be added to provide table space as well as seating for 2 guests for only $552.75. The S2811G7 is truly a versatile product that stands apart from the crowd.

Mystic series coffee tables and end tables like the S1485T5 and S1285T5 incorporate the same wood and metal design characteristics as the incredible chairs from this collection. Choose a cohesive finish and show your design prowess and business sophistication with ease. These tables start at $152.90 and are a must have for any makeover project using the Lesro Mystic line.

Last but certainly not least, the S1005B7 from the Mystic Collection was just too cool to leave out. This two person backless guest bench features upholstered seating surfaces and contemporary metal legs. The S1005B7 can act as a modular coffee table or seating option for guests and provides a ton of aesthetic appeal. As the title of today's post says, Lesro truly impresses with the Mystic collection!

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7 Easy Steps to Creating A Professional Lobby

Any interior designer will tell you that the decorating business is tough. It's a job filled with measuring, maintenance, colors, considerations, all sorts of furniture, and it's rarely ever a one man show. Paying attention to all of these things at once and trying to haggle with dealers and deliverers can be a handful, which is why, if you want to decorate your office lobby yourself, you're probably going to need some help. But don't worry. With this handy guide, all the tricks of the pros will be at your disposal. We've done our research on this one, so don't be afraid to dive in to that decorating project with confidence. Here are the seven easy steps to creating the perfect professional lobby!

Step 1: Measure Your Space

One of the biggest mistakes newbies make when having a go at interior design is bad measuring. This is perhaps the most important step to making sure your lobby looks the best that it can. Inaccurate measuring can leave you with oversized or undersized furniture, installation hassles, and tons of buyer's remorse. When a lobby looks like it's too big or too small for the furniture, guests will notice because this is the space you have set aside for them. Don't worry though. Even the pros mess this one up from time to time. That's why it's best when decorating to make sure you measure correctly. This is a bit of an undertaking, so don't be afraid to ask a friend or two for help. Just break out the measuring tape, the pencils and the graph paper to map your space out with a quality scale-sketch of your lobby space. Be sure to take note of permanent features that are already a part of the room, like doors, windows, and power outlets so you can furnish your space up smart. When you're done, give your drawing a quick double check to make sure your measurements are all correct. As they say in woodworking, measure twice, cut once, and everything will fit like a puzzle!

Step 2: Identify Your Needs

Now that the hardest part is out of the way, it's time to consider your needs. When decorating a lobby, try to think like a guest. What will they expect? What will they want? How can you as a designer go above and beyond to meet those needs? Think about your guests' responsibilities. In a hotel, medical office, vet clinic, car shop, or service industry lobby, visitors might need a place to fill out information. Comfortable chairs and affordable desks for lobby reception are a must, but that isn't all that's expected. If you want your guests to be happy and content for longer waiting times, providing them with magazines and pamphlets about your company is a good idea. You may even decide your guests deserve refreshments while they wait, but they'll have to have some place to set all those items. That makes coffee tables and stylish end tables for lobby use a must have too. If you decide you want a slideshow for visitors to watch or something even more entertaining than some mags and a few pamphlets, lobby televisions are all the rage now, especially in medical facilities like pediatrics offices and dentistries. Making sure you have everything you need and that you have room enough for all of it is crucial to good interior decorating. It's best to start with the essentials and build your way up from there.

Step 3: Choose a Style

Okay! Here comes the fun part: the "decorating" in interior decorating! This is where you get to pick a color scheme, choose wall artwork, and decide on the style of furniture you want. Most people might think that lobbies are pretty self explanatory, but we can assure you that is not so. There are tons of great themes you may want your lobby to express. It's up to you to decide between urban charm, modern professionalism, kooky fun, or the classic wood furniture look. As far as colors go, try to decide if you want to go with the company colors or something else. Just make sure when decorating that one color isn't too overpowering. One trick designers often use is to pick their dominant color and then add a bit of the colors next to or opposite that color on the color wheel. If you need help, try starting with a piece of accent furniture you'd really like in your lobby, something like a lamp, a rug, or a painting. Pay attention to the colors that are in that piece and then choose your furniture shapes and colors based on that. Finally, when you have an idea of what you want, come up with a furniture layout using your measurement paper. Be sure you know how big the sofas, tables, and  modern lounge chairs for lobby use you want to buy is also, so you know it will fit into the space. If you have lots of room, a big, cushy couch is fine, but if your lobby is tight on space, something like lobby beam seating solutions might be more efficient. The goal is to have a lobby that looks as fashionable as possible, but also reflects your business.

Step 4: Shop For Value

Next on the agenda is the shopping. Hopefully, if you already have your furniture picked out, you're aware of the price. Still, that's no reason not to look for discounts! Most furniture dealers get their product from manufacturers, and they vie with each other to sell at the best prices. Sofas and leather lobby chairs for guests can get expensive. However, if the desired furniture is online, try using tools like shopping engines and price comparisons if the site offers them to see if you can get a deal. Subscribe to newsletters for sales and updates on other cool furniture your lobby could benefit from. Call dealers and see which one is willing to give you the best price. Chances are, the might be willing to go lower than what their asking for over the phone in order to get the sale. Try Google searching for coupons, discounts, clearance, and sales. If you snoop around a bit, there's a good chance you'll get the same furniture or a stylish alternative at a fraction of the cost!

Step 5: Receiving and Installation

Aright, now you're in the final stretch! Receiving and installation can be a big pain, but not if there are a bunch of hands around to help. The first thing you need to know about this process is when the furniture will arrive. If business is already up and running, and this lobby decoration is just an office makeover, knowing when the furniture will come is crucial. An environment where doors are left open because burly furniture installers are carrying sofas in and out isn't fun for anyone, especially clientele. After you purchase the furniture, make sure you get a tracking number to monitor the furniture's progress. Also be sure to go ahead and call the dealer or the transport company to see if the deliverers will actually install the furniture as well. That way, you know when sell the old furniture, create a staging area, prep the lobby, and set up a temporary space for patrons in the meantime where they still have all the necessities they need to stay as comfortable as possible, and you also know if you need to round up some coworkers to help you install everything if the delivery service won't.

Step 6: Be Ready for Debris

This is a given. A surefire way to tell if the dealers you ordered from were working out of their basement is if the furniture arrives and isn't covered by boxes or plastics. Thankfully, this almost never occurs, but you do want to be prepared for the debris the installation process brings about. Guests don't like to look at trash any more than a business owner does, so getting it cleaned up right away is important. Have the brooms and vacuums ready to go once the installers leave, or if you have to unpack and install yourself, go ahead and keep all the unpacked furniture in the corner until your clean up the boxes and plastic coverings. This way, the floors are already cleaned up when you and your cohorts lay the furniture out.

Step 7: Enjoy Your Space!

Ah, finally! This one's pretty self explanatory. The hard work is over, and now you've got a brand new, stylish lobby to show for all your efforts. Take a moment to sit back and enjoy it!

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Trend Spotting: 5 Popular Office Interior Design Projects of 2014

As the new year rapidly approaches, several office makeover trends are becoming more evident than ever. Today's article highlights 5 of the top interior design projects for the office that are sure to be a hit in 2014. From contemporary reception areas for welcoming guests to high tech conference rooms for multi media meetings, we've spotted all the latest decor crazes for the workplace. Enjoy!

Contemporary Reception Areas

This popular makeover started building momentum in early 2013 and hasn't shown signs of stopping. Top office furniture manufacturers are adding more and more exciting products sure to create sophisticated guest waiting spaces. A contemporary reception furniture configuration shows business ingenuity while providing a positive impression on important visitors. Look for hot new products like the Global Duet Beam Seating line and designer lounge furniture sets to be highlighting office environments near you!

The Modern Bistro

Look for office break rooms to be transformed into modern bistro style areas in 2014. This euro coffee shop look is pulled together through the use of bar height bistro tables and designer stools often with metal accents. A stylish bistro area promotes creativity and group interaction in the workplace. Respected furniture providers like Mayline are offering awesome new products like the CA3PL Peanut Shaped Table for a totally modern look that's sure to impress. In the long run, office bistro area sounds much better and far more sophisticated than break room! This interior design project can also be taken on for a minimal cost. Most tables and stools can be purchased with bulk discounts from your dealer of choice for added savings.

Executive Office Upgrade

Most executives have realized the benefit of a great first impression. That being said, upper management officials will be regularly updating their furnishings to provide valued guests a professional, welcoming, and stylish workspace in 2014. While this has been a popular interior design project in years past, the coming year is sure to bring a variety of new products from lines like the Global Zira Series that will take this makeover to the next level. Configurations like the popular Zira 3 Executive Desk Layout offer ample storage, modular components, and a variety of laminate options to make any executive space a true standout.

Modular Training Areas

While fixed leg tables will always have their place in classrooms, businesses are leaning more and more towards modular models for training room environments. As we all know space is at a premium, and the ability to transform a single area into a multi purpose space is just plain smart. Hot products like Mayline Flip N Go Tables are making training room makeover projects more popular than ever. Valued benefits such as quick reconfiguring, easy to clean spaces, and unique design capabilities are all gained through this makeover. As a side tip, adding modular storage products will help to keep your space organized while maintaining the versatility you've created through the use of flip top training tables with wheels for your space.

The High Tech Conference Room

Last but certainly not least, conference rooms throughout the world will be getting a boost from all the new high tech products hitting the market in 2014. While conference tables with power were once thought of as incredibly modern, they are now becoming the industry standard. Businesses are looking to improve meeting efficiency though the use of data ports in table surfaces that eliminate clutter caused from wires running all over the office. Creating a contemporary conference room furniture configuration built for multi media needs doesn't stop at the table! Using modular AV carts, flat panel TV's, and integrated tablet mounts are all becoming more and more popular. As this project is certainly one of the most costly, working with a furniture specialist to discuss your specific needs will help to keep you within budget while bringing your boardroom to the cutting edge. Top lines to consider for this area include the Global Zira series and Mayline Transaction Conference Table collection.

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Top 5 Tips for Creating an Awesome Reception Area

Reception areas are an important part of many businesses. If you are a doctor, dentist, hotel concierge, or even a hair stylist, chances are you walk through one of these rooms every day. You may even sit behind the big desk! Reception areas set the stage for how the customer will view your business, so it is pivotal that your business's reception area looks top-notch. Here are some helpful tips as to what sort of furniture is both stylish and functional enough to leave your customers in awe!


Reception Seating Sets

If you're not quite sure where to start regarding your reception area's design, consider choosing furniture set. Sets are wonderful options because they include everything you need to keep your guests happy, and with reception seating sets you never have to worry about forgetting something visitors might need. The furniture is predesigned to match itself perfectly, and usually provides numerous color options for you to choose from if your walls are already painted. Reception furniture sets such as the Santa Cruz Lounge Furniture Collection by Mayline typically include comfortable sofas, matching lounge chairs, and coffee tables in one affordable package. Just one or a few of these sets depending on the size of your reception area will impress your guests without a doubt!


Reception Tables

One super important aspect of reception area design that is often overlooked is the addition of tables to the room. Adding reception tables is crucial to your guests' satisfaction. If you provide magazines or drinks for your guests but neglect provision of a place to set them, all your efforts to keep visitors refreshed and entertained are wasted. Guests will notice very quickly if they want to set down a beverage or book and can't find a place to put it other than the floor. Don't make this critical mistake. Try throwing in some cool coffee tables for your guests to set their belongings. Not only are the tables beneficial to your customers, but they are also beneficial to you! They provide a place for you to set pamphlets about your business and reading materials for your guests while they wait. You may even consider going the extra mile by including bistro tables where your guests can enjoy snacks or surf the web on their laptops if wait time is extensive.


Beam Seating

Another option you may want to consider is beam seating for your office space. Beam seating is a trend that has been sweeping the nation with good reason. It has become a wonderful way to organize reception areas and save space by combining numerous chairs into one single unit. Some beam seating options even like the OFM Net Beam Seating Configuration include small end tables as part of their setup so that you can provide a place for guests to set drinks or magazines. These seating solutions are wonderful for offices that have cramped space or want a new design that has never been seen before. They are available in tons of materials and color options and you can often choose how many chairs you want in your configuration. Beam chairs are modern, chic, and totally cool for any business that wants to bring in fashionable looks without having to pay exorbitant prices.




Reception Desks

One thing that is essential to any reception area is the reception desk. This desk should be unique, functional, and reflect the way you want your business to be seen. From a design standpoint, reception desks are usually the focal point of the room, so it is often best to choose a desk that you really like first, and then choose the furniture that you feel will best accent it. Wonderful curved reception desks like the Marque Plexi 5 Unit Reception Desk above are great examples of how modern office desks can make a beautiful focal points because the circular design makes the desk accessible from all parts of the room. But don't limit yourself. If space is an issue, there are plenty of great small reception desks that can look just as spectacular if you don't have the square footage for a big desk, or if you want another feature of the room to be a focal point. Just keep in mind that the desk you choose is always an important feature of the room, so give it some serious thought.

Reception Seating

Now, if there were anything more crucial to to a reception area than its desk, it would definitely be the seating. In order to make a great first impression with your customers, work so that they feel comfortable at all times. Making sure you have comfortable guest chairs is the best way to start, but you don't have to spend a fortune either. In order to know the right sort of chairs to get, consider how long your guests typically wait for. If your guests only wait between five to ten minutes, you probably don't need to get a whole array of ergonomic executive chairs to satisfy them. Something simple and stylish like the Marche Side Chair by Global is perfect. However, if your guests wait closer to thirty minutes, you might want to go ahead and get something more comfortable such as the Global Kate Series Contemporary Leather Armchair Set for your guests. The best part about guest chairs is that they typically come in a multitude of color and style options to match any decor, so you never have to sacrifice style for functionality!

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