A waiting area or room is a building, or more commonly a part of a building or a room, where people sit or stand until the event or appointment which they are waiting for begins.
There are two types of waiting room.
One is where individuals leave for appointments one at a time, or in small groups, for instance at a doctor's office, a hospital triage area or outside a school headmaster's office.
The other is where people leave en masse such as those at railway stations, bus stations, and airports. These two examples also highlight the difference between waiting rooms where one is asked to wait (private waiting rooms) and waiting rooms one can enter at will (public waiting rooms).
Amenities :
Most waiting rooms have seating. Some have adjacent toilets. It is not uncommon to find vending machines in public waiting rooms or newspapers and magazines in private waiting rooms.
Some waiting rooms have a television or music. Some airports and railway stations have special waiting rooms, often called "lounges", for those who have paid more.
These will generally be less crowded and will have superior seating and better facilities. Waiting rooms for high-end services may provide complimentary drinks and snacks.
Layout For Waiting Area :
1. Attention To Traffic-
When arranging your reception space you want to have a clear idea of where your guests will be entering and exiting and make sure these areas are clearly marked. There is nothing worse than showing up for an appointment and having no idea where to go.
2. Right Furniture -
The most important part of your waiting area is the furniture; not only is it the first thing your guests will see, it determines how comfortable they will feel in your space
3. Reception Desk -
Your reception desk should be the focal point of your waiting area and easily viewable and accessible from the entrance. It should also be inviting and clean; the last thing you want when guests arrive are papers, boxes and packages scattered around the reception desk. If this is a familiar sight at your front desk you will want to be sure to choose a reception desk with adequate storage so you have somewhere to tuck away deliveries and other items.
4. Seating -
Measurements are just as important in the seating area of your waiting room; your space needs to look professional and attractive while comfortably accommodating your visitors. To decide how much furniture you will need, consider how many waiting room chairs would be used by your guests on the busiest day, then add some tables to the space as well.
5. Colors -
The colors of the furniture you choose as well as the colors of your walls and fixtures can have a direct effect on the way your visitors feel. If you are designing a doctor’s office waiting room you may want to choose calming or reassuring colors such as green or blue with a touch of pink for compassion. Blue denotes honesty, loyalty and security while green is calming.
6. A Dash Of Decor -
Once you have decided on your furniture and colors, you want to pick out some décor items that can also set the mood in your reception area. Pick things that people will remember and be sure to cater things to your clientele. For example, set yourself apart by adding tasteful art pieces, an aquarium full of exotic fish or a relaxing water feature; giving them something interesting to view will not only make your office unique it can help relax your guests before their appointments.
7. Lighting -
Adjusting the lighting in your waiting area can enhance the comfort of your visitors as well and can set a certain mood. Soft, bright light creates a sense of calm and increases the appeal of items on display, which would be good in a business office setting.
Low, warm light, meanwhile, emits a “homey” quality and can add to the charm if you are going for a family vibe. Artificial looking light can comes off as harsh, so you may want to stay away from the fluorescent bulbs in your reception area, and natural light can make your space look larger because windows can connect the room with the outdoors.
8. Technology -
Just because your guests are in your waiting room, it doesn’t mean their work stops. That’s why you may want to consider making outlets easily accessible so they are able to charge and use cell phones, iPads and laptops while they wait.
Free Wi-Fi is also a great thing to offer, and don’t forget to provide the password. While they are working and waiting is the perfect time to promote your company too with the use of technology: use flat screen TVs to display information about who you are or even give them a virtual tour.
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