End To End Workplace Solutions Melbourne

first impressions count: the cost effective key to your workplace overhaul

11/11/2018

Good design goes hand in hand with good business. At BRM Projects we’ve seen design trends move from innovation to the norm as we continue to implement new fit-outs and concepts that respond to business issues.

Every business faces challenges regarding cost, space and productivity when moving to a new premises or re-furbishing the current premises. But it’s the design of one specific area in your workplace which can be most effective in overcoming these challenges. This area sits at the front of your office and ideally, will sit at the top of your design priority list...

Image by HMH Advisory

your front reception: the gateway to better business

Despite (and not to take away from) the need for staff engagement in the workplace, it is the clients – the ones that drive the business – who need to be paid great attention when it comes to workplace design. This is where the front reception of your firm has a chance to do its work.

“It’s all about the brand experience” says Beatrice Poirier Laforce, Interior Designer for BRM Projects. “The brand’s personality needs to translate into a space. The space itself includes everything from how the client will enter, be greeted and be made to feel comfortable”

The front area of your office is where your client faces your brand directly for the first time after entering the building. You need to therefore provide them with a pleasant experience while displaying your success, credibility and professionalism as a company.

your design approach: how to keep costs down

If you look at the “front of house” area as separate from the rest of your workplace design overhaul, it can be easier to break down the re-design costs. By viewing your project in stages and dividing the space into different “zones” it can be easier to manage from a budget point of view, as you spend money on the areas that matter most to your workplace right now. Further down the track, you can continue the re-design of the rest of your workplace as the concept (and affects) from the front reception will flow into other areas.

Focusing on the reception area itself, there are various cost-cutting measures that can be taken without compromising the look and feel of the space:

Lighting:

Light is a key factor in first impressions of any space. While studies show that quality of light can have a significant impact on the productivity of workers, it can also make a difference in first impressions when stepping into the space as a guest. Simple changes like moving from traditional globes to LED can make all the difference to the ambience of the area.

Furniture:

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to source new pieces of furniture for every part of the reception. In fact, simply changing one central piece can present the office and your brand in a completely different way. A front desk that is timeless and tasteful for example, can change an entire room. You also won’t necessarily need to abolish all of your old furniture. If there are items you can’t remove, there are ways that a good design can work around them, allowing them to blend in with the new look.

The Small Things:

Simply changing power points, ceiling tiles and even door handles, will contribute to your company’s new look. It’s the small things that when put together, will help achieve that welcoming feeling and a more ‘established’ look as a company.

recent case study: our re-design of hmh advisory's front of house

The front of house area at HMH Advisory was updated to include fresh paint, new lighting, joinery, floor finishes and furniture.

The glass brick feature wall could not be removed so the new reception was designed to incorporate it in a way that corresponded to the new look of the office.