Reception desks are simply standard office desks with an exception – they have a raised shelf at the front of the desk to assist people who are walking in to an office. Reception counters, on the other hand, are specifically designed pieces of furniture that are higher up than normal desks and can most likely hold a few receptionists. They are seen in many buildings like airports and hotels, as well as offices.

Bespoke Reception
Be cautious when selecting your reception counter. Bespoke reception counters can be bought, but they are tailored specifically for your application an may take a long time (6-8 weeks perhaps). Of course they can be created to your exact necessities. For instance, a specific wood veneer is designed to fit into a specific place, but it may end up costing a lot.

Modular Reception
Next is the modular reception counter. These are made up from of the standard units and can be accommodated to numerous different areas. This approach is a major decrease in cost and almost looks as good as a bespoke. Also, they can be extended for extra reception staff. These models can be standard but are, more often than not, built to order, so a delivery time of 4 weeks is not unusual. Some models, such as the Edison range, are stocked in a limited range of finishes, therefore, your counter could be ready for use within a week.

Disabilities
When laying out specifications for a reception counter you need to take into account the Disability Discrimination Act which requires that you provide adequate use for disabled people. This means you may be required to have a lower area of the counter for wheelchair users.

Finish
While choosing your perfect reception counter, you need to pay attention to the finish. Many people feel that a real wood veneer finish is best, but it requires more maintenance than normal to keep that look. It is normally more expensive as well. A Melamine finish looks nearly as good and will be less costly, and are resilient to scratching or heat.

When you choose a reception desk it is important to know what kind you want. For instance, if you were to choose a bespoke reception counter, it may take longer, sometimes up to six weeks, because they are made to order and to your specifications. Now, if you were to go with a modular reception desk, you might be saving a little time and money. This type of reception counter can fit into many different places and can be made larger to add extra staff. You can get these in a set type or built-to-order. If you choose the ladder option, you’re looking at about four weeks for delivery. Sometimes the models could be ready in a week.

There are two important issues you need to take into consideration when purchasing a reception counter. The Disabilities Act may come into play which requires you to make a portion of the desk lower to the ground for easy access to wheelchair users. Another issue is the finish of the desk. A clean real wood looking finish is the preferred choice of many people, however this takes a lot of work to keep up the look. It can be more costly as well. There are other finishes that look about the same that are cheaper and hold their own under heat and scratching.

I hope this has been informative to you. In time, we all must make our own decisions, but I hope your burden has been lifted a little bit.