Soft Seating

There are countless types of seating options in the office furniture world.  There are executive chairs, reception seats, stacking or folding chairs, and many more.  Each type of seat has its own purpose, design, and history.  Soft seating is a term that is sometimes used to describe upholstered seating choices that feature a well-padded cushion.  This type of furniture can be used in a number of settings and can be used to make a major impact on an areas décor.

Reception Rooms

The first area that comes to mind when we think about where soft seating is used is a reception area.  This can be a large room with many seats or a small area that only has space for a few guests.  There is no rule on how large a reception area needs to be; however, it is important that they are comfortable. Basic upholstered chairs will do the job, so will couches, loveseats, and really any type of seating we can think of.  These office areas can be simple and basic but can also be used to make a statement. Companies that typically host large numbers of guests will want to ensure their waiting area is functional and comfortable.  A poorly designed waiting room can lead potential clients to second guess doing business with you.  It is important that this area looks clean and professional to ensure guests are left with a positive, often first impression, of your company.

Stylish Design

Basic black upholstery, leather, and vinyls will never go out of style and is a safe choice when designing a seating area.  However, upholstery is a great way to ad character to any space and to make a room leave a lasting impression.  The use of high end pattern textiles or specialty colors can really make a waiting room stand out.  Additionally, the way furniture is arranged and what pieces of furniture is chosen can also make a huge décor impact.  Basic chairs are functional but comfortable wing chairs with ottomans or sofas can take a room to the next level.  Additionally, if space allows you can also use some furniture pieces with different unique shapes.  Large chairs with privacy panels, open concept bench seating, and cubical like chair panel systems can take any normal waiting room space and make is spectacular.  When thinking outside the box do not overdo it and do not be afraid to get professional advice.  A trained designer will always come up with some great ideas that we might not consider.

Using Empty Space

We often see seating in common spaces of office buildings or school campuses.  The idea of filling up dead space with functional seating is not new but has grown in popularity over the last couple of decades.  As companies evolved and became more relaxed in the work environment people began spending less time working at their desk and sought out new area to sit.  Small alcoves became destinations for people looking for a fresh perspective and soft seating options grew to fill this need.  If you walk through any college campus, hospital, or large office complex you will find small seating areas that seem to have no purpose; however, these areas are used all the time.   People who have an hour or two to kill will post up and make themselves comfortable.  The areas can be used to work, to relax, or to read a good book.  They are there for the comfort of the community and add to a buildings décor. Finally if you have a large lobby or a lot of space to fill adding some seating will not only give this useless area a new purpose but an upgraded look.

Technology

As technology evolves and our daily dependency on it grows, we will continue to need places to charge all our portable devices.  Phones, laptop computers, and tablets are just some of the electronics we use on a daily basis and we are seeing more and more charging stations appear in common spaces every year.  The furniture industry has also evolved with the times and many soft seating styles of furniture now have built in plugs, device holders, and USB ports.  Furniture is designed with these features in mind and modern seating areas have multiple ways to charge our devices to ensure we remain online throughout the day.  Some furniture pieces have them built into armrests, some in the side panels, and others feature plugs in the back.  These powered seats function much like old style cubical panel systems and entire rooms can be designed with plenty of places to pug in and sit.  Additionally, these rooms can be designed with open concepts or with panel extensions on furniture pieces to help separate seating areas to create a more private feeling space.  The options are almost limitless as long as you know what you want.

There are countless seating options out there and these choices can make or break a room or building décor.  If you are considering upgrading or adding seating to your complex spend a few minutes to think about who will be using this space and what their needs will be.  If you do not know where to start consider hiring a designer, make a list of what you are thinking, and set some priorities.  Finally, we are always here to help, so if you have any questions or need some advice feel free to contact us at sales@furniturewholesales.com.