Most office receptions are a desk, a logo and a stretch of blank wall. They're the first thing a client sees and usually the least considered part of the building.
A flower or foliage wall behind the reception desk fixes that in an afternoon, for a fraction of what a fit-out costs.
What it does for a workplace
- First impressions. Clients, candidates and visitors form a view of a company in the first thirty seconds. A considered reception says something about how the business operates.
- Backdrop for the things you photograph. Headshots, new-starter photos, signing photos, LinkedIn content and press shots all need a background. Most companies default to a blank wall or a badly lit meeting room.
- Video calls. If your meeting rooms are used for client calls or recorded sessions, what's behind the person on camera is part of your brand now.
- Somewhere to put the logo. Cut vinyl or a metal logo mounted on a foliage wall looks considerably better than the same logo on plasterboard.
Choosing something that suits an office
The mistake is picking a wedding palette. In a professional setting the wall needs to read as considered rather than decorative.
- Ivory Classic with Gold - neutral with a subtle metallic lift. Works with almost any brand palette and photographs cleanly behind a logo.
- Blue, Grey & Ivory Foliage - cool and restrained. Suits corporate, legal and financial interiors where anything floral would look out of place.
- Green Tropical - a pure greenery wall. The safest option in a professional space and the one that reads as biophilic design rather than decoration.
- Ivory Foliage - soft and light, good for smaller receptions where a dark green wall would close the space in.
Match the wall to your brand colours where you can. If your identity is built on a strong colour, a neutral wall behind a coloured logo will do more than trying to match the flowers to the brand.
Why artificial rather than a living wall
Living green walls look wonderful and are a genuine commitment: irrigation, lighting, drainage, a maintenance contract, and replacement of whatever dies. In a serviced office or a leased floor, most of that isn't practical.
An artificial panel wall needs no light, no water and no contract. It also comes off the wall in an afternoon and moves with you when the lease ends - which matters more than most people expect at the point they sign.
Practical points
- Check your lease before drilling. Where fixings aren't permitted, use a wall with a telescopic stand - free-standing, no damage, fully removable.
- Light it deliberately. Reception lighting is usually functional rather than flattering. A pair of warm downlights over the wall changes it completely.
- Leave room for the logo. Plan where signage sits before you order, so the panel layout works around it.
- Size it to the desk. The wall should be wider than the reception desk, or it looks like a panel that ran out.
Our panels are 60cm x 40cm and clip together to any size - work out quantities with the panel calculator, or browse the full collection. Send us a photo of your reception and we'll suggest a palette and panel count.