How to evaluate waiting room furniture

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When designing the waiting room at your practice, one of the most critical aspects is the seating you choose. Safety and comfort should be your top priorities. You want your patients to feel welcomed and cared for from the moment they enter your healthcare facility.

With the variety of chairs now available on the market, your options can be overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you during your search.

Start with the Frame and Foundation

A good chair starts in the frame. Most quality chairs either have a wood or metal frame. Steel is the most common metal of choice for chair manufacturers. Keep in mind that the smaller the gauge, the stronger the steel. A typical range you will see for chairs is 16-to-18-gauge steel, which usually holds around 1,000 pounds or more.

In addition to the frame, most chairs have a seat foundation and back built with wood. Pay attention to the product specs to see what materials were used in the foundation. Industrial grade plywood is typically your sturdiest option; however, many chair manufacturers use imitation particle board, strand board, or artificial composites to save money that will not last as long as real plywood.

Keep Comfort in Mind

While durability is important, your patients will appreciate comfort most. A strong foundation and frame do not guarantee the chair will be comfortable; rather, the foam in the seat is what ensures comfort. Foam provides a vital padding between the hard seat foundation and the person sitting on the chair.

Be aware that some chair manufacturers use remanufactured foam in their seats. This reused foam will break down more quickly than virgin foam. It is also not as firm to begin with, thus reducing comfort levels. Some manufacturers will go the extra step of creating a double layer of foam for added support. Pay attention to the product specs or reach out to the supplier for additional information.

Consider Safety and Health

Healthcare facilities rely on disinfection procedures to keep patients safe, but some materials are harder to clean than others. Certain materials will be damaged by harsh chemicals. Wood is especially difficult to properly disinfect without harming the finish. Steel, on the other hand, stands up to most cleaners.

When it comes to upholstery, fabric is not a good material for most healthcare waiting rooms. It is difficult to properly disinfect and tends to harbor bacteria. You are better off choosing vinyl or polyurethane upholstery.

Another vital safety component is chemical emissions. Some chairs emit dangerous levels of chemicals, polluting indoor air and endangering patient health. Luckily, there are independent organizations that test chair and furniture emissions. Look for certifications from organizations such as Materials Analytical Services, LLC, which offers the MAS Certified Green emissions testing program.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Custom Waiting Room 3-Seater.

Research the Supplier&#;s Reputation

The last thing to consider before you make a purchase is the supplier&#;s reputation. While there are many honest vendors, there are also some who cut corners, use the cheapest materials possible, and refuse to offer a meaningful warranty. In extreme cases, I have even seen chair vendors go bankrupt and fail to deliver paid-for products. Therefore, it&#;s important to be aware of who you&#;re working with when you purchase seating.

Here are some questions to get you started with vendor research:

• When was the company founded (i.e., how long have they existed)?
• Have they ever declared bankruptcy?
• Do they have a significant number of bad reviews?
• What type of materials do they use in their products?
• Do they offer a formal warranty that is easy to understand and use?

Are they the original manufacturers or a reseller? While resellers may not necessarily be an issue, they do not have control over the quality of the chairs.

Choosing waiting room seating can be a more complex process than anticipated. Keep these criteria in mind as you&#;re comparing different vendors. While higher quality models are more expensive, the up-front investment will pay off in the future with increased durability and quality.

Ultimately, it comes down to value. You must carefully balance price, durability, and comfort to provide a good experience for your patients.

About the Author:

Dr. Tom McElheny has an MBA and a doctorate in education and serves as the CEO of his seating company, ChurchPlaza. ChurchPlaza primarily serves faith-based organizations and provides seating for healthcare, event venues, funeral homes and other industries.

Whether it is a hairdressing salon, doctor's office, law firm or business office, the visitors sometimes have to wait their turn in each of these places. Therefore, when designing the space, it is worth taking care of an impressive and comfortable arrangement of the waiting room. Why is this so important? What kind of furniture will work best? Classic chairs like the ones in hotel conference rooms? Or maybe soft seats, lounge chairs and sofas? In this article, we suggest what to consider when choosing furniture for your waiting room &#; check it out.

Waiting room furniture &#; why is it so important?

The design of public interiors, where customers are received, inevitably involves the issue of furnishing a waiting room. Whether it is a doctor's office, beauty salon or any other office, it is a good idea to set aside some space where customers or patients can comfortably wait for an appointment. The design of the interior directly affects the sense of comfort of those waiting, but it also affects the image of the company. The waiting room is, in a sense, the business card of the company and its decor is responsible for the first impression. The choice of furniture should be well thought out &#; matched to the size and style of the room.

Whether you opt for comfortable chairs or elegant armchairs or lounge sofas, remember that great design is not everything. You should also pay attention to the practical aspect. Waiting room furniture should be made of durable materials and easy to clean. Then, they can be an investment for long years to come.

What is the best furniture to choose for a waiting room?

Both comfortable hotel armchairs, stylish seats for several people, as well as lounge sofas will work well in this role. Everything depends on the size and layout of the interior. A good choice for an intimate reception area will be soft, fabric upholstered conference chairs, as well as seats for several people, such as benches from the Sky_Line or Fendo collection. It is an impressive, comfortable and practical solution. You can conveniently personalise the furniture in most of our series by deciding, among other things, on: 

• the type of construction,
• the length of the bench,
• the colour and material of the seats,
• the type of backrest.

Optionally, you can also install a top in place of the seat. In this way, you can easily match the furnishings to the style and size of the interior.

On the other hand, if you have a larger waiting room, lounge chairs and sofas such as the ones from the Legvan line are a good idea. Many interesting solutions can also be found in the Plint and Quadra collections. Soft modular furniture give unlimited arrangement possibilities and provide customers with maximum comfort while waiting for an appointment. To further enhance your guests' time in the waiting room, complement the seating with coffee tables. This way, they will be able to comfortably enjoy a cup of coffee, use the water dispenser, or flip through magazines.

Find your waiting room furniture in the Bejot collections

In search of inspiration for the arrangement of a waiting room, check out the latest collections of office furniture by Bejot. The manufacturer's proposals include comfortable hotel chairs, stylish benches, lounge chairs and sofas, as well as coffee tables and many other interesting solutions. You can order furniture through domestic and international distributors. See our full offer and feel free to contact us if you have any questions &#; we will be happy to advise you.

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