Just the Peaks

This newsletter at a glance 

  • When entering a building, the lobby is the first thing visitors notice
  • The world’s best lobbies create ambiance while conveying security
  • Everest helps you set the perfect tone when designing your entryway

 

When it comes to lobby design, experts say: ‘First impressions are everything’
Follow these top tips for appointing a beautiful multifamily reception
 
Just like a luxury hotel or corporate office, the lobby of your multifamily sends a powerful message. A well-designed space should give guests a feeling of ‘arrival’ every time they walk through the door. It also tells visitors a lot about the people who own and maintain the building—that is, the very people prospective renters will be dealing with.
 
“The way you decorate this lobby has the power to make or break your facility because you only get one chance in making an excellent first impression,” says a writer at 2ndKitchen. “Whether you pick a Victorian, contemporary, minimalist, or any other style, you must do your best effort to create an enticing lobby to welcome residents.”
 
The last thing you want is for a potential buyer to perceive lack of care. Lobbies that are bare, dirty, smelly, or otherwise neglected may stop a deal in its tracks. Not to mention, current tenants want to feel safe and secure. The place they call home should not only be clean and inviting, but also beautiful—a reflection of their money well spent.
 
Luckily, extending a warm welcome doesn’t necessarily require a huge investment.

 
 
Making a grand entrance
 
Interior design gurus say the best lobbies incorporate both functionality and design. But unlike a hotel, which requires an extensive reception area, restrooms, and luggage carriers, your building’s needs will vary depending on its size and class.
 
For instance, furniture, lighting, paint colors, and wall art are always relevant. These aesthetic decisions have a direct impact on your guests’ mood and opinion of the building from the moment they enter. But when it comes to more complex features such as onsite amenities and security services, your options may be limited.
 
When planning your multifamily reception, incorporate as many of the following suggestions as possible. Whether you’re dealing with a luxury tower or modest apartment building, Everest whips up a recipe for design success.
 
 
 

Tips for Designing the Perfect Multifamily Lobby
 
Have a dedicated reception
 
 
Whether it’s an elaborate built-in or small table in the corner, every lobby should have some sort of centralized desk. In high-end buildings, this serves as a workspace for hired receptionists who welcome tenants, direct guests, manage deliveries, and more.
 
But even in smaller buildings without staff or doormen, the reception is a place for individuals to congregate. Instead of wandering aimlessly and posing a security threat, outsiders (such as delivery people) will naturally gravitate to the empty table or counter. Here, they can leave food, boxes, business cards, and the like.
 
 
Use lighting to set the tone
 
 
No matter your individual style of décor, there are certain design elements that are universally appealing. While cool white lighting works well to showcase products or illuminate a kitchen, experts say warmer shades create a more welcoming ambiance.
 
“Yellow lights create a more luxurious feel,” according to 2ndKitchen. “If you want to go the extra mile, install attractive light fixtures that draw the eye.”
 
 
Bring nature indoors
 
A touch of green is all people need to feel happy. Science proves that the mere presence of plants, trees, flowers, and other greenery is enough to elevate the mood in a room. Housing shrubbery inside your lobby also helps improve air quality all year long.
 
If you’re worried about the upkeep of your plants, opt for hardy perennials that require minimal maintenance and light. Bonsai trees, succulents, and ponytail palms need very little water to survive, making them perfect for an unattended lobby.
 
 
Take risks with art
 
All too often, paintings, photographs, sculptures, and other works of art are plopped into a space arbitrarily. Building owners use them to fill up blank spaces, and everything just blends into the background. Why invest in art if it’s just going to disappear?
 
When decorating your lobby, choose meaningful art that reflects the ambiance you are trying to create. In the country’s most sought-after boutique and luxury apartments, we’re seeing neon lights, graffiti, abstract light installations, and other unexpected flair.
 
 
Don’t skimp on furniture
 
 
Above all else, lobbies are for waiting. Whether you’re waiting for a friend, ride, or restaurant delivery, there’s nothing worse than having to stand around. Even if you’re short on space, you want furniture to provide ample comfort and durability.
 
This is a well-used area of the building, so invest in sofas, chairs, and ottomans made of thick, durable, stain-resistant materials. Skip the cheap stuff and pay more for oversized fixtures that will accommodate guests of all shapes and sizes. And it goes without saying: quality furniture is not only comfortable, but also beautiful.
 
 
Keep it clean
 
It doesn’t make a difference if your building is brand new or decades old. Clean is clean. If there is dirt on the ground, stains on the sofa, streaks on the windows, and cobwebs forming on the walls, visitors will undoubtedly notice.
 
Maintaining high-traffic lobbies with hundreds of people passing through each day is difficult, but not impossible. If you can’t afford to hire a daily cleaning service, managers can perform short walk-throughs every few hours to pick up trash, straighten pillows, wipe down the reception desk, and take note of more serious messes. Then, let the professionals do more thorough cleaning on a weekly or monthly basis.

 
 
Don’t forget the freebies
 
True hospitality means generosity. Your tenants will appreciate fine furnishings, cool artwork, and a clean environment. But nothing will make them happier than the feeling of being catered to. This is exactly why you need a ‘freebie’ station.
 
Experts say a free coffee bar, water station, or cookie platter makes a world of difference. Passing through the lobby will give residents a joyful boost of energy while also instilling in them with a sense of pride. Every time their guests comment on your special gifts, tenants will remember how lucky they are to live there.
 
 
Everest says: lay out the welcome mat