Reception Desks & Stations

A reception desk is the first piece of furniture a visitor meets, and the place where your front-desk staff spend the whole day. It has to work from both sides. Visitors need a raised transaction counter to sign in or hand over paperwork. Staff behind it need a full worksurface, storage, and room for a computer and phone. This collection covers our reception desks and reception stations from Office Star Products, Regency Office Furniture, and Corp Design, in contemporary, transitional, and traditional styles.

Reception desk styles

L-shaped reception stations

An L-shaped reception desk adds a return at a right angle, which gives staff a second surface for a printer, files, or a second workstation. The Napa and Napa White L-shape reception stations combine a 71-inch reception desk shell and a 42-inch return. They come with either two hanging box/file pedestals or full pedestals, single-key locking, wire management, and pre-installed metal filing hardware.

Straight reception desks

Straight desks suit narrower lobbies and single-person front desks. Options include the 71-inch Legacy reception desks with single pedestal, double full pedestal, or double box/file pedestal storage, plus Napa reception desk shells in 71-inch and compact 48-inch widths. The Potenza rectangular reception desk comes with either a laminate or white glass transaction top.

Curved reception desks

The Potenza curved reception desk has an inside-curved worksurface and a bow-front white glass transaction top that appears to float above the desk. An extension, sold separately, lengthens it for a second staff position. It is offered in five laminate colors and meets ANSI/BIFMA quality standards.

Traditional reception desks

The Townsend Traditional reception desk is built in American walnut veneers with a Royal Cherry finish. It has a parquet veneer top, solid hardwood picture-frame molding, and two box/box/file pedestals. It suits law firms, financial offices, and any front desk that should match traditional private-office furniture.

Glass tops and add-on stations

Several pieces here add to a desk you already have. The Napa glass floating top and the 48-inch glass top fit Napa reception desk shells. The Townsend reception station sits on a 72 by 36 inch desk to create a raised visitor counter. Return shells let you extend an existing Napa reception desk into an L-shape.

Planning the front desk

Work out how many people will sit at the desk at peak times, then allow room behind it for chairs to roll back and for staff to get in and out. Decide which side the return or opening should face so staff can see the entrance. Then plan the waiting area alongside it with reception and guest chairs and waiting room tables. For a front-desk chair, browse office chairs. NextGen Furniture provides free space planning and wholesale pricing, and you can see more lobby furniture in lounge and reception furniture.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is a reception desk?

The visitor-side transaction counter on most reception desks is around 42 inches high, with a standard-height worksurface behind it for staff. In this collection, the Napa reception desks and stations measure 41 to 42 inches high and the Townsend reception desk measures 45.5 inches.

What is a transaction top?

It's the raised counter on the visitor side of a reception desk. It gives visitors a place to sign in, set down a bag, or pass paperwork, while screening the staff worksurface from view. The tops here come in laminate or glass.

What is the difference between a reception desk and a reception station?

The terms overlap. In this collection, a reception station usually means a complete grouping, such as an L-shape with a return and pedestals, or a raised counter piece that sits on an existing desk.

Can a reception desk be extended later?

Some can. Napa reception desk shells accept a matching return shell, and the Potenza curved desk has an optional extension. Check the product page for compatible pieces.

Can you help lay out our reception area?

Yes. NextGen Furniture offers free space planning. Send us the lobby dimensions and the number of front-desk staff, and we will suggest a desk and a layout.