What your office or business looks like tells a client or colleague a lot about you and your brand.  If you want to influence how people perceive your company, here are some tips from the design gurus as IKEA, the global furnishings retailer.

Waiting area

• Chairs are better than sofas because people are more comfortable in individual spaces.  Washable slipcovers or wipe-clean leather are good material choices.
• Provide enough space for visitor coats and hats.  A wall-mounted fixture saves space and looks better than a coat tree.
• Give people something to do while waiting.  A neat and organized bulletin board is a good way to share important information.  Magazines stored in magazine organizers keep visitors entertained and the waiting area tidy.
• A reception desk created using kitchen cabinets is cost-effective, stylish, and functional.

Display area

• Use lighting to highlight or frame your products.  Spotlights mounted on the ceiling or on a line system are good ways to do this.
• Corner shelves not only utilize "dead" space, but also create a unique and clean display area.
• Photo frames are a classy way to display information you want visitors to see, e.g. business hours, price lists, product details.

Work Space

• If your work area has few or no windows, liven up the space by adding a touch of nature.  It can be a plant, an aquarium, a vase with flowers, or a bowl of fruit. You can group several plants to create a dramatic focal point that, depending on placement, either accentuates something of interest in your work area or distracts the eye from an unattractive feature of the space.
• Pull-down shades mounted on shelves or cabinets can quickly hide clutter when visitors arrive.
• Baskets are perfect - and attractive - for storing small items.
• Textiles are a dramatic and cost-effective way to make a decorating statement.  Use them to decorate walls or to divide spaces by hanging textiles from the ceiling.  You can even hide an ugly ceiling with textiles!