A common complaint from patients entering a medical office is that it feels so sterile, like a hospital. As a medical or dental office, you want your patients to feel comfortable and welcomed, and you can easily achieve that through your office design and furniture selection.
Typically, traditional medical office furniture is uninspiring, leaving the office with no positive vibes. Visions of metal chairs lined up against the wall covered in vinyl really doesn’t make a great statement. Yes, it is functional, but it does not enhance your patients’ experience.
Quality, meet function and style. It’s true, you can and should have all three. Follow these simple tips on selecting furniture and your office can start making the great impression you’ve been missing out on.
Variety: Incorporate a variety of seating choices for a visually appealing, homey feel. When you walk into a medical office, it’s best to have a choice of seating, such as a love seat, open and closed arm chairs, or even a couch. Or, if you opt for all the same seating, make sure it’s a comfortable choice.
Fabric: Out with the vinyl, in with the fabric. Choose a pleasing, coordinating color scheme to bring into furniture patterns that coincide with the overall aesthetic.
Quality vs budget: Medical office furniture gets a lot of use, so it’s worth it to pay a little more for quality seating in such a high traffic area. While you may be tempted to buy a cheaper option, you will lose your money in the long-run due to wear and tear and replacing pieces.
Contract furniture will offer a stronger frame and greater upholstery support, thus being more durable and a better investment.
Where you can save money is on accessories, tables, and lamps. Opt for stylish or classic pieces from an affordable home décor store and be sure to avoid custom pieces.
Greenery: While greenery is clearly not furniture, it is important enough to be mentioned in the furniture selection tips because of how much it adds to a medical office and waiting room. Whenever possible, add a little life with live, low-maintenance indoor plants, such as:
- Aloe
- Spider plant
- English ivy
- Ficus
- Shamrock plant
- Areca palm
- Peace lily
- Rubber tree
It’s time to rethink your medical office furniture selections and start bringing intention, quality, and comfort into your business. Contact Apex Design Build to schedule a free consultation with a project specialist.