Give your brand a boost with these tips for decorating your office.

In this article we’re going to take a look at what branding in your office could look like. For this, we picked two different brands – one is bright, clean and modern, the other is warm, rustic and authentic. We will look at different areas of the clinic and how we can incorporate the brand into the decor and design of the space.

The Brands

Here are the two logos with their respective moodboards. The moodboards will guide us along the way when we’re trying to decide on colors and styles. We will keep the two brands next to each other in each section so they’re easy to compare (unless you’re on a tablet or phone, then you’ll see the Full Potential brand first and the Grove brand below). Not all the items you’ll see in an image will work for your office. Just be inspired by the way the space feels.

You can find the source images for both brands on our Pinterest board.

1. Welcome area & reception

It’s pretty much the first impression your patients get of your office. Make it bright and welcoming. Many doctors choose an inspirational wall decal or even their mission statement on a wall. Sometimes a wall paper just on the wall behind the reception desk can set the mood for the whole room and office.

There are some great ides on the internet for rustic desks, some made from recycled wood pallets. Combine a desk like this with some warm wall colors form your moodboard, like a champagne or warm off white.
We love the idea of having a lower area to be able to talk to smaller practice members.

Why not buy a few extra chargers and invite your patients to leave their phones at the front desk?

Make sure your patients have a place for their jackets, hats and umbrellas when they enter your clinic. That way they don’t have to carry it around with them.

Stained wood and railroad ties for the win. Make sure to have lower level hooks for your small patients as well, and encourage their independence.

2. Waiting room

Hopefully, you’re patients won’t spend a lot of time waiting. However, sometimes things take a little longer. Especially when you’re dealing with children. Make sure your waiting room is comfortable and inviting.

Rustic, yet modern and clean. Dark colors work great, if there’s enough light. You can make it comfortable without getting all whimsical about it. The leather couch and chairs work great with the wood. And don’t forget some plants! They’ll make any space come more alive!

3. Play area

Ooh, my favorite part to write about. With my two kids I’ve been to quite a few doctors offices besides my chiropractor – dentists, my daughter’s ophthalmologist, etc. And it’s always surprising to me how little thought some offices put into the waiting room, considering the amount of kids they see in their offices and the amount of time those kids have to spend there sometimes. Now, I know you don’t want to keep your patients waiting or hope they’ll spend their morning in your office, but keeping kids entertained won’t just make their visits go a little smoother. It will make the parents feel a little more relaxed too, making adjustments a tiny bit easier. My son’s favorite part about going to the chiropractor when he was little was to be able to play with the train table in the waiting room.

It doesn’t have to be a big space and a ton of toys, and if you put some thought into it, you can even brand the kids corner in your office. Pick some shelves that match your brand, add accessories like pillows, blankets, kids art work, stuffed animals, etc that match your brand colors and you’re set. See below some of our favorite waiting room toys.

Bright and natural

Calm corner

Some kids enjoy snuggle corners. A big pillow on the floor, a book shelf that’s easily accessible, maybe even a canopy to hide under, you don’t need a lot of space to make it comfortable. If you add a comfortable chair and a nursing pillow, it could even double as a nursing nook for breastfeeding mamas. Maybe a curtain can give even more privacy. You could even open that space up to ANY nursing mama that happens to be in your neighborhood with a hungry baby. I would’ve fed my babies anywhere, but some moms and babies appreciate some more privacy. If you know a nursing momma arrived at your office, offer some water and maybe even a snack (some nuts or seeds, etc). This small gesture will make her day. Make sure there’s some literature about chiropractic for postpartum moms, babies and children within reach.
If you set it up right, you could even use the space to host a nursing group with a local lactation consultant.

4. Toy ideas

OK, this isn’t really about branding, but it’s just so much fun. This section could easily be its own blog post. And I might just do that in the future.

Here’s what we love to see in doctors offices:

1. Chiropractic toys

Of course there’s no better way to explain the premise of chiropractic care than with toys. Even kids will be able to “get it” with these wonderful wooden toys. And nobody will refuse to get on those chiropractic tables.

2. Building toys

We LOVE Kapla planks in our house. They are fun for any age group. You can store them in a big basket to match your brand. All pieces are EXACTLY the same, so you won’t be looking for that one missing piece to finish your Eiffel tower, and the kids won’t be fighting over who get’s to use the pink pieces. You can easily add new pieces. And you can post challenges for the kids (and the parents). There are LOTS of ideas online. You can print out a picture and ask patients if they can build it. But be aware, it might be hard to pull them away from it.

Besides Kapla, there are other loose part toys, like clothes pins, popsicle sticks, rocks, wood slices, etc. Google, or look on Pinterest for “Loose parts ideas” and you’ll find something that’s easy to put together.

3. Balancing toys

Not only are they fun and great for the nervous system, they’ll also give you as a doctor a chance to observe the kids in action and assess their gross motor skills – how well do they move, do they prefer one side over the other, how is the balance, how do they hold their head, can they raise their arms, etc. You know better what to look for. It could be as simple as a balancing beam that’s just a couple inches off the ground.

4. Jungle Gyms

If you have the budget and space, you can take the balance thing to the next level, quite literally, and install a jungle gym. A climbing wall or just some monkey bars might be good options, too.

5. Wall games

If you have the wall space, why not hang up some games. We love cooperative games. These types of games require at least two people to work together. Other ideas are a big scrabble game on the wall, where patients can add a word if they feel like it. Or a chalk wall, if you’re not afraid of the possible mess. Kids will LOVE it!

6. Toddler and baby corner

Let’s not forget about the tiniest members of your practice. Babies probably won’t need much entertainment besides mom or dad, but a soft blanket that’s rolled up on a shelf with some soft toys might come in handy. Toddlers on the other hand can be hard to keep up with sometimes. Having a busy board or a basket with busy bags will keep even the most inquisitor toddler, well, busy – and it might give the parents a little break before their adjustment. How about hosting a busy bag exchange at the office, invite moms from your community and include a “why take your kid to the chiropractor”  presentation or brochure somewhere…

5. Child-proofing

Speaking of tiniest members. If I have to worry about my crawler swallowing a bead or pulling down a lamp from a table, I won’t be able to relax a whole lot. It seams like no-brainer, but if you’re seeing families with small children, please baby-proof you office, or at least one room. Maybe you can turn one bigger room into a special family room. Here are the basics about creating a safe environment for your small practice members:

1. Go wireless

No cables within reach. If some cables are required, combined them and hide them as best as you can.

2. Secure the sockets

A cheap and easy way to make sure your office is safe, but it’s nevertheless often overlooked.

3. Put locks on doors

Another no-brainer. If there are rooms you don’t want kids to enter, lock them

4. Keep an eye on clutter

Paper clips, push pins, pens/pencils, batteries, loose change, etc.—all random materials that could present a dangerous situation should be picked up and put in a safe area. Good rule of thumb, if something is small enough to fit inside a toilet paper roll, it is a choking hazard.

5. Furniture and stairs

• Make sure bookcases, shelves – anything capable of tipping over onto a child – are securely fastened to the wall.
• Never put furniture, large toys (anything your child is able to climb) near banisters or railings – anything that your child could climb up and over.
• Place corner protectors on sharp edges such as tables.
• Install gates to block off stairs.

6. Message board

Wall decals are a great idea for your mission statement. But for inspirational quotes, did-you-knows and similar messages we prefer something with a little more style. And of course, you can change the message every week. Or every day if you like.

Chalk bards are a great way to give your messages a personal look. But you need somebody with neat handwriting in the office.

7. Bathroom

Branding your bathroom will most likely be done with accessories like towels and baskets because a lot of times you won’t be able to replace counters and sinks.

But here are a few things we think every family practice should have in the bathroom:

1. Toilet seat for little people

You can find toilet seats that have a built-in smaller seat that lifts up when not needed.

2. Step stool

For the sink and for the toilet. Seriously, parents will appreciate it and kids love being independent.

3. Washable towels.

OK, this one should be in every bathroom. Because the planet needs our help. You can either hang up one towel like you do at home and change it every day. Or you provide a basket with small towels (washcloths are probably big enough to dry your hands) and a bigger basket under the sink where to throw the used ones. Then you wash them all at the end of the week.

4. Changing table

Add some diapers, wet wipes and maybe even breast pads. While we would encourage mommas to use cloth diapers, wipes and pads, you never know when you can be stuck without one and a major blowout on your hands (no pun intended). Parents in need will appreciate it and see that you care. And a changing table gives you a chance to decorate your bathroom a bit.

A clever bathroom shelf like this can hold all kinds of things with style.

Baskets really come in handy to hide clutter of all kinds: extra toilet paper, extra towels, or dirty ones, diapers, etc.

8. Room dividers

If you have an open floor plan with multiple tables in one room for patients after their initial consultation, you might want to consider room dividers to give each patient a bit more privacy without having to have separate rooms. If done right, room dividers can really enhance the ambiance of your office and add to the overall impression. And of course, they can be branded.

This recycled palette wall is a great DIY project. Plus if you add some pictures frames, it can double as a patient gallery. And that chest looks like a great place to hide some toys.

9. Patient Gallery

Having a patient gallery not only brightens your office, it also creates social proof for first-time patients. Seeing the happy faces of you with your patients will take away some of their nervousness about starting their chiropractic health care journey. Especially your little patients will enjoy finding a photo of themselves on your wall!

You could also include some written testimonials or success stories.

This one is a little more involved but looks stunning if you do it right. You can either go shopping for vintage-style frames at your local craft store, or go hunting at flea markets, thrift stores and garage sales.

10. Patient Education

You’ll probably have some kind of patient education material like a brochure. You can either hand them out to your patients on their first visit, have them on the counter on the receptions desk or in the waiting room, or have a wall rack where you can display more than one at a time.

Another great way to educate your patients is with posters, especially if they can double as office decoration. If you can’t find any that match your brand, try framing them.

Bonus tip: Accessories

When you’re on a budget or can’t make big changes to your practice space, accessories are the way to go. Here we compiled a few ideas that strengthen each of our sample brands .

As you can see, you can grow your brand with a bit of attention to details. Before you buy or order anything for your office, think about how it can improve your brand. In most cases you have choices, even with a limited budget.

Now it’s your turn. Share your ideas for creating a branded family practice in the comments!