• Therapist Office Decorating Ideas

    plants and comfortable chair with various other therapy office furniture in a therapist office space

    Looking for therapist office decorating ideas and inspiration? In this article, we’ll share suggestions, tips, and therapy office decor ideas to help you plan your new office or update your existing office with some modern office ideas.

    The choices you make for your therapy office design can affect the way your clients feel. Your decorating choices are an important part of creating a calming and welcoming therapeutic space. What’s more, the decor sends a message about who you are as a clinician. 

    You don’t have to be an expert (or even hire one) to make savvy and stylish decorating choices. You can  use these therapist office decorating ideas to create a unique, inviting, well-designed, clinically-appropriate space that’s comfortable for both you and your clients. 

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    Top therapy office decor ideas 

    These therapist office decor ideas can help you get started:

    1. All artwork on your walls says something about you

    When considering what to put up in your professional office, office decor ideas should be given a lot of thought. Keep in mind that anything you put on your office walls will say something about you.

    Many therapists say they don’t want the art in their office to be distracting. However, hanging generic art might send the wrong message too.

    With generic art choices, your clients might presume you are inauthentic, and they may find it more difficult to connect with you. Creating an authentic therapy brand is key to attracting the clients who are the best fit with your expertise and areas of specialty.

    Therefore, it’s important to take time to choose art pieces that represent you, in a way that is both interesting and professional.

    For budget conscious options, consider an online retailer like Minted or Society6. Both sell art prints, some of which are already framed. These retailers have many design styles too—just type in some of your favorite art styles in the search bar (such as abstract, landscape, or graphic), and you’re bound to find an artistic representation that fits your taste.

    Remember, art isn’t the only thing you can put on the walls in your office.

    Consider using textiles like rugs, tapestries, or woven wall hangings, or even shelves with books and decorative objects.

    Mirrors tend to be less expensive than art too, but be mindful about the placement of mirrors—neither you nor your client should be able to see yourselves during the session.

    mirror, hutch, and plants in therapist office

    2. Don’t hang art too high

    If you Google “how to hang art,” you’ll find page after page of designers lamenting about art hung too high.

    The “rule” is to hang art at eye level, which is rather confusing given that everyone’s eyes are at different levels.

    The standard measurement is to center the work 57 inches from the floor. However, in a therapy office, both you and your client will most likely be sitting down, meaning that your eye levels will be lower.

    Low-hanging art is currently on-trend as well.

    3. Keep your plants alive

    Plants are often included among therapy office decor ideas because they  literally add life to your space.

    Clients come to therapy sessions in order to thrive and live their best lives.

    Many plants, like succulents, are very low-maintenance and nearly impossible to kill. And some don’t even need light to survive—making them perfect to adorn an interior office. 

    Besides succulents, snake plants are also known for being incredibly resilient. You can leave them unattended for months, and when you start taking care of them again, they bounce back beautifully—a metaphorical parallel to our work as clinicians. 

    Alternatively, decorating your therapy office with fake plants or not taking care of  your plants can communicate an implicit visual message about you and your practice.

    4. Two clocks are better than one 

    When it comes to thinking specifically about therapist office ideas, two clocks are recommended: one that you can see and one that your clients can see.

    Strategically-placed clocks are helpful to both you and your clients.

    But, be sure they’re not ticking clocks, as the constant tick-tick-ticking can be an unwelcome distraction during a session.

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    5. Decor should be personal…but not too personal

    Many therapists may be concerned about integrating therapist office decorating ideas and including decor items that are too personal. 

    Of course, it’s important that your space  focuses on your clients’ needs and comfort.

    However, if your space is too impersonal, it might also send an unintentional message to clients that you are distant, detached, or difficult to connect with. While there are different theoretical frameworks that inform how much information clinicians should disclose about themselves to clients, no matter what, your space should say something about you.

    In my office, I keep woven baskets that my sister made, a photo taken by an artist friend whose work I admire, a lampshade from my mom, and a plant stand from my grandmother. 

    None of my clients would ever know where these pieces came from, but the objects mean a great deal to me, and they contribute to the soothing and comfortable effect I’m trying to evoke in my space. 

    furniture, books, and plant decor creating a comfy environment for talk therapy

    6. Authentic decor doesn’t need to be expensive decor

    Don’t be afraid to also source therapist office decorating ideas from big box stores. 

    Target is a favorite of mine for well-designed decor that looks a lot more expensive than it costs. Then, I mix these items in with authentic art and/or objects and decor with handcrafted or natural elements. If you’re feeling creative, some of these additional elements can even be completely free, like branches added to planters.

    Books also make great decorative accents, and you probably already have lots of them. The books you display give your client a glimpse into your training and the theoretical frameworks that inform your work. Remove the book jacket and you’ll often find elegant bindings that are perfect to display. 

    I like to arrange books by color, stack three together, and place a decorative piece on top—like a ceramic bowl or a vase with a cutting from your yard.

    7. Include soft elements

    When it comes to modern office ideas, pillows and throws add personality and dimension to a space. 

    Many stores have inexpensive options, but be careful that the texture is not scratchy or rough, since some clients will use your pillows to place on top of them or hold in their arms. If you purchase a pillow case, buy an insert that’s two inches larger so that it stays plump. You might also consider choosing a pillow case cover and pillow insert that are machine washable in order to make it easy to keep clean and sanitary over time.

    I recently purchased two vintage textile pillows from Etsy. A therapist friend and fellow textile lover shared with me that the artisans who create the textiles never throw anything away—instead, they simply keep patching and repairing—making this a beautiful metaphor for therapy and the therapeutic process.

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    READ NEXT: The Best Colors to Use in Therapy Office Design

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