For both big and small medical clinics, utilizing each square foot is a top priority to ensure patient comfort and prevent unnecessary crowding. Knowing how important space is can sometimes make bold theming feel difficult due to floor space restraints, low ceilings, or even just logistics in a very busy clinic – but we have good news! You can have a space-efficient practice AND theme it just as effectively by utilizing functional decor!
What is “functional decor”?
Any decor in your office with an additional purpose beyond being attractive can be considered functional decor. Be it seating that doubles as a themed sculpture, adorable characters that hold wayfinding signage, or a social media photo op that’s great for organic marketing – as long as the item can also be used in more than one way, it can be considered functional decor.
We have assembled 5 of our favorite functional decor ideas to help you re-imagine the potential of your medical office:
1. I Spy Murals for Waiting and Exam Rooms
Wait times can not always be avoided in a medical clinic. But there are ways to make waiting fun – such as using fun a distracting “I Spy” picture find game murals on your walls.
Children’s books are classic waiting activities that help distract children, but in a post-covid world where communal touchpoints have become something to be avoided, having a bright and colourful distraction, like an “I spy with my little eye” wall mural with an activity built right in, is a great alternative.
2. Themed Benches and Stools
Waiting room seating is a necessary item in every office. Providing different sizes of seating – from single seats to long benches – to accommodate single patrons and families, kids, and adults gives people options to make them comfortable.
Seeing as seating is, of course, non-negotiable, why not use it to your advantage by making it the centerpiece of your office theme?
Wrap an incredible tree sculpture in round plush seating…
Add a photo op character (with a relatable bump on the head or a broken bone) to long bench seating…
Or even transform your seating into themed props, like these cute mushrooms fitting in perfectly with this woodland office…
Don’t pass up the option of creating a bookshelf or a bit of storage in your benches as well, adding bonus functionality to your decor…
Themed seating is uniquely suited to immerse guests into your office environment as it is a sculpture they can interact with. It’s an obvious option if you’re looking for a way to transform your office into a fun and welcoming environment.
Love this idea? Us too! Check out some more examples of fun waiting room seating!
3. Wayfinding Signs Around the Office
Walking through the halls of a medical clinic or hospital is already stressful enough without the fear of taking a wrong turn. By having the signage held up by an eye-catching whimsical 2D or 3D character, not only are you allowing a playfulness that will lighten the mood, but it can also seamlessly tie your necessary signs into a theme creating a more immersive environment.
Bonus? The ability to hang from the ceiling is a great space-saving option. You’re really theming every square inch of your space when you take advantage of the ceiling tiles to direct traffic.
Wayfinding can consist of more than just traditional signs. Color-coding areas and decorating exam rooms with different themes is another great way to create an information system that guides people through your physical environment and enhances their understanding and experience of the space.
Patients may end up with a favorite room – will they prefer the orange beach room or the yellow sunken ship room?
4. Storytelling Reception Desk to Welcome Guests
First impressions count. The reception desk is the first thing your patients see when they walk through the door, setting the mood for their visit, so make it welcoming.
A welcome sign, a smiling character, a mural scene that tells a story – what a sterile reception desk can transform into a jungle adventure and tell an exciting story, drawing patients into your practice, while allowing your front desk staff to keep day-to-day operations running smoothly.
5. Height Chart Graphics
A silly height chart in the reception area is a great way to distract kids and their siblings as they wait for their appointments.
Nothing is quite as exciting to a child as growing another inch or 2 in height – comparing themselves to the height of a moose will make that ritual even more exciting.
Your clinic space truly holds endless potential when you begin to factor in the addition of functional decor. Whether your office is big or small, we can theme it all!
IDS theming is not an expense; it is an investment in your business. Valuing your patients and their families sets them up for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. And the environment you create can help you achieve a better patient experience.
Check out these related resources for ideas on theming your office:
How to Theme Your Office on a Budget
Whether Your Office is Big or Small, We Have Options to Theme It All