Speech Therapy Door Decorations and More

Speech therapy door decorations can help bring a space to life and make your speech-language pathology (SLP) clients feel welcome from the moment they enter your room. 

The ambience we create in the therapy room sets the tone for treatment. 

Even if your speech room is the size of a closet (we’ve all been there!), there are plenty of ways to spruce it up, using tried-and-true speech therapy room decor ideas. 

Adorning your door and walls with speech- and language-themed accessories and sensory-friendly details will take your speech therapy room to the next level. 

Keep reading for tips on speech therapy door decorations and speech therapy room decor ideas that will create an inviting and safe environment for your clients. 

Speech therapy office decor ideas

Our surroundings can have major effects on our mood and overall well-being. You may not have control over the size of your therapy space, or whether it has a window or two, but you do get to decide the decor. 

Incorporating speech therapy door decorations is just one way you can improve the environment in your office. 

Here are some general principles and speech therapy room decor ideas that can transform your entire space. 

1. Keep it simple (and organized)

It’s easier for clients to keep calm and concentrate on their therapy goals when the speech room is organized and streamlined, so a clutter-free office is key.

When possible, keep tables and desks free of paperwork. Make use of file folders and cabinets to clear up counter space. 

If you work in a school setting, the first week back is a great time to sort through and discard papers or materials that no longer serve you or your clients. Remember that less is more! 

One small therapy office design hack that works wonders involves using a cute shower curtain to hide distracting games or materials. You can pull it aside when it’s time for a fun activity, but keep it closed throughout the rest of the session. 

Organizing is also about setting clear expectations. A calendar, timer, and whiteboard can be helpful to provide structure and cues about the session agenda and what’s ahead.

2. Add a splash of color

A few well-selected posters that bring speech and language concepts to life can go a long way. Consider visuals that explain the structure of the speech mechanism or a narrative arc—concepts that can feel abstract without an image, especially for kids.

One of the best ways for SLPs to liven up the therapy space is by including artwork that their clients have created. 

In my own practice, I’ve found that many of the students who come to me for speech and language services possess boundless artistic talent. It’s empowering for these children to tap into their visuospatial skills during sessions. 

Whether you’re targeting articulation, fluency, or narrative language, it’s easy to design a therapy activity around an art project—and it’s an added bonus when that art can enhance your speech therapy room decor.  

3. Make it sensory-friendly

Ideally, your speech therapist office design should align with your clients’ sensory needs. Taking into account elements like lighting and scent makes a difference. 

Consider bringing in a lamp that creates soft light—an alternative to the harsh overhead lighting typical of many offices. If you have the space, a bean bag chair) can serve as a sensory break spot.

Hanging posters or visuals that encourage mindfulness exercises, like breathing or yoga, can also be beneficial. 

Try putting up a “Zones of Regulation” chart to support clients in identifying their own state of activation and strengthening self-awareness. 

Placing carefully curated visual supports like these around a speech therapy office can be transformative.

Objects to describe speech therapy

It can be tough to visualize speech and language. For kids, these are abstract concepts. That’s why it’s so important to leverage speech therapy room decor ideas to bring speech to life. 

Speech therapy door decorations are one tool in the toolbox. But SLPs can also use objects to describe speech therapy—or to make speech-language pathology more fun! 

For clients working on articulation, a mouth puppet that shows the articulators is essential. It’s a must for any speech therapy room and can serve as a cute decoration, too. A poster that details the speech mechanism from the lips to the lungs pairs well with the puppet. 

A mirror is also a great addition to a speech room. It’s helpful for kids to see their own tongue, lips, and teeth as they work on sounds like /s/ and /r/. Posters that describe places of articulation or incorporate lists of words with target phonemes (plus images) take it to the next level. 

If expressive or receptive language are the focus of therapy, try adding a narrative-themed poster with “first,” “next,” “then,” and “last.” You can help kids engage in storytelling or listening comprehension by using the poster as a visual support. 

One accessory that should be in every SLP’s room is a bookshelf. Books of all kinds are some of the best tools for speech therapy—regardless of the goal area. And a bookcase lined with colorful titles will make any speech room a little more vibrant. Even a small therapy office design can get a boost from a bookshelf. 

Some objects in the speech therapy room are dedicated to enhancing client progress through fun games or tasks, and they can also brighten up your walls. A basketball hoop or dartboard can serve as reinforcers during therapy or a reward at the end of a session. 

Games of all kinds, from Monopoly to Jenga to Tic Tac Toe, are easy to integrate into speech therapy. It’s also nice to have a stash of sensory objects (fidgets and kinetic sand are always winners) on hand. These accessories contribute to your office decor, but it’s a good idea to  have a storage space to tuck them away when they’re not in use.

Speech therapy door decoration ideas

The sky’s the limit when it comes to decorating your speech room door. Go all-in with a theme and change it up throughout the year, or keep it simple and organized. 

You may feel overwhelmed scrolling through speech therapy door decoration ideas. Where do you begin? If you work in a school, the start of the year is already full of tasks to complete. Finding the time to decorate can feel like a luxury.

But carving out a moment to dress up your door is worth it. It’s the first thing you’ll see when you walk in the room at the start of the day. And it’s the first thing your clients will see when they meet with you for speech therapy.

1. Hanging door knob signs

One simple way to elevate your speech room door is by adding a hanging sign that attaches to the door knob. You can make one yourself or go with one that’s pre-made. 

Some signs incorporate just the SLP’s name on the hanger, while others offer a “Where is the SLP?” function. You can attach a clothespin to the sign to let others know if you’re in a meeting, in a session, out of the building, or available. This is a practical and easy option to spruce up an ordinary door.

2. Themed DIY speech therapy door decorations

If you’re feeling ambitious, try covering your whole door with a theme! Choose one look that lasts all year or opt for seasonal decor that you can swap out every few months. 

To decorate your own door, you’ll need some basic supplies: poster board, colored butcher paper, crepe paper, glue and glue dots, scissors, tape, and measuring tape. 

For a seasonal design, we love a good pumpkin patch or blooming garden with WH (who, what, when, where, why) questions, verbs, adjectives, or letters that clients are working on. 

In the winter, “Talking in a Winter Wonderland” or “Speech is Snow Cool!” themes are always crowd pleasers. 

In May (Better Speech and Hearing Month), SLPs can dress up an office door with fun facts about speech and language. 

Year-round themes like “Oh the Places You’ll Go…With Better Speech and Language” or “Speech Students Arrrrr Great” (with pirates) can be fun, too. 

There are plenty of templates and DIY guides online to help crafty speech therapists design a door that sparkles. 

3. Multipurpose door displays

Speech therapy office design should be both visually appealing and functional. The same is true of the entryway to your space. 

Over-the-door hanging file organizers are a great way to both add some color to a room and keep paperwork organized. 

The speech room door is also a fantastic place to show off client work. Whether it’s a piece of art, short story, or certificate of achievement, seeing that accomplishment first thing upon arriving at therapy has an impact. 

It feels great to lift client spirits and give that office door a little extra shine at the same time. 

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READ NEXT: 

• How to Start a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) Private Practice
• How to Create a Play Therapy Room