Best Therapist Office Decor Ideas

Looking for therapist office decor ideas and inspiration? 

In this article, we’ll share therapy office décor tips and suggestions to help you plan your new office or update your existing office with some fresh interior design.

The choices mental health professionals make for therapy office design can affect the way your clients feel. 

Your therapy office decor choices are an important part of creating a calming and welcoming therapeutic space. 

Incorporating elements like artwork, plants, and cozy textures can contribute to a serene atmosphere that encourages open communication and emotional healing.

By designing a space that exudes warmth and tranquility, therapists can enhance the overall therapeutic experience and support clients in their journey towards mental well-being.

What’s more, mental health therapist office 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 décor ideas to create a unique, inviting, well-designed, and clinically-appropriate space that’s comfortable for both you and your clients. 

Top therapy office decor tips 

Here are some therapist office décor ideas to help you get started:

1. All artwork on your walls says something about you

Therapists should give careful consideration to the wall art for therapist offices they choose. 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 clients who are the best fit for 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.

Incorporating soothing visuals and motivational messages can help clients feel at ease while reflecting on their thoughts and emotions. 

For budget-conscious therapists looking for artwork, 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, woven wall hangings, or even shelves with books and decorative objects.

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

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 therapist 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 decor 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.

5. Decor should be personal…but not too personal

Therapists may be concerned about integrating therapist office decor ideas and including items in their office that are too personal. 

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

However, if your office 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. 

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

Don’t be afraid to also source therapy office decor 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

Finally, when it comes to creating a sense of comfort and safety for your clients with therapy office decor, pillows and throws can add comfort, personality, and dimension to a space. 

Many stores have inexpensive options, but be mindful to ensure 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 decorative throw pillowcase, 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, so you can easily clean them and keep them 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.

Implementing some of these therapist office decor ideas will help you create a welcoming and soothing atmosphere that can help clients feel more at ease, leading to more productive and beneficial therapy sessions.

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