Suggestions to Spruce Up Your Office
These are not in any particular order, but more like a brainstorm...
- New coat of warm-colored paint in your waiting area (Many times just one wall is enough, and this is something you can knock out in one weekend afternoon.)
- New painting or photograph on the wall (This doesn’t need to be expensive by any means, people just like fresh.)
- New throw pillow (or two) on the sofa (Again, no need to spend much. Just something warm and cozy is an improvement.)
- Do you have a rug? (The more homey the front of your office feels, the better patients will feel in your office.)
- A side table with a lamp does wonders for the lighting in a dental office (to counterbalance the florescent lighting with some warmer light tones).
- A few magazine subscriptions (if you don’t already have a few on the table)
- A bowl of breathmints
- Speaking of refreshments, a Flavia Coffee Machine is a great and unique addition to an office.... It brews single cups of coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. It’s easy to use and easy to maintain (or so we’re told). This, plus a little (inexpensive) refrigerator with bottled water, is very nice. (When you have these kinds of smaller yet special touches in your waiting area and throughout your office, you can market them as wonderful amenities/benefits of your office.)
- If you see enough children to make this worth it, a basket with some children’s books and toys can be helpful for keeping kids occupied (and parents appreciative). Several of our clients have bought new or used video games for a corner of their waiting area, too.
- Scented candles burning in the waiting area and even in your operatories are another very inexpensive way to make your office feel nicer.
- Background music – like soothing instrumental – is another nice touch.
Just think ambience, like in a restaurant or store that makes you feel good because of things that we’ve mentioned here (music, nice lighting, etc.). Today’s dental offices are changing and ambience is becoming more and more important. Some offices will spend a lot of money on remodeling and fancy purchases, but most of the suggestions on this list above can be accomplished on a minimal budget to make your practice more marketable.
