10 Design Insights to Create a Clinic You Love

Insight #1: Have a strong sense of brand identity

Good branding goes deeper than designing a logo and picking out brand colors. It also means knowing what you want your brand to feel like.

“When you’ve done the work to articulate that well, the design flows so much easier,” Meg says. Don’t know where to start? Think about the less tangible aspects of your brand, Neena suggests.

Your values and mission statement are a great kicking-off point!

Insight #2: Don’t feel bound by your brand colors

It’s okay to experiment with shades and tones outside of your brand palette.

Meg’s tip? Look at the brightest shade in your color palette and bring in some tonal colors (different shades of the same main color group) to add interest and variety.

Insight #3: When you lack natural light, go moody

We all know the benefits of natural light, but not all of the rooms in your clinic will have big windows. Conventional wisdom might suggest painting those rooms white and bright to offset the lack — but Meg and Neena have a different idea.

“People will stick to basic whites because they’re worried a space will feel darker or smaller,” Meg shares. “We encourage the opposite.”

Lean into what you have by going for deeper, richer colors — you’ll make the space feel intentionally cozy.

Insight #4: Mix and match your design materials

Playing with different textures will help you create a thoughtful, layered look, but you’ll want to achieve balance with how many materials you’re adding to a single room.

Door knobs, drawer handles, and faucets are good examples of elements that can remain consistent (i.e. use the same finish).

Wallpaper is another. Using a single wallpaper in different places throughout the room is better than using multiple — this will create a sense of cohesion that draws in the eye.

Insight #5: Organization precedes aesthetic

A lot of design hinges on organization. Does everything in your clinic have a home? List out all of your equipment and what you need to practice day-to-day, then find an accessible space to store it.

For example, if the “home” for your linens is at the very back of the highest shelf in your closet — chances are you’re not going to grab a ladder and put them away neatly every time. That’s how mess gets made!

However, accessible also doesn’t necessarily mean visible, either. Carts, for example, often begin as a convenient, portable surface, but can become a breeding ground for

random items — coffee cups, equipment, pens — leading to a messy look.

Insight #6: Updating design could mean evolving your practice

Change can be hard, yet it often paves the way for long-term improvements.

For example, if you’re finding it’s getting harder and harder to store paper files in your office, it might be time for a digital solution.

Or maybe you want to reconsider the traditional front desk altogether. If you’re a solo practitioner doing everything yourself, or using a virtual assistant rather than someone who comes in every day, you could reimagine the reception area into a cafe, product shop, or additional treatment room.

“A lot of practices are stuck doing what’s always been done,” Meg says. “But if we reallocate that space and get creative, [it might] create a much better flow and system. It often opens up more income generation.”

Insight #7: Think before you lease

Take some time to walk through and map out your space before you sign on the dotted line.

Is the space long and narrow? Is there enough room for a hallway and a treatment room?

Sometimes a location will hit your square footage requirements, but the layout and configuration will cause problems.

Other practical things to pay attention to are where the plumbing is and what the HVAC situation is. “These are the things that are going to cost a lot of money that you don’t get to see,” says Meg. Why spend thousands of dollars rerouting the HVAC system if you don’t have to?

Insight #8: Invest in your design

It might be your dream to own your clinic one day, but that doesn’t mean you should skimp on the design while you’re leasing.

“This is where you’re going to create [your] following and really get your brand known,” says Neena.

If your patients love the experience you’ve created for them, they’ll be sure to follow you when you move into another space. “You deserve to feel great in the space that you’re in today,” she adds.

Insight #9: Plants have a very real benefit on you and your patients

Knowing that a connection to the natural world increases our physical and mental well-being, it’s a no-brainer for healthcare professionals to bring the outdoors in.

Where there’s natural light, real plants are best, but even artificial ones have the same benefit — just make sure they’re not at eye level, shares Neena.

And you don’t have to limit yourself to just plants, either. Other materials, like stone or wood, have the same benefits as a live plant. Anything that evokes the natural world.

Insight #10: Have a budget and a plan

Allocating money towards a design project is good, but you’ll want to know what your overall goals are before you start buying.

“I think it’s when people are like, ‘Oh, the chairs are broken. Okay, we need new chairs,’” Neena offers as an example. “That’s when things start to look really disjointed.”

Instead of updating your space on an as-needed basis, the two suggest making a detailed plan of what you want, and figuring out the kind of investment that will take you there.

“I think the plan is important, even if you don’t execute it all at once,” Meg says. Your design plan is like your business plan, she believes: a little bit of extra effort that goes a long way in setting you up for success.

You can find Meg and Neena at articulatedesignco.com

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