You made it! You signed a lease for your very own private practice office space. But now, what furniture do you put into your office? In this article, I’ll dive into the five furniture for therapy office essentials.
Just a few key design elements will take your office from sterile to safe and homey – without having to break the bank!
I’ll also share with you all of my therapy office furniture pieces so you can replicate my office look if you’d like!
top 5 furniture essentials for your therapy office
furniture essential 1: therapy couch
Is it absolutely essential that you have a couch in your therapy office?
Well, no.
But, I personally prefer a couch for my clients over chairs in my therapy office. Here are a few reasons why:
- Couches are comfortable
- Couches feel more homey than chairs
- Couches are more grounding
- If you work with couples, seeing how the couple chooses to sit together (or apart) is helpful to assess their body language
- Even though I’m not a psychoanalyst, it’s not unusual for some of my clients to lie down or at least cross their legs
- Let’s not forget that YOU can use that couch to nap between clients too! That really came in handy while I was pregnant
I suggest going with a couch upholstered in fabric rather than a leather or faux leather texture. The fabric will feel warmer for your clients and you don’t have to worry about those weird noises that leather couches always make!
My favorite therapy couch
That couch better be comfortable! Of course, pick the couch that fits you, your practice, and your decor.
But if you’d like a little help figuring out which couch to get, I bought mine in 2016 and it’s still doing a great job 5 years later:
(this is an affiliate link, I receive a small commission from sales)
If you’re looking for a bargain couch, this couch does go on sale from time to time. I’ve seen it priced under $350 before!
furniture essential 2: therapist chair
Obviously, you’ll need a chair to sit in. But it’s absolutely worth investing in a chair that is 100 percent comfortable for you while allowing your clients to feel comfortable too.
I remember when I worked in private practice as a postdoc, the therapy office I was using had a plastic chair in it for the therapist. Not only was that chair extremely uncomfortable, but new clients often were confused as far as where to sit once they walked in the room. Here are some factors to consider when looking for a therapist chair for your office:
- Find a chair that’s comfortable
- Make sure you have good back support, or add a pillow if needed
- Find a chair that allows you to sit upright (recliners and slouchy chairs create less welcoming body language from the therapist)
- Find a chair that coordinates with your couch
My therapist chair
I’ve enjoyed the same therapist chair ever since I’ve had my own private practice office space. I like that it has a fairly small footprint compared to most armchairs. Though if I could improve the design of it, I would make the cushion of it a little thicker. I added a cute pillow to the back of it for back support:
(this is an affiliate link, I receive a small commission from sales)
furniture essential 3: lighting
Okay I know lighting technically isn’t a furniture item. But I believe that your lighting is the most essential element of your therapy office design after you have seating for you and your clients.
If you can find an office with lots of natural light, that’s fabulous. But even with the brightest of therapy offices, it’s great to have a few well-placed lamps with soft white bulbs to warm up your room. Trust me, it will make a HUGE difference!
Here are a few tips to make your therapy office lighting feel extra homey:
- Floor lamps and table lamps at eye level make it easier to see each other’s faces (as opposed to ceiling lights which cast shadows)
- Avoid placing a lamp directly behind your client’s head or behind your head. When we look at someone’s face that’s backlit, we end up straining our eyes and it’s hard to see each other’s facial expressions
- Ideally, use soft white or warm white bulbs to warm up the room. But whatever bulb color you use, just make sure all of them in your office match each other.
- More lights with lower watt bulbs is better than one or two lamps with really bright bulbs. Your space will be evenly lit and you won’t have light “hot spots” that cause your eyes to strain.
I have three lamps in my office in addition to the natural light that streams in. I do turn on the overhead light once it’s dark outside, but I always keep my floor lamp and table lamps on at all times of the day.
furniture essential 4: textiles
Once again, I know textiles aren’t exactly a furniture item. But I know when we design our offices we can get so caught up in buying the right furniture that we forget the importance of some of the accessories. If we skip out on the textiles, the space can feel really cold and uninviting.
Here are some examples of textiles you might consider adding to your therapy office:
- Rugs
- Pillows
- Throw Blankets
- Curtains
- Wall Textiles
In addition to making your office space feel less officey and more homey, textiles can act as a fabulous sound-proofing tool.
If you’re not into adding lots of textiles to your space, I would consider at least adding pillows and a rug. The pillows will help your clients have options to ensure their comfort. A rug that’s sits just underneath both your client couch and therapist chair creates a grounding tool that connects you together with your client.
furniture essential 5: therapist desk
Almost every therapist will need to have a desk in their office. If you save your notes and other paperwork for once you’re at home later in the day, you might be able to skip this one. But I think you’ll find that having a desk in your office will come in handy.
Here are some uses for having a therapist desk:
- Writing notes
- Keeping up with billing and other paperwork
- Offering teletherapy
- Checking email or catching up on calls between clients
With that said, therapists don’t usually need a very large desk. You need just enough space for your laptop, a lamp, and some space to write.
My therapist desk
I got a really cheap desk when I first started out, and I was surprised to find that it’s incredibly sturdy! It’s still holding up well for me and doesn’t take up too much space in the office:
(this is an affiliate link, I receive a small commission from sales)
optional furniture for your therapy office
If you have all of these items, then you’re just about set! In addition to these items, you might consider some of these optional items to see if they fit the needs of your office space:
- Filing cabinet
- Bookshelf
- Coffee Table
- Side Tables
- Wall Art
- Framed credentials
I also suggest you accessorize with a few pieces that reflect your personality or your brand. I have a few plants in my office, some pretty candleholders, and I got some really cute tissue covers that make my tissue boxes match the design of the rest of my office.
If you’re interested, I put together a page with all of my therapy office furniture items. You can check that out here:
I hope you found this article helpful if you’re thinking about buying furniture for your counseling office space. If you’d like a little more help with getting your practice off the ground, I have a free checklist to help you get started in private practice. Feel free to check that out here: my FREE ultimate step-by-step checklist to start your private practice.
Want more info about this topic? Check out my article: Therapist Office Interior Design on a Budget.
Best wishes with buying furniture for your therapy office. And until next time, from one therapist to another: I wish you well!
-Marie
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