• A comfortable waiting room helps patients feel at ease.Living Room image by Ritu Jethani from Fotolia.com
  
  From a decor standpoint, the reception area of a medical office is the most important room in the suite. It not only provides the patient's first impression of the quality and success of your practice, but also welcomes them by offering them a comfortable place to wait. It should communicate a mood of relaxation. With this in mind, it's vital to create a warm and welcoming front reception area for your office.
  
  

Style

• For most medical reception areas, choose a professional, warm style that provides a sense of comfort while still being durable. Select a style won't become outdated, such as the classic traditional style. Fill your reception area with durable, low-key wall coverings, long-wearing carpeting and comfortable chairs and love seats, as well as simple, serviceable tables for magazines, lamps and your patients' possessions.
  
  

Arrangement

• It's important that your patients feel attended to as soon as they enter the front door. Place the reception desk in immediate view of the door, so that it is the focal point of the room. Arrange a mix of love seats, chairs and tables in small groupings around the room, making sure the reception desk is within view of wherever a patient may sit.
  
  

Color and Texture

• Use neutral tones in your reception room's overall design scheme, with softer neutrals on the walls, and richer, darker tones for furnishings, rugs and art work. Don't neglect texture as an additional source of warmth and comfort within the room through fabrics, rugs and curtains. Choose low-key patterns for flooring, walls and furnishings, as these will blend well and hide stains and signs of aging.
  
  

Furnishings

• The furniture in the reception area tells the patient about your practice--its success and overall quality--so spend wisely. Choose comfortable, high-quality padded chairs with arms, chairs without arms and love seats for your patients. Avoid hard plastic chairs from the bargain bin. Commercial-grade furnishings that will withstand the wear and tear of everyday use are ideal.
  
  

Finishing Touches

• For the finishing touches to your front reception room, add framed artwork in soft tones that complement the room's style. Add curtains, drapes or blinds to windows to enhance the sense of warmth. Carpeting will keep the sound down, but use patterns judiciously, and make sure there are no raised edges on which patients may trip. For an organic touch, incorporate a natural item such as a hardy plant or a soothing aquarium.