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If you are a dentist who specializes in children and families you will want to make your office space warm, friendly and as relaxing as possible. Making sure that children feel at ease in their surroundings will help to ensure a smooth and stress free appointment. Have a couple of rooms that are brightly coloured. Place fun and interesting posters and pictures on the walls to keep the children amused and occupied. Have a small collection of stuffed animals for the children to cuddle if they are nervous. Since the children will be facing the ceiling for the majority of their time in the office, paint murals on the ceiling or place additional posters or pictures. Some dentists have televisions that are placed so that the children can watch their favourite shows or movie during treatment. You will also want to have a few rooms that are painted in calming colours such as pale yellows or blues. These rooms can be used for any adult members of the family that are also patients. Add posters and pictures in these rooms as well.

photo credit: Ruben Nadador

Dental offices that cater to mostly adults require many of the same design features with some minor alterations. Offices should be painted in relaxing colours. Pastel shades are best used to create a calming effect. Buttery yellows, minty greens, sky blues and lilacs are excellent choices. Decorate your walls with colourful pictures. Landscapes are a good choice as are abstract designs. Music should be soothing and played quietly in the background. You may also utilize a television for adults. Adults can be just as nervous as children and the distraction will help them relax.

The first impression get of your dental office is the reception and waiting area. Keep the wall colours pale and calming in the waiting room as well. Patients often spend just as much time in the waiting area as they do in the offices. Keeping them relaxed while they wait is important. Make sure the seating is comfortable. Keep a lot of magazines in a variety of topics on the table in the waiting area to help the patients pass the time. Have a television playing quietly in the background or keep soothing music quietly playing. Having plants or trees can make your patients feel more like they are sitting at home rather than a dental office.

photo credit: Official U.S. Navy Imagery

Dental office design ideas should be both functional and calming. Keep it simple in design and use pale or neutral colours. Use pictures, posters, television and music to distract patients from the fact that they are at a dental office. The goal is to make your patients as relaxed and comfortable as possible.

photo credit: Seth W.

Buying office furniture for a small office can be challenging. You need a desk that can hold all of your documents, files, materials and resources but you also need a desk that fits comfortably in your space. You need to find a desk that has lots of storage but is streamlined and not bulky. Choosing a desk that has a built in filing cabinet eliminates the need for a separate filing cabinet and thus saves floor space. If your space is really limited and you do not have clients in your office, opt for a corner desk. Not only do they take up less room, but they also come available with upper storage. If you entertain clients in your office and need to be able to face them, this design will not work for you.

photo credit: Steve Keys

When it comes to paint colours, choose light or neutral shades. Dark colours can make a small space look even smaller. Also choose a lighter shade carpet or wood stain for your office. The light floor colour creates the illusion of a larger floor area and therefore a larger room. If you do not have a lot of natural light in your office choose bright lighting spread evenly about the room. Brighter spaces look bigger. If you are blessed with tall ceilings, use a wallpaper border or crown moulding to accentuate the extra vertical space.

Once you have designed a functional work environment you can begin to add the personal touches. Hang your degrees or credentials on the walls in dark frames to contrast the neutral walls. Add photos of your family or yourself during pivotal moments in your life. If you want to keep your office space less personal, opt for brightly coloured prints on the walls. Choose a theme such as landscapes, abstracts or even black and white pictures. Long, thin pictures can create the illusion of high ceilings.

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Small office design ideas can be challenging but there is a design that will work for your space. Research completed projects online and in magazines. Measure your space and shop around for office furniture that will both fit your space and address all your needs. Remember that functionality comes first. If you cannot work easily out of your office space you will not perform to the best of your abilities.

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Home offices offer you the most flexibility in design since quite often you are then only person who uses the office. Since your desk is the most important item in your office spend time looking at several different styles of desks. If your home office is small, corner desks are an excellent solution to maximizing your space. If you have lots of files, choose a desk that offers considerable storage space. Many desk come equipped with a bottom drawer that doubles as a filing cabinet including a lock. This design is ideal if you do not have space in your office for a separate filing cabinet. Make sure your desk chair is comfortable. If more than one person uses the office space, choose a chair that is height adjustable. Wall colours are a personal choice for the office user. Built in shelving can free up floor space and also helps to store books and magazines and free up desk space. Be sure to have good lighting in your office to avoid eye strain.

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A small business office can include a reception area and a one or a handful of offices. Since the reception area is the first impression your clients have of your business, it should be welcoming yet professional. Choose a reception desk that is large enough to be functional but not overpowering. Have a seating area with comfortable chairs and a coffee table. Place a variety of magazines on the coffee table that cover a wide range of interests. Include your own personal business flyers or advertisements. Plants create an aura of warmth and should be placed strategically near the sitting area but out of the way. Wall colours should be neutral but bright. Bright lighting is also recommended. The offices themselves should be similar in design and colour to create a uniform appearance. Stick to one colour and furniture design and allow employees to personalize their space with achievements or pictures.

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Larger businesses are similar to smaller businesses. You want to create a warm and welcoming reception area. Comfortable chairs, neutral wall colours, available reading material and potted plants all give this feeling. Since the number of daily visitors may be considerable, tile flooring is ideal. Add a colourful area rug in the sitting area. Offer a coffee machine or water cooler as an additional touch. Colourful pictures on the walls are another nice touch. Keep the hallways well lit and clear of clutter. Again, keep the individual offices uniform in colour and design but allowing small personal touches. Offices with windows opening onto the hallway are a good idea. Clients often feel more comfortable when they don’t feel like all business is conducted behind closed doors. Provide blinds for these windows to allow privacy when necessary.

photo credit: Lars Plougmann

Business interior design ideas focus on functionality. Create a fully functional work space first and worry about style after. Keep offices clean and clutter free. Use filing systems and storage areas to maximize organisation and keep the space clutter free. Warm neutral tones work best and create a relaxing, professional atmosphere. Allow some personal comforts in your office space.

photo credit: geishaboy500

Since a functional office is your main goal, start with searching for a desk. Check out desk designs online or in the flyers of local stores that carry office furniture. Know the measurements of your office and keep them in mind when shopping for a desk. Purchase a desk that will fit easily in your space and still give you room for a desk chair and for walking around. Choose a desk that has enough storage space to be functional and to make working easier. Having to repeatedly get up to retrieve items while working can be frustrating and distracting. Having a desk with enough storage space to keep all of your necessary items will help you complete your task quicker. If an additional filing cabinet is needed keep it close to your work area. Filing cabinets today come in black and wood finish instead of just the flat metal finish. These finishes help the filing cabinet to blend into the room more.

While carpet is nice underfoot, it is not always practical in an office setting. Many desk chairs have wheels for ease of movement. They do not work well on carpet. If your office is a high traffic area, carpet mat also be difficult to keep looking clean and fresh. Hardwood is often a better choice of flooring for an office. Add an area rug for style, colour or warmth. Wall colour choices are limitless. If your office is small or if there is not a lot of lighting in your office, opt for a lighter or neutral wall colour. Larger, well lit offices can look rich and warm with deeply coloured walls. If your office space does not have a lot of natural light be sure to install adequate lighting to avoid eye strain.

photo credit: Jeremy Levine Design

When it comes to adding your personal style to your office, your choices will depend on your tastes. Pictures are the easiest way to personalize your office. Family photos add a personal touch to your office. Hang them on the walls or place a few on your desk. Frame your diplomas and degrees in rich looking frames and hang them where they can be seen. They will remind you of all the hard work and dedication it took to get where you are and will show clients the same. If you have neutral coloured walls, choose bright and colourful pictures such as landscapes or abstracts. If your wall colour is rich and deep, opt for black and white pictures as a contrast.

photo credit: gruntzooki

Office design ideas are personal since they need to be tailored to meet your specific needs. Create the most functional space possible and then personalize the space with pictures and plants. Keep the office functional to promote productivity. Keep clutter and distractions to a minimum.