Sprucing Up the Office

One day last month, I noticed that the plastic carpet protector under my desk chair was disintegrating. When I pulled it up to replace it with a new one I got quite a surprise: The patch of carpet it had been protecting was considerably brighter and cleaner than the rest of the carpeting in my office.

Sometimes it takes a jolt like that to remind us to take a good look at our office furnishings. I discovered that a lot more than a carpet protector needed replacing. We tend not to notice gradual deterioration. Carpets fade and dull with constant traffic and cleaning. Wallpaper and paint accumulate dirt, stains, and damage. Furniture gets dirty and dented.

In particular, you might be surprised by the condition of your waiting room if you haven't been out there for awhile. I certainly was. The wallpaper was smudged behind chairs, where patients had rested their heads. There were stains and pen marks on the chairs' upholstery, and the frames were scratched and worn. The well-trafficked carpet was stained, faded, and pulled.

Even if you don't find anything obvious, it is wise to check periodically for subtle evidence of age. Find some patches of carpeting and flooring under desks and compare them with the exposed areas.

You also might want to look at the décor itself. Is it dated and just plain old looking? Any interior designer can determine when a space was last decorated, simply by the color and style of the materials used. If your office is stuck in the 1980s, it's probably time for a change.

Your next vacation would be a great time to make those changes. You'll come back to a new, fresh environment.

Start by reviewing your color scheme, and consider changing it if you're tired of it, or if, as mentioned, it's hopelessly out of date. Wallpaper and carpeting should be long-wearing industrial quality. The paint should have a high-quality “eggshell” finish to facilitate cleaning, and it should be professionally applied.

If you've grown tired of your wall decorations, now would be a good time to replace at least some of them. This need not be an expensive proposition. If you or a family member is an artist or photographer, consider framing some of the best work. Or invite local artists to display some of their work on your walls.

Furniture is another important consideration. You may be able to resurface and reupholster what you have now, but if not, shop carefully. Beware of products that are promoted specifically to physicians, as they tend to be overpriced.

Get recommendations from colleagues and others, and never shop solely on price. If you shop online, factor in shipping costs, which can be considerable for furniture. Don't be afraid to ask for discounts. You won't get them if you don't ask.

Plants, in my opinion, are important in any indoor environment. They help you, your employees, and your patients feel less cut off from the outside world. If you are hesitant to take on the extra work of plant upkeep, a corporate plant service will rent you the plants, keep them healthy, and replace any that begin to wither.

As I've mentioned in previous columns, consider joining a state or community business/industry association. They maintain lists of merchants willing to give discounts, and they enable you to find other members looking for similar furniture, which could land all of you a big quantity discount.

This is also a good time to clear out old textbooks, magazines, and files you haven't opened in years. And get your building's maintenance crew in to fix any nagging plumbing, electrical, or heating/air conditioning problems that may have developed.

Finally, spruce-up time is an excellent opportunity to take a look at your medical equipment. We've all seen vintage offices containing gadgets that were new when the office opened decades ago, with no modernization in the interim. Would you want to be treated by those physicians? Neither would your patients, for the most part. Patients want cutting-edge technology. Consider replacing your obsolete equipment, even if it “still works okay.”

One day last month, I noticed that the plastic carpet protector under my desk chair was disintegrating. When I pulled it up to replace it with a new one I got quite a surprise: The patch of carpet it had been protecting was considerably brighter and cleaner than the rest of the carpeting in my office.

Sometimes it takes a jolt like that to remind us to take a good look at our office furnishings. I discovered that a lot more than a carpet protector needed replacing. We tend not to notice gradual deterioration. Carpets fade and dull with constant traffic and cleaning. Wallpaper and paint accumulate dirt, stains, and damage. Furniture gets dirty and dented.

In particular, you might be surprised by the condition of your waiting room if you haven't been out there for awhile. I certainly was. The wallpaper was smudged behind chairs, where patients had rested their heads. There were stains and pen marks on the chairs' upholstery, and the frames were scratched and worn. The well-trafficked carpet was stained, faded, and pulled.

Even if you don't find anything obvious, it is wise to check periodically for subtle evidence of age. Find some patches of carpeting and flooring under desks and compare them with the exposed areas.

You also might want to look at the décor itself. Is it dated and just plain old looking? Any interior designer can determine when a space was last decorated, simply by the color and style of the materials used. If your office is stuck in the 1980s, it's probably time for a change.

Your next vacation would be a great time to make those changes. You'll come back to a new, fresh environment.

Start by reviewing your color scheme, and consider changing it if you're tired of it, or if, as mentioned, it's hopelessly out of date. Wallpaper and carpeting should be long-wearing industrial quality. The paint should have a high-quality “eggshell” finish to facilitate cleaning, and it should be professionally applied.

If you've grown tired of your wall decorations, now would be a good time to replace at least some of them. This need not be an expensive proposition. If you or a family member is an artist or photographer, consider framing some of the best work. Or invite local artists to display some of their work on your walls.

Furniture is another important consideration. You may be able to resurface and reupholster what you have now, but if not, shop carefully. Beware of products that are promoted specifically to physicians, as they tend to be overpriced.

Get recommendations from colleagues and others, and never shop solely on price. If you shop online, factor in shipping costs, which can be considerable for furniture. Don't be afraid to ask for discounts. You won't get them if you don't ask.

Plants, in my opinion, are important in any indoor environment. They help you, your employees, and your patients feel less cut off from the outside world. If you are hesitant to take on the extra work of plant upkeep, a corporate plant service will rent you the plants, keep them healthy, and replace any that begin to wither.

As I've mentioned in previous columns, consider joining a state or community business/industry association. They maintain lists of merchants willing to give discounts, and they enable you to find other members looking for similar furniture, which could land all of you a big quantity discount.

This is also a good time to clear out old textbooks, magazines, and files you haven't opened in years. And get your building's maintenance crew in to fix any nagging plumbing, electrical, or heating/air conditioning problems that may have developed.

Finally, spruce-up time is an excellent opportunity to take a look at your medical equipment. We've all seen vintage offices containing gadgets that were new when the office opened decades ago, with no modernization in the interim. Would you want to be treated by those physicians? Neither would your patients, for the most part. Patients want cutting-edge technology. Consider replacing your obsolete equipment, even if it “still works okay.”

One day last month, I noticed that the plastic carpet protector under my desk chair was disintegrating. When I pulled it up to replace it with a new one I got quite a surprise: The patch of carpet it had been protecting was considerably brighter and cleaner than the rest of the carpeting in my office.

Sometimes it takes a jolt like that to remind us to take a good look at our office furnishings. I discovered that a lot more than a carpet protector needed replacing. We tend not to notice gradual deterioration. Carpets fade and dull with constant traffic and cleaning. Wallpaper and paint accumulate dirt, stains, and damage. Furniture gets dirty and dented.

In particular, you might be surprised by the condition of your waiting room if you haven't been out there for awhile. I certainly was. The wallpaper was smudged behind chairs, where patients had rested their heads. There were stains and pen marks on the chairs' upholstery, and the frames were scratched and worn. The well-trafficked carpet was stained, faded, and pulled.

Even if you don't find anything obvious, it is wise to check periodically for subtle evidence of age. Find some patches of carpeting and flooring under desks and compare them with the exposed areas.

You also might want to look at the décor itself. Is it dated and just plain old looking? Any interior designer can determine when a space was last decorated, simply by the color and style of the materials used. If your office is stuck in the 1980s, it's probably time for a change.

Your next vacation would be a great time to make those changes. You'll come back to a new, fresh environment.

Start by reviewing your color scheme, and consider changing it if you're tired of it, or if, as mentioned, it's hopelessly out of date. Wallpaper and carpeting should be long-wearing industrial quality. The paint should have a high-quality “eggshell” finish to facilitate cleaning, and it should be professionally applied.

If you've grown tired of your wall decorations, now would be a good time to replace at least some of them. This need not be an expensive proposition. If you or a family member is an artist or photographer, consider framing some of the best work. Or invite local artists to display some of their work on your walls.

Furniture is another important consideration. You may be able to resurface and reupholster what you have now, but if not, shop carefully. Beware of products that are promoted specifically to physicians, as they tend to be overpriced.

Get recommendations from colleagues and others, and never shop solely on price. If you shop online, factor in shipping costs, which can be considerable for furniture. Don't be afraid to ask for discounts. You won't get them if you don't ask.

Plants, in my opinion, are important in any indoor environment. They help you, your employees, and your patients feel less cut off from the outside world. If you are hesitant to take on the extra work of plant upkeep, a corporate plant service will rent you the plants, keep them healthy, and replace any that begin to wither.

As I've mentioned in previous columns, consider joining a state or community business/industry association. They maintain lists of merchants willing to give discounts, and they enable you to find other members looking for similar furniture, which could land all of you a big quantity discount.

This is also a good time to clear out old textbooks, magazines, and files you haven't opened in years. And get your building's maintenance crew in to fix any nagging plumbing, electrical, or heating/air conditioning problems that may have developed.

Finally, spruce-up time is an excellent opportunity to take a look at your medical equipment. We've all seen vintage offices containing gadgets that were new when the office opened decades ago, with no modernization in the interim. Would you want to be treated by those physicians? Neither would your patients, for the most part. Patients want cutting-edge technology. Consider replacing your obsolete equipment, even if it “still works okay.”