An office waiting room provides the first impression of a business or company to their visitors. Whether you have a dental, medical, or other professional office, making your clients feel at ease and relaxed can go a long way in providing a customer experience that says, “we care.” So, why not consider a multisensory waiting room in your office? One that can really engage your visitors and enhance their overall experience.
Taking an area of your office or waiting room and customizing it with various sensory products, creates an inviting space that can have a soothing and calming effect on your clients. Alternatively, you can transform the entire space by building a multisensory room that is fully immersive and interactive.
A multisensory room has a number of benefits, ranging from improved concentration to a rise in endorphin levels to a better overall disposition, allowing your clients to reap the full benefits of your service. Here are some ideas you might want to consider when designing a multisensory waiting room for your own professional space.
When setting up your sensory room consider the lighting. If you can dim the lighting in your sensory area (or choose a darker area), the lights you add, such as bubble tubes, wall projections, and fiber optic strands, will be more impactful. This does not mean to say you cannot have a bubble tube in a well-lit office, but the effect with be much greater in a darker area. You could even consider having a room divider, curtain, or a specially designed sensory waiting room that is able to adapt to your client’s needs as well.
Choosing soft furniture will enhance the comfort of those using your sensory space. Soft mats, beanbag chairs, pillows, platforms, and interactive tunnels are just a few ideas to create comfort in your multisensory space. With young children, you might want to consider a soft interactive beam, and with older clientele beanbag chairs or soft furniture can also do the trick. The idea is to encourage a hug-like feel when using or viewing the sensory equipment.
Classical music is renowned for relaxation however choosing digitized or synthesized music can work effectively as well. Think of yoga, meditation, Mozart or other rhythmic music that helps replace the beta brainwave stimulation with alpha, theta or delta brainwaves. This will help calm your client by releasing endorphins and reduce stress. In addition, earmuffs can be very helpful for waiting rooms where noises may affect those with auditory sensitivities.
Providing interactive switches and touch panels can help your non-verbal and low vision clients use their heightened sense of touch to interact with your sensory area. This can be particularly effective for reducing anxiety caused by a feeling of lack of control over the environment or upcoming appointment. Be sure to keep your area clean by wiping it down regularly to ensure a hygienic touch experience for everyone.
When setting up your sensory area, consider an area without windows, ample electrical outlet coverage, and soft surroundings. These key features will enable you to get the most out of the multisensory equipment that you choose. Remember that when it comes to flooring or carpeting, solid colors are less stimulating and more soothing. Also, generally speaking, lamps and halogen lights are a better choice over fluorescent lighting. And finally, use mirrors to make your space look larger and to enhance the beauty of your bubble tube and other sensory lighting.
Be creative. If you're not sure where to start with your multisensory waiting room, please feel free to get in touch and let us help you brainstorm. Trust us, your office visitors will thank you later!