Setting up a new office space can be intimidating and expensive. Luckily, we don’t have to spend a fortune to create a comfortable, beautiful space. Here are some of my favorite affordable therapy office decorating ideas. 

Ask around in your therapist networks.

Therapist email listservs and local therapist Facebook Groups are great places to find therapy office decor and furniture. Therapists are often happy to pass on items they no longer need. The large artwork in my office space was from another therapist who was switching to doing exclusively telehealth. I found the piece on Facebook marketplace, saw that we were both in a local therapist Facebook group, and messaged her directly. She very kindly offered me the piece for free! 

Shop second-hand.

Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and neighborhood listservs are great places to find quality secondhand furniture and artwork. Search for used pieces from reputable furniture stores (e.g. Room & Board, Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Article, etc.). As you find new items to buy, make a simple image collage (I like using Canva)  to make sure the different pieces work well together. If you’re shopping for a second-hand sofa, I recommend going with one in a neutral color (gray, brown, tan, cream, navy) so it’s easier to coordinate with other decor items in your space. Also, ask to sit on any sofa or therapy armchair before finalizing the purchase.

Shop your house.

This is a clever design trick inspired by interior decorators. They suggest taking stock of the items in each room and seeing if anything can be moved to a different space, giving it a fresh look without spending any extra money. Items like lamps, picture frames, pillowcases, art, and even rugs that feel tired or old in our homes can often be repurposed in our offices.

Find wall art for less.

For affordable therapy office art, consider purchasing art prints online. Etsy is my favorite place to find affordable art prints. I also love Juniper Print Shop. Depending on the size of the artwork, it may be more affordable to print the items yourself at a local Fedex, Costco, or other photo printing website like Snapfish. 

Look for more affordable “look-alikes.”

You can use Google Image Search and Pinterest to find similar looking items at lower price points. On Google, take a picture or screenshot of the item and put the picture into a Google Image Search. Google will likely first pull up the original item, but then offer other items that look similar. On Pinterest, click on the element in the picture you like. This will pull up a “Shop Similar” list of products. If you’re using Pinterest on your desktop, this feature may be labeled “More to Explore” instead. There’s often a great dupe for a cheaper price. 

Double check that you found the best price.

Some home decor products are sold at multiple online stores but listed at different prices. Before purchasing, search for the product on Google Shopping to make sure you found the store with the lowest price (some stores will also offer a price match if you show them another store’s lower price). 

Shop around holiday times.

When designing rooms for therapists, I always keep the calendar in mind. If we can get our full design plan and shopping list ready before a major holiday, I encourage them to wait to buy until the weekend sales. This is especially true if you’re buying multiple pieces from one store, as holiday sales usually have bigger discounts for larger purchases. 

Creating an inviting and functional therapy office doesn’t have to be expensive, and there are plenty of affordable ways to design a space that works for both you and your clients. By shopping second-hand, repurposing items, and being a savvy shopper, you can create a welcoming environment on a budget. And remember, you can always update decor pieces later as your preferences, needs, or budget change.