Bootham Dental Practice

A busy dental practice in Harrogate wanted to say goodbye to its clinical waiting room. White walls, plastic chairs and a stack of old magazines did not match the care the team gives its patients.

The brief was a waiting room that puts people at ease the moment they walk in: more hotel lobby than surgery, but practical to clean and with enough seats for busy mornings.

I chose deep blue upholstery, a soft wool rug and warm wall lights instead of ceiling panels. Real plants, a reading table with books and a small coffee corner make waiting feel like a short break.

In the treatment rooms we kept the calm going with the same colours and materials, so the whole practice now tells one story. Patients regularly mention that they hardly notice they are at the dentist.