How many rooms can you fit in a 1,000 sq ft space.

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Permalink Reply by Albert on April 30, 2017 at 12:16pm

Thanks this was very helpful.

Pueppi Texas said:

Are you asking for ideal dimensions of a 1,000 SF space, or ideal dimensions of each room within the space?

Since each 1,000 SF space can have completely different lengths and depths, you will have to do some juggling on layout as to how the space you pick is configured.

I think I have about 800SF (give or take... but I can't recall) and I have reception, front desk, kitchenette-ish area, 3 treatment rooms and an office.

The smallest room in my office (and it is my massage room, because I like it's layout and cocoon-like feel) is:  
12' 4"  x  7' 10"

In any room, the smallest amount of room I and comfortable working with at the head of the table (headrest in proper positioning) and at the foot of the table is 22".  The smallest amount of room I am comfortable working with at the sides of the table is 18".  

However, just because I like my small room, does not mean I would always prefer a small room.  I have worked in rooms with about the same size as mine, but with different fixtures and have been overwhelmed with how *small* and overbearing they felt.  The smaller you get, the more you have to be willing to work with the therapist on color and layout.  Otherwise you may create a situation where your therapist feels like they are going into an asylum for work everyday, which can lead quickly to the therapist looking for a new place of employment.

I have worked in facilities where they put a table in an area which created a situation where the table corners were within inches of the walls (diagonal set up in a room).  I just can't work that way.  I need the ability to move completely around the table comfortably.  So, if you are looking to do room set-ups in tiny spaces, please keep that in mind as well.  The table has to have full walk-around space.

And, if you jam too many rooms into a small lease space, please remember that you will need sound-proofing in your walls (in the form of sound-dampening insulation which is more expensive than regular insulation) or you need actual sound-proofing for your walls in the form of a particular sheet-rocking technique.  I believe this can still consist of multiple layers of sheetrock with a plastic sheeting between to create that effect, but, you should really check on that to make sure.

Additionally, the smaller the space the more opportunity for people to trip over each other between clients and while clients are coming and going. 

A good way to figure layout, is to find a space you are interested in and tape out the layout on the floor with blue painters tape.  Keeping in mind that you need to give extra room for the depth of the walls and the swing of the doors.  You could also do this on blank sehets of paper which have the dimensions of the space drawn out, or with a computer program.  Last, you may want to take a paper with the blank office space on it, to some friends.  Let them draw their ideas in place.  See where they put walls and hallways. It is amazing what concepts your friends will think of that you will not.  :)

Other good threads at BWOL:

• Treatment room size - Smallest workable room you'd prefer
• Room size
• How to make a smaller room work?

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