Massage Therapy Treatment Room Accessories – Floor Coverings

An eco-friendly, Turkish Style Area Rug made from recycled plastic is pretty, functional and easy to care for. After all, just because you walk on it doesn’t mean it can’t look nice.

Let’s face it, there are always challenges to knowing how to decorate your treatment room, be it a spa or a clinic, and there has to be a marriage between functionality and esthetics, and a reflection of your own taste. You are going to be spending a lot of time in your room, so you had better like it.

Footing is really important during a massage therapy treatment – the safety of you and your client both depend on it. What I have noticed during my years as a therapist is that I don’t really like to stand on a surface that is hard and makes noise as I move around the table. Surfaces such as tile, hardwood or concrete are noisy and can be rough on your legs as you stand a lot. Not to mention the fact that they can become slippery if you drop oil on it, and the last thing anyone needs is a slip and fall. (hello Whiplash!)
Most times we don’t have a choice in the treatment room of the materials our environment is made of, so we have to improvise.

Personally, I really like an area rug under my table, but it has to follow certain specifications to meet my expectations.

1) It has to be large enough so that when my table is in the centre, there is plenty of room for me to roll around on my stool – mobility is a huge deal for me, especially when working on a clients head, neck and shoulders when I am seated. Ideally, a minimum of 6×9 feet seems to work.

2) It has to be pretty. Whether it is plain or has a fancy design is very personal, but since my clients might spend a vast majority of time face down, it is best if it is pleasing to look at.

3) It has to be durable. Depending on how much your room is being used, it’s really easy for an area rug to wear out. Personally, I’d rather spend my business dollars on things like continuing education, so equipment or accessories that wear out easily are an expense I want to avoid, no matter how nice it looks when it’s new.

4) It has to be hygienic and easy to clean. My mom gave me a beautiful area rug that worked perfectly in my treatment room. Everything was great, it was big enough, pretty, easy on my legs, and helped to soundproof the room a bit. Great, except that it got stained from oil and gel being dropped on it, and wore out in a pattern around the table. It’s not so pretty right now (not to mention that it probably has some germs lurking around in it) and I won’t be able to use it in my living room. I wish I would have thought of that before I ruined it. Instead of being able to hose it off, I’ll have to get an environmentally friendly cleaner to steam clean it.

5) In my efforts to be eco-friendly, it has to be made from either a recycled material or from an ethically sourced, sustainably manufactured material. Usually this is the sticking point for people, as most people want to make an effort to be eco-friendly, but the expense can be prohibitive. There are cost-friendly options, you just have to know where to look. Gaiam has a great Turkish style area rug that is durable and pretty – and when you get tired of it in your treatment room, you can put it on your deck or patio.

6) Don’t forget that if you use an area rug, you should get a non-slip backing to put under it. Even though the weight of the table will pretty much anchor it, the backing will also help protect the flooring underneath – especially important if you are renting space with nice hardwood or tile flooring.

So many of us are concerned with the treatment aspect of the business, we don’t realize that a little forethought concerning our work space goes a long way. Trying to be green makes it a little more challenging, but it can be done.

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