Mix the fabric choices as well. Multiple fabrics, selectively coordinated (e.g., paired armchairs and love seats) expand your style statement. Think of your own experiences in well-crafted, creatively composed spaces and how they reinforce your assumption of quality with that experience. It is the same for your patients.
Be selective with your furniture budget dollars. Quality "contract" furniture will typically be more costly than its residential counterparts. Such cost differences are due to multiple factors -- stronger frame support in upholstered pieces, higher level of finish on frames, upholstery details, larger scale, high style or brand, etc. And while there are viable reasons for such cost differences, providing durability over many years of use, it can be surprising to clients and challenging to budgets. We recommend a strategy of selection based on the intended use and visibility by the patient. For example, waiting area seating and task stools will be high use and high visibility, and should be priorities in a furniture budget. Invest in the best quality items that are within your budget. Other pieces can be selected from less costly resources and will perform admirably with less abuse. As an example, we often source Crate & Barrel, West Elm, etc., for end tables, lamps, and staff rooms as a strategy to stay in budget with interesting and well-performing pieces. Such an approach can keep quality and style in budget with creative options from the typical furniture genre.