The Staff Washroom: Appealing to a Captive Audience

Earlier this year, Kitty Tierney, owner of Impressions in Mequon, Wisconsin, was watching HDTV and exploring design websites, searching for creative ideas for making over her staff bathroom, as well as her bathroom at home. “As usual, my ADHD led me to look kitchen designs where I found a great idea for using chalkboard paint to create a communication center, and I thought that could really be fun for our staff bathroom.”

Tierney purchased a gallon of the ADA-compliant paint, hired a handyman for $25 an hour and went about transforming her staff 5’ x 5’ staff bathroom into a giant chalkboard. Then, she added a bulletin board for posting notices on upcoming classes, bought some colored chalk and a cute bucket to store it in from the Dollar Store, and encouraged her team to be creative. The only rule: No Negativity.

“I’ve been amazed at the wonderful stuff our team draws on the wall, and how inspiring and supportive they are of one another,” Tierney says. “We’ve had quotes from Winston Churchill, public Thank Yous from one team member to another for a helping hand, and simple words of encouragement, such as ‘Be yourself, everyone else is taken.’”

It’s a personal pick-me-up when you’re taking a moment of personal time, Tierney says. “And, it turned out better than I ever expected.”