Subletting a Therapy Office vs. Renting and Decorating Your Own: What’s Right for Your Practice?
Introduction: Choosing Your First Therapy Office
When you’re starting (or expanding) your therapy practice, one of the first big questions is: Should I sublet someone else’s office—or rent and design my own space?
Both options can work beautifully, but they come with different costs, responsibilities, and levels of creative freedom. Whether you’re a brand-new therapist building your caseload or an established clinician craving more control over your environment, it’s worth weighing the pros and cons.
What Does Subletting a Therapy Office Mean?
Subletting typically means renting office time from another therapist or practice owner.
You might rent one or two days a week in someone else’s furnished space.
Sometimes you rent the whole room for certain days; other times, you share it by the hour.
For many therapists, this is the first step toward a private practice.
The Pros of Subletting
Lower Cost – Subletting is almost always cheaper than signing your own lease, and makes sense when most therapists in private practice want to use see clients 2-4 days per week, rather than full-time.
No Setup Hassle – The office is already furnished—you just show up.
Flexibility – Easy to scale up or down; if your caseload changes, you can adjust your rental days.
Less Responsibility – The main tenant (or landlord) handles furniture, décor, maintenance, utilities, and insurance. There are also likely other services included in your monthly cost to sublet, like coffee, tea, internet, and other supplies.
The Cons of Subletting
Limited Creative Control – You’re working in someone else’s aesthetic; you might not be able to move furniture or add décor.
Scheduling Conflicts – You may have to work around the main tenant’s schedule, and don’t have as much flexibility to schedule clients outside of typical hours, if needed.
Less Branding Opportunity – It’s harder to make the space reflect your style and practice identity.
Temporary Feel – If you’re in a sublet, you may feel less “settled” than in a long-term space.
What About Renting and Decorating Your Own Office?
Renting your own office means signing a lease directly with a landlord or building owner.
This gives you total creative freedom—you can choose the paint color, furniture, and overall vibe. But it also comes with more cost, commitment, and responsibility.
The Pros of Renting Your Own Office
Full Creative Freedom – You can design the space exactly how you want—down to the throw pillows.
Consistent Access – The space is yours 24/7, so you can add extra sessions, groups, or workshops anytime.
Brand Building – Your office becomes part of your identity; clients see your taste, your space.
Potential for Subletting – If you’re not there every day, you can sublet to other therapists (just like you’re considering now!), which at the least will discount the full cost of your rent, and can potentially lead to a profit.
The Cons of Renting Your Own Office
Higher Costs – You’ll pay for rent, furniture, décor, utilities, and insurance.
More Responsibility – You’re in charge of everything from furniture assembly to lightbulb replacement.
Long-Term Commitment – Most leases run 1–3 years; you’ll need to feel ready to commit financially.
Upfront Investment – Designing a therapy office from scratch takes time, effort, and budget.
Which Option Is Right for You?
Here’s how many therapists make the decision:
New Therapists / Growing Caseload → Start by subletting. You’ll save money, test your schedule, and get a feel for what kind of space you love.
Established Therapists → When you have a steady caseload (and feel ready for the investment), moving to your own office can be deeply rewarding.
How I Can Help You at Every Stage
Whether you’re subletting now or ready to create a dream office of your own, I can make the process smoother:
Sublet from Me in Downtown Portland – I offer beautifully furnished therapy offices you can rent by the monthly or even hourly—perfect for therapists starting out or those who need flexible space without the hassle of setting up.
Hire Me to Design Your Own Office – When you’re ready for your own lease, I can source thrifted furniture, decorate your space, and set it up so you can walk in and start seeing clients.
Bonus: If you have me design your office thoughtfully, you’ll not only love working there—you might even be able to sublet the extra time, creating another stream of income for yourself (just like I’ve done!).
Conclusion: Your Practice, Your Path
Subletting is like borrowing a car—it gets you where you need to go with less hassle. Renting and designing your own space is like buying your dream car—it takes more investment, but you get the keys (and control). Neither path is “better”—just different.
No matter which path you choose, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Whether you need a calm, ready-made office to sublet or want help creating your own therapy sanctuary, I’m here to help therapists in Portland find spaces that work for them, and their clients.