some visuals for you

SW Fleur De Sel

SW Peacock Plume

SW Snowdrop

SW Destiny

SW Delft

I'd go for a minty green.

Benjamin Moore Soft Mint:

Or Benjamin Moore Minty Green:

I like the color in pics five and six, and the last two pics Melissa posted. Very calming

I may be an outlier but the mint green in the nurse area reminds me of a dr office in the 80’s and also that smell of the mint green stuff the janitor would throw down on vomit when kids puked at school. I would do a soft gray. I like the SW delft you mocked up

would a carpet on the floor be a no-no? Because I think I would feel cheered by the sunny yellow on the walls were headed into the nurse’s office — I’m going to recover! — but a plain burgundy carpet would be warm and less chilly. It’s quite modernist in there!

Unfortunately, a carpet won't work. That was my first instinct, too, but I've cleaned up a lot of nastiness from that floor! I'm thinking the lighter colors look a bit washed out. Maybe the yellow is right for that room, after all! 'm not sure anymore!

Will work with the bed and looks like a good choice to work with the floor, as well.

For what it’s worth, I took a ride in the back of an ambulance yesterday (I’m fine! My landlord is an emergency worker and we needed to go somewhere — ;) —) and I happened to notice the staff had put a big Donald Duck decal and some other cartoon figure (before my age) on the wall and the ceiling of the ambulance. I don’t know how often they have kids inside, or if they did it to amuse themselves, or maybe it works for grown-ups too. It was nicer to look at than the defibrillator. ;@

maybe a mobile for the recovering students? (Or would it make them dizzy?)

"Jim I" Decorative Mobile · More Info

Hang a plant from the ceiling, in the corner.

What are your school's logo colors?

Maybe a blue green paint that is soft with enough color depth. I like Benjamin Moore... Palladian Blue.

Some Inspiration...

Two blue colors example. Pillows similar to your bed.

The pale blues and greens look institutional and boring. The multi- color wall would be fantastic. The quotes would also be a good choice.

FWIW, I tend not to like a mix of two different blues, but have no problem when you mix a whole bunch of blues into the mix (6 or 7). So navy and sky blue is a no for me, but navy and sky blue and royal blue and teal and turquoise and cobalt and cerulean all together gets a thumbs up.

So if you are worried about the wall color working with the exam bench, think about bringing in more blues in a variety of shades through posters or other decor, or you could do it following one of mdln's inspiration pics above.

I personally would not use strong bright intense stimulating colors. I would want a calming atmoshere.

Soft tones of blue or green is believed to soothe illnesses and treat pain.

https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-2795824

whatever you choose, paint each wall a different color or shade of the same.

rooms with no dimension are boring and will never feel good.

If you paint shades of White (pick up a WHITES folder at your local paint source) the light in the room will make it look very different, AND you can have interesting Art pieces for interest. Enlarging art is inexpensive on canvas stretchers. Highlight some students work, make the place a fun place rather than a dreaded room.

I think a paler yellow would look good with white trim. (The greens above are beautiful but remind me of too many hospitals and institutions).

I like the idea of green or a green blue. This one is BM's Cool Mint ( https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/582/cool-mint?color=582 ) but I think I prefer the less minty one of Light Pistachio ( https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/2034-60/light-pistachio?color=2034-60 ).

I think the current yellow is just a tad too muddy. A pale brighter yellow would be cheerful and make kids feel better, IMO. It also works well with your blue recovery couch. The couch looks hard and uncomfortable though. Not much you can do about that since softening it with pillows or a throw would make it hard to keep things sanitary. I think the idea of decals of cartoon characters or posters of young music/film stars that are popular with the middle school bunch would take their mind off their situation. They'd probably not feel they're in an adults-only environment and would be more relaxed..

If you choose predominate blue, green, blue-green for the room... I would always add some soft warm colors in the artwork.

Hey @LB Interiors I have the wildflowers over my sofa! Love it

decoenthusiaste, what shade of yellow would you recommend? The walls are scuffed and need a new coat of something, and I'm wondering if sticking with the yellows might actually be the right route. I, too, think the current yellow is a bit dull. But I dont want a bright neon, lol!

I could also put another contrasting/complimentary color on the opposite (currently dirty white) wall. But I don't want to over do it. I also love this print from amazon.

@kathylawyer school colors are red and black!

I was a high school nurse ......I think you need a calming environment, Too bad your school colors don't reflect calm! IMO I would paint a prettier yellow, not so gold and paint one accent wall, either blue or a deeper yellow.... My walls were painted a light blue and I painted a darker gray blue on one wall as an accent. I had the same blue cot!! Cheers to you and a good school year!

Hi tpaige03... I love the Wild Flowers too. It's a great piece to go in any direction in colors for any decor.

I agree with those that suggested a pale soft yellow. It's a nice option also. Maybe a butter cream.

I think minty color suggested above is a great idea for your office. As back to a student, I'd love to see nurse office as fresh room so I minty is a good option.

The paint color in this room is Sherwin Williams Optimistic Yellow

I think if that room were just yellow and blue it would clash rather than feel reassuring, so it is the green plus a generous amount of clean white that makes it pleasantly restful. So wondering if there is any money in the budget for green window shade, new chairs and a bit of green in some artwork over the recovery sofa

Optimistic Yellow

Fabric for a shade

Different Strokes Green Fabric, 9"x9" · More Info

Pair of chairs on casters

VyStraight Leg w/ Caster, Qty. 2 Green · More Info

next to the window over the head of the sofa

"It Will Get Better" Mini Framed Canvas by Cathy Walters · More Info

Thank you, ital mover! The budget is my own pocketbook! LOL, but I do like the green chair idea with the yellow walls. Maybe I'll head to IKEA in the coming weeks and look around. I was only in that office for almost year until COVID shut us down, now our school is co-located at a high school, so I haven't been in there all year and want to make it look really inviting when we all go back in the Fall. A portion of our students are co-located (with me and other support staff ) at another school in a "hub" type of set-up.

I also want to add some greens via plants and such. As much as I my love blues, I may have to stick with warm colors on this one and incorporate accessories for pop. Our school is in desperate need of renovations, but my office is actually one of the nicer rooms! (in SE San Francisco)

I love the mockups Melissa did in SW Peacock Plume. that's my vote.

oh those blue recovery couches. brings back bad memories, LOL.

@kathylawyer So cool that you were a high school nurse! I do love my middle school kiddos. That cot was one of my big accomplishments when I got hired.. I had no budget, so I raised the money through Donors Choose! The blue seemed like the best color option at that time. (Though it isn't as soft as I though it would be!).

Keeping Budget in mind.... maybe spray paint chairs. For difficult surfaces. Paint & Primer in one. Lightly sand surface.

I've used this. It's a nice satin finish.

Maybe you can ask family or friends to help.

Maybe Rolling Surf or White. These colors will be a nice contrast with the dark flooring.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Krylon-FUSION-ALL-IN-ONE-Satin-Rolling-Surf-Spray-Paint-and-Primer-In-One-Actual-Net-Contents-12-oz/1000460193

Maybe students might feel more comfortable with a little privacy. Just a thought.

Folding screen at bed side.

https://www.amazon.com/3-Panel-Folding-Floor-Screen-Cherry/dp/B003KWKXB6/ref=mp_s_a_1_20_sspa?adgrpid=55684054986&dchild=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwqIiFBhAHEiwANg9sznuQJykpK49Rq8BYuf0gEvxveWkHVCzxqHRY8q-gADtWmertLvt7xxoCio8QAvD_BwE&hvadid=274699184796&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=9031163&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=727638821993515529&hvtargid=kwd-320391085663&hydadcr=13544_9594996&keywords=folding+screen+cheap&qid=1621279324&sr=8-20-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzUzNERktQQUo5UTk2JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDA2NDMxV1VDNUQ1NDAxMEhHJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAzNzUxMjAyRVVUVEk0VE43S0s3JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfcGhvbmVfc2VhcmNoX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=#

LB Interiors Ha! I have a privacy screen on my amazon list! I've been waiting on the exact one until I figure out paint. lol I considered a curtain, but it's a pain to put in work orders to get a track put on ceiling.

Yellow is an agitating color, so I don't think it's the best choice for this space. I'd stick to a very pale sky blue for the walls, and then add some colorful artwork or posters of nature scenes with lots of greenery.

Modern in Montvale · More Info

Looks good. Another thing I always did when in office surroundings with florescent overhead lighting is to add as many table and floor lamps as possible. The homey feeling they added, and the warm light from them after turning off the overhead lights, made my offices into comfy places where people liked to gather. That might be helpful to students.

I was just going to suggest table and floor lamps! I do the same in my office; the overhead is permanently off (because the bulbs are gone) and if the light from the two windows is not enough for my work I turn on one or both of the lamps. It provides the office so much more warmth, figuratively, than awful fluorescent overheads.

Great improvement!