I want to do a cake for my family's pediatrician's office. The staff is so great there, we are really blessed. The most practical thing to do is a sheet cake but I want it to be REALLY nice. You never know what could drum up more business! 
So, how do you all dress up your sheet cakes? I think sometimes people think sheet cakes are all the same and equate them with cheap, grocery type cakes. I need this to be special. Thanks!
Are you looking for something that illustrates what they do there, i.e. babies, children, etc.? Or maybe something that that is simple yet elegant? There are so many ways of showing your appreciation, even in what you might write on it. A verse or saying maybe.
Maybe think about the decor they have at the office and try to imitate that. I agree with mmdd, color makes a big difference. Also do a search here for "medical" and you will see some ideas that people have done.
Things at Doctor's offices - bandaids, stethascopes, pills, shots
A sheet cake does NOT have to be boring!
I like doing chocolate icing on my sheet cakes when I can. Here's one that I did in chocolate BC and MMF accents.
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=allby&uname=luv2cake&cat=0&pos=3
I agree, add as much color as possible, even coloring the backgroung color of icing. That would really set it apart from grocery store cakes.
I have done a couple sheet cakes. You can take a look at my photos to see if you can get some ideas. I too hate boring sheet cakes!
I'm going to have to agree with everyone - lots of color! I'ma ctually doing a sheet cake for a birthday this weekend, she told me the colors that were on the invitations and wants chocolate bc. I'm going to frost it in chocolate, then use her colors (lime green and hot pink) and stripe the top with green in a vertical fashion (almost like basketweave) then I'm making bc sweet peas or another flower to put at each intersecting line of the stripes (the stripe will ge both ways). I'll then use a pink border on the cake and along the lines for the basketweave. I'm going to polkda dots and squiggles on the sides of the cake as well. I think adding color and just doing fun decorations will add a little something to it. I know exactly what you mean about the ones at stores looking so plain, so I'm planning to pretty much cover the cake with color and stripes, etc.
So that was a long statement saying 'I know how you feel' and here's what I'm trying. Lots of color, crazy designs, incorporate things from their office, maybe make people from fondant (i.e. a doctor, a nurse, a patient, etc.)... have fun with it, and be sure to post a pic once you're done - I can't wait to cehck it out!
Chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolate almond buttercream??? That's always my answer to the boring sheet cake; I guess because it is always so well received.
I know sheet cakes aren't quite as fun as tiered cakes and don't have as much "wow" factor, but you know what? They are popular for a reason. They are easy to cut; easy to box and easy to transport! As you say, they are practical! Even if I decorate my sheet cake with roses I still try to decorate in a way that gives something a little more special than the standard grocery store cake. It's not really a sheet (2 round cakes), but if you want to do something fun, what about doing the cake that looks like a baby (I've seen many here in the gallery; look under the baby contest); the baby could be holding a "thank you for all you do" sign or something; or make some baby/kids out of fondant to go on top of your sheet. (can find examples of those in the contest gallery too). Use your imagination; I am sure you can come up with something unique or fun!
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