At this years European Healthcare Design conference, we asked attendees one simple question: What would you introduce or replace in a typical healthcare utility setting? Their answers highlighted the small but meaningful changes that can have a big impact on the patient and staff experience.
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'Gentle lighting'
Softer, ambient lighting can transform a clinical environment, helping patients feel calmer during longer waits or extended hospital stays. It balances the harshness of overhead lighting and creates a more comfortable atmosphere by echoing the gentle rhythms and qualities of natural light.
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'Real plants'
Plants can provide soft privacy screening while also acting as natural acoustic buffers. Although incorporating planting into healthcare environments can present challenges due to clinical requirements, our engagement work consistently reveals a strong desire for more greenery. Where we have been able to introduce planting, staff have enthusiastically taken ownership of caring for it, helping spaces continue to feel cared for and alive.
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'More colour'
Colour plays many roles in a hospital environment. It can support wayfinding by creating memorable landmarks, warm and de-clinicalise spaces, and influence how people feel within them. It can provide moments of distraction, promote calm, or introduce some playfulness for children and families spending time in the building.
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‘Interesting materials’
Hospitals are often defined by hard, sterile finishes and shiny PVC surfaces. Wherever possible, we should look for opportunities to introduce tactile materials into the architecture. Contrasting textures add visual depth and interest, while warm materials and comfortable seating create environments that feel more welcoming and human.
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'Easy navigation'
Effective wayfinding is not always about large, prominent signage in the hospital entrance. Often, it is the smaller, simpler and more thoughtfully integrated cues that people remember most. Playful, intuitive interventions can make navigating a complex healthcare environment feel easier, supporting patients and visitors throughout their journey.
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If you'd like our help to bring beauty into your healthcare setting, get in touch.
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