Positive impact of colour and cues from nature

The emerging shift in hospital design is revolutionising patient care. As evidence increasingly links well thought-out interiors to improved standards and faster recovery, healthcare facilities are transitioning from stark, clinical environments to spaces that promote healing and comfort. At Jeld-Wen, we have seen new design trends emerging across Europe, with just as much attention paid to the look and feel, as to the functionality, of healthcare environments. Here, we explore the evolution of hospital design, with the incorporation of colour and cues from nature contributing to more effective treatment, increased staff wellbeing, and a better bottom line.

Historically, hospitals were designed with a singular focus on function, often with little consideration to the wellbeing of the people within them. This approach resulted in the creation of sterile, uninviting spaces that detached patients from the natural world, with an abundance of stark white walls, windowless waiting rooms, and long, artificially-lit corridors.

For many patients, these clinical settings serve as a reminder that they are far from the comforts of home. Equally, such environments do little to inspire enthusiasm and motivation in staff, instead underscoring the gravity of their responsibilities, and the high stakes of their daily tasks.