Color has power. It can define a space, elicit feelings of control and even bring peace to your patients and staff.
When designing a health care office or clinic, it is vital to choose the right color scheme. Otherwise, you could leave your patient’s feeling anxious or less than confident in your ability to care for them.
Color Sets the Tone
Bright red office walls can create fear in a medical setting. Black or dark gray walls can set a foreboding tone to the visit. Yellow may seem perky, but can be hard for the eye to take in so it can make some people feel aggravated.
When designing a health care facility, color can be used to set a certain tone for the office. For instance, a pediatric office that features a more whimsical feel may opt to use brighter, bolder colors, while an oncologist will want to use calmer and more soothing ones on their walls.
When picking a paint color, be sure that your general contractor considers the following:
- Red is an emotionally charged color. Used in a medical setting it often makes the person think of blood, pain and fear. It should be used sparingly if at all.
- Blue tones are often used to make patients feel calm, confident and safe.
- Green is a calm and refreshing color. Tied to nature, a green paint color can give your office a more relaxed feel.
- Yellow is a mood booster and attention getter. While patients may find the paint color to be too much for an entire room, using yellow as a focal point or accessory color can offer a sense of optimism.
Color Can Give Your Patients Confidence
Research has shown that color can boost person’s confidence, make them feel cared for and offer a sense of overall well-being. Doctors wear white coats for a reason. The color white gives off a sense of authority and can imply sterility/cleanliness.
On the other hand, black denotes submission, aloofness and pain. It is for these reasons that black and gray are rarely used in medical settings.
Shades of brown are considered solid, reliable and genuine. That is one reason why they are often used in medical buildings. With a variety of shades found in the color palette, commercial construction experts often rely on the brown family to complement medical offices. Used in conjunction with blue and green tones, browns can offer patient’s a sense of well-being, making them feel well cared for.
With so many paint color options, it isn’t always easy to know what shade to choose. Understanding the role color plays in a patient’s mood and their ability to heal is important to help you choose just the right hues to promote healing and give your patient’s that little boost during their illness and recovery.
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