CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN
Healing through design: healthier environments
From biophilic design and acoustics to infection control and wayfinding, flooring has a significant influence on the healthcare experience. Donna Hannaway, head of marketing UK and Ireland at Forbo Flooring Systems, explores how flooring design can support wellbeing and positive patient outcomes.
Naturally, the daily wear and tear on flooring caused by heavy equipment, hospital beds, wheelchairs, and a high volume of foot traffic, makes durability a top priority. However, it is also important to consider patient-centred requirements and emerging design trends when selecting flooring options for healthcare facilities. If specified carefully, flooring has the potential to ease anxiety through thoughtful and inclusive design,1
guiding
patients, visitors, and staff through the hospital’s labyrinth of corridors and wards, and providing the essentials of safety, infection control, and sustainability. By appreciating the importance of hospital flooring
and its role in healthcare settings, we can work to create an environment that is calming, informative and safe. This in turn mentally reinforces vitality, contributing to better patient health outcomes as well as other benefits such as an enhanced visitor experience and staff productivity. There are five key themes that can influence how design affects patient wellbeing.
Biophilic design Biophilic design is based on what is known as the biophilia hypothesis: “[the] idea that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life.” (Encyclopædia Britannica) In simple terms, research has shown that spending time in nature is extremely beneficial for one’s mental wellbeing and emotional health. Considering the amount of time people now spend indoors, biophilic design harnesses the benefits of being in and around nature to create healthier indoor environments. When applied to a healthcare setting, this design concept has been shown to have a particularly supportive effect. Incorporating the natural environment into the design of a hospital or healthcare facility is believed to benefit the patient recovery experience. In fact, a wide range of studies have reported exposure to nature can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, provide pain relief, improve illness recovery, accelerate healing, enhance staff morale and performance, and lead to fewer conflicts between patients and staff.2 There are several ways to apply biophilic design into
hospital and healthcare settings: n Adding indoor plants and greenery to a space. n Using architectonic features such as fittings, accessories, and wood effect flooring.
n The use of natural materials and ample light to create the sense of being at one with nature.
n Mindfully use natural effects like wood and stone, grass, moss, and water, using digitally printed flooring,
February 2026 Health Estate Journal 29 where it is appropriate to the application.
n Consider materials that are sustainable, do not release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and have suitable acoustic qualities to support the use of the space. n Use a natural colour palette for your scheme.
Where circumstances do not lend themselves to the inclusion of natural features, designers are challenged to think creatively for solutions. A rigorous cleaning regime, for example, may limit material choices, or an inner-city location may exclude the possibility for green views, although art depicting natural scenery can still evoke a similar sense of calm. Just as wood-effect flooring can closely mimic the real thing.
Inclusive environments Walking into a hospital setting can be a daunting experience for any patient, as well as for family and friends visiting. For those who are neurodiverse or living with dementia, it can be unsettling, which is why creating inclusive environments can contribute to more positive inpatient stays and outpatient visits. Sensory, mobility, or cognitive impairments (or sometimes a combination of all three) can have a serious impact on the way people experience care facilities. Functioning, behaviour, independence and, ultimately,
It is vital to keep all those recovering, visiting, or working in a hospital safe from hazards, such as slips and trips.
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