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.
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