Creating homely environments for nursing homes using healthcare furniture

With an increasing focus on the development of hospitals, surgeries and care homes, more and more designers are looking at making the care industry look less clinical and creating contemporary environments for patients and families. Over the last few years, more and more attention has gone into creating healthcare furniture to fit relaxing and stylish spaces. Within care homes in particular, effort to help residents get the greatest enjoyment out of every day has been a high priority. In this article we discuss creating homely environments for nursing homes, using healthcare furniture.

As interior designer Victoria Lloyd said in an interview with Care Home Professional, “Furniture for care is always advancing. In particular, furniture styles are becoming much more design-led and homely.” In fact, various studies have shown that by making a nursing home appear more homely through architecture and design, it improves psychological and social factors.

Factors which can improve the sense of home in a nursing facility are:

1. Shared spaces

An important factor for creating a stylish but homely environment for care residents is to provide a shared space which allows for engagement with others. Family style dining spaces for conversations and meal times would represent a homely environment, while still allowing for healthcare furniture.

2. Space for personal furniture

A large part of feeling at home is being in charge of, and surrounding ourselves with, personal items such as home furniture. Creating space within private bedroom areas to allow for personal and healthcare furniture would create a more homely atmosphere whilst still allowing for efficiency in the healthcare environment.

3. Home colours

Very few homes consist of pristine white surfaces and cupboards. Healthcare furniture resembling wood-like colours on the beds and storage cupboards would instead create a fresh, inviting home environment. Choosing colours for the walls that stand out against the floors and furniture will also clarify space for elderly inhabitants.

4. Stylish infection control

Healthcare furniture, such as storage cupboards with sloping tops, prevents dust from collecting on the surfaces. Scandinavian style furniture creates a modern, fresh design that is easy to clean but still looks stylish and homely.

5. Visual imagery

Visual imagery in the form of wall murals is also a brilliant way to create calming spaces, whilst also benefiting patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Homely environments for nursing homes – where to find out more

Our UK-manufactured healthcare furniture is available in a range of laminate colours and finishes, including bright colours and homely finishes such as wood and slate. See our colour cards which you can download or request to be sent to you in the post.

As one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of fitted, specialised furniture for hospitals and healthcare facilities, we can design, manufacture and install furniture to meet your individual project requirements. Our Healthcare furniture range is specified for all types of hospital refurbishment and new development projects, from NHS Trust premises to private hospitals. All our furniture is manufactured at our factory in Broadstairs, Kent, here in the UK. Find out more about our range of healthcare furniture.