Bringing the outside in: Using nature in hospital waiting area design

The effects of nature on wellbeing have recently become recognised by hospital designers. Nature can be easily implemented into hospital waiting area design.

For a long time, hospital waiting areas have been distinctly clinical, with white walls, white seating and hard, white floors. This fairly simple interior has been used to create a clean, professional environment in healthcare settings so that patients feel calm when they go for a medical procedure. Now, however, more and more hospitals are starting to recognise the benefits of implementing a more decorative interior style into their waiting rooms and check-up spaces. More specifically, the use of decoration and hospital furniture inspired by nature is becoming popular in hospital waiting area design.

This article will guide you through why this new design trend is becoming popular in hospitals and how you can start to implement it into your own interior.

Why is nature being used in hospital waiting area design?

Whether it’s bringing nature into the waiting rooms with plants and succulents or if it’s enlarging waiting area windows to give patients a better view of the outside, hospitals have started to recognise the benefits that nature can have in their waiting areas.

Being able to see visible nature, real or fake, has been proven time and time again to have stress-relieving effects. This is particularly helpful in hospital waiting areas where patients are likely to feel anxious about appointments or procedures that they may be waiting for.

The calming effect of nature in waiting rooms has an extensive selection of research behind it and the benefits are hard for anyone to ignore. Implementing nature into a hospital waiting area design can be done easily at a fairly low cost, which makes it ideal for NHS hospitals that have a budget to stick to. Even just a simple pot plant has been shown to make a difference to people’s anxiety levels.

How can nature be implemented into hospital waiting area design?

Fake plants

One of the easiest ways to start bringing nature into a hospital is to invest in some real-looking fake plants. Fake plants are ideal for hospital settings because they require no maintenance and will remain looking good all year round.

Real plants will die after a certain amount of time and will need replacing more often, which can be expensive to maintain. You could place fake plants on shelving units, coffee tables or desks that may be in your hospital waiting area.

The best type of fake plant to buy for your hospital waiting area is leafy plants. Visible greenery has been shown to be the most beneficial type of nature on mental wellbeing.

Window views

Another fairly simple way to bring nature into any hospital waiting area design is to improve the view that patients have from any windows that are in the room. Visible green space from a window is a proven way to improve wellbeing and improve rates of recovery.

You could try to revamp areas that are outside of waiting area windows to make them more “green”. This could be done by planting trees, putting down some grass or even making a small garden area for patients to see. It may even be a good idea to get patients involved with this project and being outside in nature will have even greater effects on mental health whilst in hospital.

Pictures and wall art

Any visible green space or depiction of nature is good for our mental health. This means that pictures of nature will reap the benefits just as much as physical nature will do.

Hospital waiting areas can be busy places and bringing in plants and indoor shrubbery may make the room seem even more crowded. Pictures of nature are a good idea because they can be hung with hooks onto walls, taking up no extra space at all. Using pictures as part of your waiting room interior will also maintain the sophisticated nature of hospital design.

Choosing the right furniture

It is possible to maintain a sophisticated, sleek interior while bringing themes of nature into a room, as long as you choose the right furniture.

To keep your hospital waiting area a calm and practical space for patients and staff to use, you should always make sure to choose simple and practical furniture. Choosing abstract furniture, along with nature-themed décor, may make the room look a little crowded, which will take away from the benefits of bringing nature into hospital design. Opt for simple storage units, shelves and cabinets for your hospital waiting area and try to only include furniture that will be used often to stop overcrowding.

To keep your hospital waiting area a calm and practical space for patients and staff to use, you should always make sure to choose simple and practical furniture. Choosing abstract furniture, along with nature-themed décor, may make the room look a little crowded, which will take away from the benefits of bringing nature into hospital design. Opt for simple storage units, shelves and cabinets for your hospital waiting area and try to only include furniture that will be used often to stop overcrowding.

It is important that hospital waiting area design recognises the effects that aesthetics can have on patient well being and recovery. Bringing nature into a hospital waiting area is an affordable and easy solution that will help to relieve stress and anxiety. Even the simplest of décor can have a huge impact on wellbeing within a hospital setting. Whether you decide to invest in some plants or decide to revamp the view from waiting room windows, you cannot go wrong with incorporating nature into hospital waiting area design.

Nature in hospital waiting areas – find out more

Find out more about using nature in hospitals in our blog “Why biophilic design in healthcare is important.”

At David Bailey Furniture Systems we have been manufacturing storage and reception furniture for hospitals and healthcare facilities for nearly 40 years. Clients can choose from a wide range of colours and finishes to bring the feel of nature into the indoor health setting.

Download our colour card, browse our healthcare furniture brochure, or get in touch to discuss your project with us.