When thinking of a hospital you immediately associate it as a cold, stark, and sterile environment. Recent trends in design however are aiming to rid the hospital of that association and instead make it a more welcoming environment - even if it is one no one wishes to be welcomed to it.

1) Blur the Line Between Home and Hospital

When admitted to a room at a hospital it causes a lot of stress for the patient. Their stress levels are increased further by a room that is constantly reminding them of their environment. So instead of making the room resemble a hospital, it's important to make the environment feel more like home. This means decorating with relaxing colours, furnishing the room, incorporating artwork, and allowing natural light to reach the room.

2) Utilize the Space Effectively

In addition to making the atmosphere more comfortable, you also want to ensure that you are utilizing the space effectively. This can mean adding multi-purpose furniture, offering storage compartments for guests, or including side tables with electrical access.

3) Lighting

Perhaps one of the harshest elements of a hospital is the lighting. While bright lighting may be required by the doctor during their assessment, an individual doesn't want to be exposed to that lighting all the time. That's why The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Guigelines for Design and Construction of Hospitals and Health Care Facilities suggest that patients should have access to lighting controls in order for them to feel like they have some control over their own environment.

4) Create a Sense of Security

While having a comfortable space is important, one of the key factors that will influence patient satisfaction is their sense of security while staying at the hospital. They want to know that the hospital is secure and they have access to help when it is needed.

5) Provide Access to Nature

While having a window that gives the patient a view of the landscape is helpful, what is even more desirable is an area of nature that they can visit. Ideally this means bringing plants into the hospital or having a garden for patients.

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