Clinics
Consultation Room Colour Palette for Clinics
Choose colour against the surfaces that will stay. Test it on a large sample at the room's brightest and darkest points.
Explore the ideas
Compare the options
- Set the brief
- Collect samples of permanent finishes, upholstery and hardware before picking a paint or laminate.
- Compare
- Assign a background colour, one wayfinding or feature colour, and contrast where people need to distinguish edges.
- Before buying
- Check painted or laminated samples vertically beside the same light source the finished room will use.
Worked example
Imagine a person with reduced contrast perception struggling to distinguish a pale door edge from the surrounding wall in a familiar room.
Test stronger visual contrast at the door edge and key controls using large samples in the room's actual light. Confirm choices with the resident and any occupational or vision specialist involved in care.
How to test it
Compare the samples in daylight and artificial light, and check that handles and door edges remain easy to distinguish.
Apply it to this space
- Layout
- Place seating at an angle rather than directly across a desk barrier, with the door outside the conversation sightline.
- Detail
- Use soft, cleanable finishes and an adjustable light mix for conversation and paperwork.
- Trade-off
- More storage can make a small room feel crowded.
- Check privacy from corridor and adjacent room
- Sit in both patient and clinician positions
The Elixir portfolio
Details worth a closer look
