Clinics
Treatment 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 equipment on the working side and leave an uncluttered approach from door to patient position.
- Detail
- Use sealed, cleanable surfaces and controllable task light without harsh glare in the patient’s view.
- Trade-off
- Dedicated equipment positions reduce flexibility for other treatment types.
- Mock up equipment in active positions
- Check cords and stools stay out of the route
The Elixir portfolio
Details worth a closer look
