Making Use Of Inner Spaces To Bring Humanity Back To Patients

Traditionally, hospitals and other healthcare establishments have received criticism for having cold and soleless interior designs. However, with a new approach to the decor of patients’ wards, staff break rooms, and waiting rooms, it’s possible to bring a sense of humanity back into these spaces.

A sense of humanity in interior design has proven effects on the well-being of those in the rooms, and with new technology and products on the market, this is becoming more and more viable.

Humanitarian Elements In Interior Design

There has been a recent increase in the integration of nature in interior design, with recent findings showing that humans have an intrinsic love for all things nature. This is the main focus that Sky Inside draws on. In addition, facilitating a connection to nature in inner spaces has had proven positive results on people’s mental health.

Biophilia And Nature Integration

The term, ‘Biophilia,’ has Greek origin and translates to “the love of living things,’ with the ‘philia’ morpheme meaning ‘love” or “fascination with.” The phenomenon acknowledges human beings’ pull towards nature and is the holistic approach taken in interior and general design today.

By integrating nature into inner spaces, a room is immediately more inviting. It creates a calmer atmosphere, so it is essential to incorporate this concept into hospitals and healthcare spaces. The calming effects of nature assist patients in feeling calmer and can reduce feelings of stress and possible hostility towards staff members. It’s interesting that we bring about a more human touch by integrating nature into spaces.

Of course, inside busy settings, it can be challenging to bring items such as plants and other natural elements into the space without getting in the way too much. For this reason, decorating the walls and ceilings is the most practical option in healthcare settings.

The Impact Of Colour Psychology

The concept of colour psychology is a fascinating one. Different colours evoke different feelings inside people, and the theories surrounding it are used by interior design professionals globally. For example, you may notice that children’s wards in hospitals and general medical practices use the colour yellow. One of the reasons behind this choice of colour pallet is that it is said to invoke feelings of joy and happiness.

Similarly, people decorate their homes and use colours according to the atmosphere they wish to set in a particular room. One may use purple and red in settings they wish to glamourise and make people socialise. However, for the purpose of restoring humanity in spaces that typically cause stress, introducing blues and greens should be explored.

Blue promotes wisdom, hope and calmness, which is why it’s an excellent colour to use when looking to bring humanity into an interior space. Drawing on similar concepts mentioned above surrounding biophilia, green is another colour that should be incorporated inside areas where patients may typically experience discomfort or unease. This can be achieved through painting the walls in appropriate colours or through integrating products designed explicitly with colour psychology and human mental well-being in mind.

For example, design pieces with natural colours in their wall and ceiling displays. These incorporations can restore humanity back into a space by using bright, high-quality colours and specifically designed scenes that create feelings of calmness and serenity. Design integrations like digital panels do not require additional space on the floor, meaning they do not take up space where people need to move, sometimes at a brisk pace.

Patient Occupation And Distraction

One of the other ways that humanity can be brought back into spaces to benefit patients’ well-being is by providing them with something to do. This is particularly relevant in hospitals and healthcare settings that deal with children with ADHD or in organisations that work with those needing medical assistance for mental health conditions.

Occupational therapy draws on the concepts of activating different areas of the brain by encouraging engagement in different activities. Activities can include gameplay and interaction with others. One of the challenges facing establishments that work with such patients is a lack of space to host products that could help them in their profession.

By integrating interactive screens that facilitate gameplay and promote engagement, interior designers can introduce facilities that both form a tool for therapists and provide distractions for patients. In doing so, patients are given something else to focus on other than the fact that they are currently in a healthcare setting or a hospital.

This is not to say that the key to restoring humanity to inner spaces is by distracting them. It does help, but the focus is mainly on how patients interact with a space. Working with game developers and specialist designers can create products that people can engage with to benefit their mental health. For example, interactive ceiling panels and floor projections use newly developed technology that has proven results in spaces that treat people struggling with mental illness.

Why Humanity Is Important for Patients

Ultimately, bringing humanity back into space is essential for patients, as they often find themselves in complex scenarios in a hospital or healthcare setting. Bringing an atmosphere of calm into spaces by drawing on concepts like biophilia and our intrinsic draw to nature can help achieve reduced feelings of stress in settings such as hospitals. With medically validated products such as Sky Inside’s digital panels, this is made possible in a way that fits into such spaces with minimal obstruction.

The natural displays specifically designed to be installed on wall and ceiling panels by Sky Inside can help integrate biophilia into inner spaces. In addition, Sky Inside’s interactive products, such as digital ceilings and wall panels, can be used to engage patients spending time in healthcare settings to assist in mental health treatments, for example. These clean integrations fit into a space without taking up additional floor space, which may cause additional obstructions. Sky Inside aims to bring humanity back to patients through continuing to develop technology products that are practical to utilise in healthcare and similar settings.

If you would like to find out more please contact the team on 01173 183919 or email Allan@skyinsideuk.com.