Painting Your Healthcare Facility: Guidance, Techniques & Best Practices!

Hospital Paints:  Safety First

Painting a medical facility often requires a knowledgeable painting expert. It involves painting in challenging environments, including surgery rooms, consultation rooms, offices, laboratories, and cafeterias besides prioritizing the safety of patients, visitors, and healthcare workers. 

Below are few guidelines to follow:

• Use paints without any solvents or additives as cleaner alternatives
• Use antimicrobial paints to help counter the spread of pathogens
• Use eco-friendly paints for natural binders and pigments 
• Use no or low VOC paints as they produce toxic gases
• Strictly no lead paints or paint varieties
• High durability paint & coatings
   

SAFETY ISN’T EXPENSIVE, IT IS PRICELESS – JERRY SMITH

Hospital Paints:  Colour Choices

Healthcare facilities are where people come to recover or seek treatment, they might not have an inner calm about the situation. Using Colour Psychology practices can change a medical facility’s mood for both the patient and the staff.

• Shades of blue and green in operating rooms to neutralize red for the staff
• Neutral palettes for patient rooms to create calm and comfort
• Vibrant palettes for receptions and waiting areas
• Brighter palettes for staff areas and cafeteria
• Plastic paints for lobbies and corridors 
   

THE COLOURS USED THROUGHOUT HEALTHCARE FACILITIES ARE DEPENDENT ON THE PATIENTS WITHIN THOSE AREAS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN PAEDIATRIC AREAS, COLOURS CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH TOYS OR OTHER CHILD-IDENTIFIED ITEMS MAY PROMOTE A MORE CONDUCIVE ATMOSPHERE THAN A ROOM PAINTED WHITE. ADVERSELY, MOST ELDERLY PATIENTS PREFER WARM NEUTRAL COLOURS LIKE BEIGE BECAUSE IT REFLECTS HOME ENVIRONMENT.

Hospital Paints:  Best Practices

Only true professionals can help maximize the desired effect and the end goal of painting. However, there are certain easy pointers that when implemented can get you closer to your goals effortlessly.

Before you finalise colours, check:

• What is the purpose of the room? Eg. Treatment, counseling, waiting, etc.
• What kind of patient will the room serve? Eg. Old, Young, Adult, Children, etc. 
• Where can the colours be introduced? Eg. Wall, ceiling, floor, furnishings, etc.
• Other contributing factors, like x-rays, machines, and other devices in the room.
• Lastly, the introduction of any brand colours, infographics, wayfinding art, etc.