Trends in Medical Office Design
Going to the doctor can be a difficult thing to endure. That's why the interior design of a medical office is one of the most critical pieces of the patient experience. Gone are the days when doctors' offices were done up in stark white surroundings that seem to seek out ways to intimidate. Those grim surroundings found in the medical offices of yesterday only added to the nerve-racking experience of going to the doctor, and that's the last thing you want from your medical office. Today's doctor's office must be a sanctuary aimed at creating a soothing atmosphere with one purpose in mind ... establishing the best patient experience possible. A medical office must be a highly functional work space. It must also effect peace of mind in the patients who visit it. And today's trends in medical office design do just that. Here are some of the biggest trends happening in the design of medical offices.
Color
Nothing will make a patient more nervous about waiting in a doctor's office than the abruptness of white all around them. Austere white walls, white doors, and even all-white nurses' uniforms with white hats and shoes all harken back to old scary movies that invoke fear and uneasiness. And the last thing you want your patients to feel is fear. One of today's biggest medical office design trends is pastel colors that help to allay those fears. Soft yellows are trending huge this year, as yellow is a bright, happy color, and in its softer tints and shades, yellow has a calming effect on nerves. Soft pinks, blues, and even greens are also good for creating an appeasing environment. Another big trend in colors this year for medical office design is blue. Recent studies show that blue actually can calm rapid heart rates. Orange is a huge color this year in just about every design area, and the medical office is definitely one of those. Orange's more muted tones are making a huge comeback, especially in the design of physicians' offices because it promotes feelings of warmth.
Furniture
Ergonomic is definitely the way to go in 2014 medical office design and beyond. Office chairs aren't the only furniture these days that should be ergonomically correct. Naturally, you want your staff to be sitting pretty when it comes to all the work they need to do, and ergonomic chairs will help to keep them from acquiring stiff backs, necks, and other health problems such as deep venous thrombosis. But don't think for a minute that the office is the first and last name in ergonomic furniture. You also want to make sure that your patients are comfortable, especially in busy times when waiting rooms can get full. Chairs and even sofas for waiting areas need to be comfortable and ergonomically correct. Think cozy when you think about your patients. Your patients want to be as comfortable as possible at every stage of a doctor visit. This year's trends in medical office design furniture are toward single chairs that offer ergonomic balance, and the color trends are the same as for walls and decor. Pastels, soft whites, blues, and subdued oranges are the way to go for medical office color schemes this year.
Storage
Of course, your medical office must be highly functional. Even more so than other offices, it's vital that a physician's office works at optimal levels at all times. After all, maximum function equals minimum patient waiting times ... and that means maximum patient comfort. This year's storage areas are trending toward organizing supplies from nearby stores and online sites that can get supplies into your office in a snap. And don't think that supply storage spaces aren't important when it comes to color schemes, either. Anything your patients see should be done in colors that add to the peaceful surroundings you've created everywhere else.
Going to the doctor isn't exactly on the top of everybody's list of favorite things to do. It can be a stressful experience, especially depending on a patient's reason for being there. If you're looking for ways to create a more positive patient experience by adding greater function as well as softer beauty to your medical office, contact a skilled commercial contractor who can show you how today's medical office design trends can transform your work space with medical office remodeling.
Color
Nothing will make a patient more nervous about waiting in a doctor's office than the abruptness of white all around them. Austere white walls, white doors, and even all-white nurses' uniforms with white hats and shoes all harken back to old scary movies that invoke fear and uneasiness. And the last thing you want your patients to feel is fear. One of today's biggest medical office design trends is pastel colors that help to allay those fears. Soft yellows are trending huge this year, as yellow is a bright, happy color, and in its softer tints and shades, yellow has a calming effect on nerves. Soft pinks, blues, and even greens are also good for creating an appeasing environment. Another big trend in colors this year for medical office design is blue. Recent studies show that blue actually can calm rapid heart rates. Orange is a huge color this year in just about every design area, and the medical office is definitely one of those. Orange's more muted tones are making a huge comeback, especially in the design of physicians' offices because it promotes feelings of warmth.
Furniture
Ergonomic is definitely the way to go in 2014 medical office design and beyond. Office chairs aren't the only furniture these days that should be ergonomically correct. Naturally, you want your staff to be sitting pretty when it comes to all the work they need to do, and ergonomic chairs will help to keep them from acquiring stiff backs, necks, and other health problems such as deep venous thrombosis. But don't think for a minute that the office is the first and last name in ergonomic furniture. You also want to make sure that your patients are comfortable, especially in busy times when waiting rooms can get full. Chairs and even sofas for waiting areas need to be comfortable and ergonomically correct. Think cozy when you think about your patients. Your patients want to be as comfortable as possible at every stage of a doctor visit. This year's trends in medical office design furniture are toward single chairs that offer ergonomic balance, and the color trends are the same as for walls and decor. Pastels, soft whites, blues, and subdued oranges are the way to go for medical office color schemes this year.
Storage
Of course, your medical office must be highly functional. Even more so than other offices, it's vital that a physician's office works at optimal levels at all times. After all, maximum function equals minimum patient waiting times ... and that means maximum patient comfort. This year's storage areas are trending toward organizing supplies from nearby stores and online sites that can get supplies into your office in a snap. And don't think that supply storage spaces aren't important when it comes to color schemes, either. Anything your patients see should be done in colors that add to the peaceful surroundings you've created everywhere else.
Going to the doctor isn't exactly on the top of everybody's list of favorite things to do. It can be a stressful experience, especially depending on a patient's reason for being there. If you're looking for ways to create a more positive patient experience by adding greater function as well as softer beauty to your medical office, contact a skilled commercial contractor who can show you how today's medical office design trends can transform your work space with medical office remodeling.