How the colour of flooring affects people in a healthcare setting

Published: 13-Dec-2024

Dr Axel Buether, one of the world’s leading colour experts and pioneer of modern evidence-based colour psychology, has collaborated with Bona to develop a new colour collection

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Q: You’re a world-leading colour expert, what is the link to healthcare?

The psychological impact of colour is extremely powerful. We constantly communicate with our environment through the language of colour, which secretly has a great influence on our emotional life, our social behaviour and our health.

Over the years, I have been involved in a significant amount of research on colour. My studies aren’t undertaken within the confines of the laboratory, as many are, but instead are carried out in real-life contexts – particularly in hospitals or other healthcare settings.

The psychological impact of colour is extremely powerful

This evidence-based research is wide and varied, ranging from the therapeutic effects of colour on patients with different health conditions, to the influence of colour design on patient wellbeing and satisfaction.

I have also recognised the far-reaching influence of colours directly on the nervous system; it can affect metabolism, breathing, blood pressure and muscle tone for to name a few. Colour also affects our feelings, and because feelings are a person's strongest driving force, colours have the power to shape our thoughts and actions.

In any healthcare space, the wellbeing of people is of central importance, and the colours used can ultimately impact everyone who enters the building - patients, staff, and visitors – the right colour palette can be very healing and comforting.

Q: Why does the colour of flooring matter in healthcare?


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