Healthcare spaces are undergoing a much-needed change in perspective, with sterile and intimidating interiors giving way to more human-centred ones that fundamentally enhance the patient experience. Thoughtful designs and soothing palettes are replacing clinical whites and beiges, creating more welcoming settings that reduce stress and anxiety without compromising effective care and necessary hygiene. Here, four healthcare products that express the softer side of clinical settings. 

1

Ellie Patient Recliner by Kwalu

When devising the Ellie collection for healthcare furniture brand Kwalu, industrial designer Von Robinson (founder of Play Orbit Studio) was intent on prioritizing dignity and comfort for patients and their families. With years of research into and exploration of biophilic strategies and holistic wellness in the built environment under his belt, Robinson appointed the Ellie patient recliner with graceful curves that were inspired by “nature’s flow and erosion lines.” 

Helping to facilitate early mobility, the Ellie recliner features an “embrace back” that cradles the sitter vertically while providing passive lateral support to encourage a stable, upright posture. An integrated footrest slopes downward at an angle that, when tucked away, makes transitioning from sitting to standing easy, with the sturdy looped arms aiding in the movement. Engineered to withstand continuous use, the recliner is made with high-touch surfaces and Protea, Kwalu’s proprietary non-porous material that is resistant to scuffs and scratches and can tolerate medical-grade cleaning requirements. A push bar on the back helps staff to move and position the recliner (and a Trendelenburg mechanism can be engaged to fully recline the patient), while optional accessories like an IV pole holder, Foley bag hook, transfer arms, heat and massage, tablet and side tables and more, allow the recliner to be tailored to suit most needs. The Ellie collection also includes a coordinating sleeper sofa for overnight guests. 

2

Gemma Flop Sofa by Herman Miller

Visiting and caring for loved ones who are in hospital is almost always a high-stress experience and being able to stay close by throughout the night can provide both patient and family members with much-needed emotional comfort. With its new Gemma Flop sofa, Herman Miller delivers a human-centred solution that helps to alleviate anxieties and allows the focus to be placed on patient recovery and support. 

Defined by a modern yet inviting aesthetic, the Flop sofa (available in three sizes) is both welcoming and intuitive to use: once the integrated castors are locked into place by a gentle push of a foot, the padded backrest is simply turned down and folded – or flopped – open to form a sturdy and accommodating single-person mattress. The comprehensive Gemma healthcare collection – which includes a Recliner for patients, a one-person Sleep chair and a two-person Double Sleep sofa – was designed to alleviate stress through familiarity, offering furniture that feels more comforting than clinical. Offered in a range of colours and resilient finishes, Gemma brings harmonious cohesive to healthcare spaces.

3

Ethos by Designtex

A new bio-based polyurethane textile from Designtex, Ethos meets the stringent demands of high-performance interiors, include healthcare settings. Made with 12 per cent biobased content – derived from renewable biological resources like plants, animal fibres, algae, fungi or agricultural and forestry by-products – and a recycled post-consumer woven polyester backing and silicone topcoat, Ethos is a sustainable stand-in for conventional coated upholstery fabrics. 

And with compelling surface texture similar to pebbled leather, a soft, pliable hand, and an expansive palette of 32 colours that range from subdued neutrals to nature-inspired hues, Ethos is also a beautiful option for institutional spaces. What’s more, the material promotes a healthy interior by being free of VOCs, antimicrobials, flame retardants, PFAS and PVCs. 

4

Renaturation Collection by Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering

Taking biophilic design to the next level, Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering has introduced the Renaturation collection of wallcoverings. Developed by Austrian-based design and architecture studio 13&9 Design – co-founded by architect Martin Lesjak and Dr. Anastasija Lesjak – in collaboration with scientist and physicist Dr. Richard Taylor, the Renaturation collection embraces the powers that natural fractals – intricate, self-repeating patterns – have on wellbeing. 

Named for the concept “in which nature reclaims manmade or developed spaces,” the Renaturation collection was three-years of research in the making and features three patterns that are derived from nature to have positive impact on brain health and healing, enhance overall cognitive function and improve wellbeing: Fractal River, which is inspired by the renaturated River Aire in Geneva and features a “wild, meandering” fluidity (in five colours); Fractal Moss, an interpretation of free-growing moss and lichen on a stone wall in the Lesjak’s hometown of Graz (in six colours); and Fractal Bark, which recreates the feeling of serenity when standing in a forest of towering trees (available in seven colours).