How Interior Design Affects Students and Patients

The design elements that we surround ourselves with have a tremendous impact on our mental and physical well-being. From ergonomic furniture for good posture to uplifting colors that spark the imagination, interior design plays an important role in a variety of commercial and hospitality settings. If you own an educational institution or medical facility, it’s worthwhile to learn more about how interior design affects students and patients.

The Effects of School Space Planning on Student Learning

Every community wants to improve the effectiveness of its educational system. Achieving this goal requires ongoing research and experimentation.

While the success of any student is influenced by several factors, one often overlooked variable is school space planning. Studies in recent years suggest that everything from attention span and motivation to information retention is affected by classroom design. The right furniture, room layout and color scheme can have tremendous impact on student learning.

The elements of a classroom designed for learning include:

• Comfortable student desks and chairs
• Solid construction teacher desks with smoothly functioning drawers
• Tablet arm chairs to provide a built-in writing surface without taking up much more space than an ordinary chair
• Matching tables and chairs throughout each classroom for uniformity
• Stacking and folding chairs for flexible classroom layouts
• Activity tables with built-in outlets for laptops and cutouts for desktop computer cords to provide a tidy, convenient study area
• White boards, chalkboards, and bulletin boards of the proper size and in the proper location for the best student engagement

The Effects of Medical Space Planning on Patient Healing

No one would ever claim that a hospital layout has the power to heal patients – that’s the healthcare team’s job. However, medical space planning can facilitate an environment designed for higher-quality healthcare and faster healing. Simple additions to healthcare interior design can make patients more comfortable and help caregivers provide better support to their patients.

The types of professional space planning that should be included in all medical facilities include:

• Home-like settings that make a hospital stay more welcoming and less stressful
• Comfortable patient beds featuring overbed tables and nightstands
• Comfortable places for family members to sit and sleep while visiting loved ones
• Inviting waiting room furniture
• Bariatric furniture to accommodate guests and patients of all statures
• Sinks in all hospital rooms
• Multiple lighting options in patients’ rooms
• Full control over room temperature and air flow
• Efficient and productive desks and workstations for the healthcare team

Space Planning and Interior Design in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC

Zoom Inc. has been in the educational space planning and healthcare interior design industries for over a decade. We’re the designer of choice for schools and hospitals throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, including Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Our goal is to meet your needs by combining our interior design and space planning expertise with a vast array of commercial furniture from today’s top brands.

To speak with a professional space planning expert, please contact us today. We offer free, no-obligation consultations across the Mid-Atlantic.