Make an enquiry
0

My Enquiry List
(0 products)

You can tell us about any specific requirements including finishes and project requirements once you confirm your enquiry list below.

    Stay in touch

    Leave your details and we'll keep you in the loop with all the latest news and podcast releases.

    We'll need some info

    Drop us your details below for access to our CAD library.

    Scroll

    Healthcare environments that extend beyond the clinical walls into thoughtfully designed outdoor settings offer profound healing benefits for patients, staff, and visitors alike.

    These public outdoor spaces transform the healthcare experience through natural elements, thoughtful seating arrangements, and sustainable materials that support both physical recovery and emotional wellbeing.
    furnitubesblog-healthcare5-images

    The restorative power of natural settings

    Research consistently affirms what many of us intuitively understand: natural settings offer remarkable healing benefits. A seminal study published in the journal Science found that surgical patients with views of nature from their hospital windows recovered more quickly and required fewer painkillers than those facing brick walls.

    furnitubesblog-healthcare4-images

    Outdoor spaces in healthcare settings provide a vital counterbalance to clinical environments. They offer respite from the sensory monotony of hospital corridors – a place where the changing light of day, the gentle movement of plants, and the subtle shifts in temperature remind patients and staff alike of the world beyond illness.

    For visitors who carry the emotional weight of supporting loved ones, these spaces offer moments of contemplation and renewal. A thoughtfully designed bench beneath a tree becomes a sanctuary where difficult news can be processed, hope can be rekindled, and the simple act of breathing fresh air can restore perspective.

    Considerations for healthcare outdoor furniture

    When designing outdoor furniture for the healthcare sector, these elements become silent facilitators of healing moments. The considerations stretch far beyond mere functionality.

    furnitubesblog-healthcare1-hero

    Material harmony

    The materials we select create a dialogue between the clinical precision of healthcare interiors and the organic warmth of nature. Natural timber elements bring tactile comfort and visual warmth, offering a psychological bridge between institutional settings and the familiar textures of home. Research from the University of Exeter demonstrates that exposure to wood in healthcare environments can reduce stress responses and create perceptions of ‘warmth’ and ‘comfort’.

    But practicality must balance poetry. Materials have to withstand rigorous cleaning protocols, resist degradation from exposure to elements, and maintain their integrity through years of continuous use. This is where thoughtful design reveals itself – in the careful selection of finishes that remain inviting even after years or even decades of service.

    Furnitubes-Senses-and-Sensibility-Body_07

    Spatial psychology

    The arrangement of outdoor furniture in healthcare settings deserves equal consideration. Social seating configurations encourage connection and community, both vital elements in the healing process, while more secluded options provide necessary privacy for intimate conversations or solitary reflection.

    The right balance creates a landscape of choice for users whose autonomy is often compromised within clinical settings. This subtle empowerment through environmental design contributes significantly to psychological wellbeing, as noted in research by Roger Ulrich on supportive healthcare design.

    erda-estremera-0ZxdAGG4aWU-unsplash

    Integrating nature

    Planters integrated with seating create immersive natural experiences even in limited spaces. Mini gardens strategically placed throughout healthcare settings allow for pockets of nature that serve both aesthetic and therapeutic purposes. The proximity of plants has been shown to reduce blood pressure and heart rate, while improving attention and recovery from mental fatigue.

    These green elements actively participate in the healing process. Carefully and deliberately selected planting schemes provide sensory stimulation through fragrance, texture, and seasonal change, creating environments that evolve and engage throughout the year.

    Care homes: Creating outdoor sanctuaries for later life

    The needs of older adults in care settings offer a focused lens through which to understand the importance of outdoor furniture design in healthcare.

    jabez-samuel-euKEN2V6JtI-unsplash (1)

    Physical considerations with emotional impact

    As mobility changes with age, furniture design must respond with appropriate sensitivity. Outdoor furniture for care homes requires careful consideration. Seating with various heights accommodates different mobility needs, while armrests provide crucial support for sitting and standing. Yet these practical elements can blend seamlessly into beautiful designs in which thoughtful aesthetics integrate support naturally. This thinking preserves dignity through form and function working in harmony.

    Research from the Housing Learning and Improvement Network emphasises that outdoor spaces in care settings should actively encourage use through appropriate, comfortable seating that supports residents in spending meaningful time outdoors.

    artyom-kabajev-rV5N-Ctn-pQ-unsplash

    Fostering social connections

    Furniture arrangements in care settings can either facilitate or hinder social interaction. Circular and semi-circular seating configurations encourage conversation by creating natural gathering points, while movable furniture empowers residents to adapt spaces to their changing needs.

    These seemingly simple design choices have profound implications. A study in the Journal of Housing for the Elderly found that outdoor social spaces significantly contribute to residents’ quality of life and sense of community.

    ignat-kushanrev-ELNJwa1n_rQ-unsplash

    Materials that nurture wellbeing

    The materials selected for care home outdoor furniture should speak to multiple senses. Timber offers warmth and familiarity – textures that connect with lifelong experiences of home and comfort. Yet these natural elements must balance with the practical requirements of durability and ease of maintenance.

    Research from the University of Salford indicates that sensory-rich environments can significantly benefit older adults, particularly those living with dementia, by providing meaningful stimulation and connection to familiar natural elements.

    The deeper purpose of outdoor spaces

    When we consider public outdoor spaces in healthcare settings, we’re exploring environments that can fundamentally transform the experience of giving and receiving care.

    i-do-nothing-but-love-vqP7v7CPWMk-unsplash

    Well-designed outdoor furniture creates the foundation for these transformative spaces. A bench serves as an invitation to pause, to breathe, to connect. Planters bring living nature into healthcare settings as flourishing reminders of growth and renewal, even in times of illness or frailty.

    balint-miko-S1F6RygMVVA-unsplash

    These spaces operate on a timescale measured not in seasons but in generations. Today’s thoughtfully placed bench might witness countless moments of profound importance – difficult conversations, necessary respite, unexpected joy. It stands as a quiet acknowledgement of our commitment to care for one another, not just within clinical walls, but in all the spaces between.

    In healthcare settings, where the focus centers on healing what needs attention, outdoor spaces create an urban oasis that reminds us of what remains whole – our connection to the natural world and to each other. That reminder itself may be the most profound medicine of all.