Supporting Neurodiverse Patients: A Guide to Neuro-Inclusive Design in Healthcare

At Formica Group, we understand that thoughtful design, especially regarding colour and layout, plays a significant role in creating a positive experience.

Neuro-Inclusive Design in Children’s Hospitals

In children's hospital wards, waiting areas and patient rooms should be designed to create a secure and calming environment, with particular attention to the needs of children with neurodiverse conditions. Offering flexibility in seating, adjustable lighting, and opportunities for children to personalise the space with write-on walls and display areas, allows them to exercise a sense of control, which can be empowering in a setting that may otherwise feel intimidating.

Rather than opting for overly vibrant and chaotic colours, designers can use calming hues like those found in nature. The use of gentle shades across the spectrum, such as soft greens, warm yellows, and muted blues, offers a sense of balance and familiarity.

The Care Centre Project in Norway

The Hurum Housing and Care Centre in Norway beautifully exemplifies neuro-inclusive principles in healthcare. With corridors and patient rooms carefully designed to inspire calm, the project incorporates salutogenic design—an approach that prioritises well-being rather than focusing solely on treatment. Elements like natural textures, warm lighting, and calming colours work together to create an atmosphere that makes patients feel comfortable. This project shows how intentional design can redefine healthcare spaces, shifting them from sterile, clinical settings to supportive, comforting environments that aid in recovery.

A Healing Palette for Healthcare Environments

The healthcare sector benefits immensely from calming colour palettes that evoke nature’s hues, as these can provide soothing sensory experiences. Our designer, Nina Bailey, has created palettes for healthcare spaces that seamlessly blend warmth and coolness, resulting in a balanced ambiance.

Analogous Calming Palette: This palette uses colours that flow naturally from yellow to green to blue-grey, creating a harmonious, visually calming environment.

• Formica^® Laminate F8245 Marble Green, F1326 Capri, and F0547 Papyrus reduce sensory overload, and support a nurturing atmosphere for patients.
• Formica Laminate F7846 Grotto and F7884 China Blue add depth and tranquillity, which are perfect for spaces where healing is the priority.
• Formica Laminate F7924 Lead and F6445 Greige Textile introduce gentle contrasts, helping to ground the space without overpowering the senses.

Together, these shades help avoid overstimulation, creating a sensory-friendly space that can lower stress and promote relaxation.

Woodgrain and Neutral Palette: The palette combines natural woodgrains and neutrals for a seamless, warm aesthetic. It reflects a trend toward using woodgrains as a “colour carrier” that blends with solids to create an inviting, home-like environment within clinical settings.

• Formica Laminate F7837 Graphite, F2200 Dark Chocolate, and F8243 Night Shade bring depth and a grounded feel, ideal for creating a cozy atmosphere in patient rooms.
• Formica Laminate F8586 Cetina Walnut, F8751 Mojave, F8843 Natural Ash, F0903 Cafe, and F9684 Natural Recycled Kraft add a touch of organic warmth, helping to soften the space and make it feel more welcoming.

This earthy palette emphasises a harmonious mix of woodgrain textures and soft colours, transforming clinical spaces into comforting, visually appealing environments.

Creating a Balanced, Neuro-Inclusive Environment

A neuro-inclusive approach in healthcare settings allows patients to feel more at ease, reducing sensory triggers that can cause discomfort. In children’s hospital wards, neuro-inclusive environments empower young patients by providing flexibility and choices that contribute to emotional comfort and autonomy.

Both palettes in this blog - the calming analogous and the earthy woodgrain - are examples of how colour can create a sense of security and calm. Soft, cool tones, layered with warm accents, help turn healthcare spaces into places that nurture well-being.

At Formica Group, we are committed to advancing neuro-inclusive design. Our extensive range of colour palettes and durable materials is crafted to meet the unique requirements of healthcare environments, creating calming, adaptable interior designs that support all patients. Explore our collection of materials for healthcare spaces here.

Interested in more insights on neuro-inclusive design? Start from the beginning here.