Mural artwork can be especially effective for entrance lobbies.

Part One, Page 3

Specific Recommendations

Some studies and articles recommend specific colors or color groups for certain rooms and departments of a hospital. The studies agree on most but not all of their recommendations. Here is what they generally agree upon.

Patient rooms: Best choices are generally warm colors in soft tones. Specifically choose coral, peach, rose, pale gold, soft yellow, pale green. Consider adding color to the ceilings. [1] [2]

Patient rooms for burn victims, long-stay patients and chronic pain patients: Cooler tones. Specifically, light green, bluish green (aqua, teal). [1] [2]

Waiting Rooms: Cooler colors. Specifically, pale to mid-blue, green, blue-green. Artwork can be especially effective here. [1] [2]

Operating Rooms: Combating glare is an issue here, particularly where surfaces are tile or similar hard smooth materials. Specifically, blue, blue-green. Avoid red. [1] [2]

Pediatric Units: Light, generally warm colors. Here especially, artwork can be highly effective. [1] [2]

Examination, Therapy and Treatment Rooms: Where visits are generally brief or where the primary uses are dermatology, obstetrics or gynecology, choose soft, slightly warm tones. Specifically, coral, peach. [1] [2]

Where visits are generally long, such as for physical therapy, choose slightly cooler colors. Specifically, light green, aqua, soft yellow. If patients are subject to long tedious or uncomfortable treatments, artwork should supplement the color scheme. If patients need to lie down facing upward for long periods, then put artwork on the ceiling. [1] [2]

Maternity Units: Generally use cool colors particularly in Labor Rooms. Specifically, blue-green, with soft warm color accents. [1] [2]

For Lobbies and Entrances lean toward warmer colors. This is where fashionable color schemes can hold sway. Keep in mind that as fashions change youíll need to redecorate so as not to look out-dated. Artwork including murals can be especially effective for entrance lobbies. [1] [2]

For Corridors avoid making the color scheme too busy. Make sure that directional signs are clearly visible. Several of the hospital murals my colleagues and I have been commissioned to paint have been for corridors. [1] [2]