Healthcare institutions are embracing innovations to improve patient experience. Sterile and uninviting designs are giving way to comfortable designs where patients and their companions feel as relaxed as they do at home.

Biophilic interior design often connects common areas such as lobbies, waiting rooms, or cafeterias to daylight and nature to create a calming environment. Floor-to-ceiling windows, glass curtain walls, and skylights reduce the need for artificial lighting and help improve the mood of patients and staff. Additionally, a study published in a medical research journal has shown that daylight can be used as a natural disinfectant, particularly in killing bacteria commonly found in dust.

Beyond providing comfort, the design of waiting areas can also reduce stress by offering patients and visitors choices in how they experience the environment. Different people have different physical needs. For example, while some visitors feel better when completely distracted with their mobile devices or by reviewing educational materials about hospital treatments and healthy living, others prefer a quieter space. A design using different seating groups and tables in one area offers flexibility. These designs create more private spaces where patients and visitors can wait comfortably. Modular seating groups support a more personalized experience, allowing patients and visitors to shape their surroundings according to their needs and feel more comfortable.

Today, hospital designers focus not only on creating beautiful spaces but also on using materials that protect against the spread of infections in waiting areas. For this purpose, designers often use antimicrobial coatings on hard surfaces and lighting that fights the spread of diseases.