Healthcare Design: Choosing Durable, Safe and Healing Materials and Furniture

Healthcare facility design involves more than just the “how it looks”; it requires a focus on materials and furniture that can withstand rigorous daily use while prioritizing patient safety, hygiene and a healing environment. At Circadia, we understand the balance between design choices and long-term performance. Seemingly attractive but functionally inadequate flooring, for instance, can quickly lead to costly maintenance and downtime in busy clinical settings. 

We extend our special thanks to Erin Cammel, Director of Healthcare, for her valuable insights.

From the ground up, every material and furnishing choice within a healthcare space must be carefully considered. This guide breaks down what really matters in healthcare design today and includes some fresh ideas, so we can create spaces that look great, work hard and help people feel better. 

4 Essential Factors in Healthcare Furniture and Materials Selection 

When specifying furniture and finishes for healthcare environments, prioritize these four critical performance areas:

1. Superior Cleanability: In infection-sensitive settings, materials must endure frequent and aggressive disinfection protocols without degrading, staining or becoming a breeding ground for bacteria. Smooth, non-porous surfaces make all the difference.
2. Built to Last: Healthcare furniture, from patient beds to waiting room seating, experiences constant use, shifting weights and heavy loads. Choosing strong, durable materials helps reduce repairs and replacements, saving time and money over the long run. 
3. Enhanced Sanitation: Non-porous materials, minimal seams and integrated antimicrobial treatments are crucial for maintaining hygienic environments. These features help keep things clean and support your infection control efforts.  
4. Prioritized Safety: Features like slip-resistant flooring, appropriate fire ratings and rounded furniture edges are vital for preventing accidents, especially in high-traffic areas where patients and staff may have mobility challenges.

High-Performance Materials for Healthcare Spaces 

Considering the above factors, which materials consistently deliver on these critical promises? 

• High-Density, Seamless Flooring: Move beyond softer Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and choose high-density sheet vinyl or rubber flooring. These options offer better resistance to rolling loads and heavy equipment. Seamless installations and integral cove bases eliminate dirt traps and simplify thorough cleaning. 

• Durable Solid Surface Countertops: For nurse stations, laboratories and patient bathrooms, solid surfaces like Corian® are an excellent choice. Their non-porous nature resists staining, inhibits bacterial growth and allows for easy repairs, contributing to a hygienic and long-lasting environment. 

• Robust Healthcare-Grade Wall Protection: Protect walls from damage caused by carts, gurneys and everyday wear and tear with vinyl wall coverings or fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP) panels. Incorporating corner guards and crash rails further preserves both safety and the visual appeal of the space. 

• Antimicrobial Fabrics and Finishes: Select medical-grade upholstery with antimicrobial properties for seating and other upholstered surfaces. Avoid open-weave fabrics and designs with excessive seams that can trap dirt and harbor microorganisms. Read more about the guidelines for cleanability from the Association for the Health Care Environment.  

• Innovative Privacy Solutions: Traditional privacy curtains pose challenges for sanitation and cleaning. Circadia offers KwickScreens by Steelcase, a revolutionary solution featuring reusable, wipeable and easily movable partition screens, eliminating the need for problematic medical curtains and streamlining privacy protocols. 

• Heavy-Duty, Non-Marring Casters: Equip all movable furniture with medical-grade casters engineered for smooth, quiet operation without damaging flooring. Quiet casters also contribute to a more peaceful and healing patient environment. 

• Flexible Modular Furniture Systems: Modular furniture is super flexible—it works great in rooms that serve multiple purposes and is built to last. Plus, if something breaks, you can usually just swap out a part instead of replacing the whole thing, which saves money and makes it easy to reconfigure your space as needs change. 

Emerging Trends in Healthcare Furniture Solutions 

The landscape of healthcare design is ever-changing, with current trends emphasizing: 

• Humanizing Healthcare Environments: Design is moving toward more people-focused spaces, especially in mental healthcare. It’s all about creating environments that feel thoughtful and supportive—with architects, designers and the people who use the spaces working together to make them truly comfortable and healing. 

• Fostering Connection in Clinical Spaces: Exam rooms are transforming into collaborative environments that facilitate meaningful dialogue, education and stronger connections between patients and clinicians, requiring adaptable and comfortable furniture solutions. 

• Creating Diverse Workspaces for Healthcare Professionals: Recognizing the evolving roles of clinicians, there’s a growing need for a variety of workspaces that support focused work, team collaboration and essential rest areas, ultimately boosting staff well-being and overall healthcare performance. 

• Reimagining Behavioral Health Environments: Moving beyond traditional institutional aesthetics, the focus is on designing behavioral health spaces that balance comfort and durability, promoting a sense of well-being for patients, visitors and staff. 

Thoughtful Interiors for Optimal Healthcare Functionality 

Choosing the right furniture and finishes for healthcare spaces isn’t just about looks—it’s about making sure everything works well, lasts long and keeps people safe. At Circadia, we get how complex healthcare design can be, and we’re here to help you navigate it. Our team stays on top of the latest trends and guidelines, so we can help you build spaces that feel good, function great and support the people who use them every day. 

Ready to Elevate Your Healthcare Space? 

If you're embarking on a healthcare facility design or renovation project, let Circadia be your trusted partner in making informed, future-forward choices that seamlessly integrate form and function. We’re here to help you create a space that thrives for years to come. 

Want to see some of our healthcare spaces in action? Check out the Pediatric Associates office in Overland Park, Kansas. We also have some great examples of our work with the Olathe Medical Center: The Birth Place or the Barnes Jewish West County Hospital in Creve Coeur, Missouri, 

Contact Circadia today to begin reimagining your healthcare environment with our expert team.