Maximizing Space in Healthcare Design

When designing a medical space, utilizing every square foot is essential for success. When a facility is going through a redesign or a medical practice is just starting out, every little detail of the design must be scrutinized to ensure it is using space efficiently. If healthcare designers do a good job medical practices can benefit greatly. Here are a few tips to maximize space in the healthcare environment.

Mind the Budget and Stay Flexible

Cost efficiency is an absolute must in any business and healthcare is no different. That’s why it’s important to consider what elements provide the most bang for your buck. In today’s market, it is flexibility. Making a space flexible ensures that it can be easily changed to fit immediate needs and future needs which are unknown.

Use Multifunctioning Furniture

When dealing with a small space, combinable furniture and fixtures is a must. Rooms can be fitted with tactical furnishings that can be cleared and replaced when the function of the room changes. This means one room can serve multiple functions.

Be Creative

Another way to use medical space effectively is to use decorative coverings that are functional and artistically appealing. For example, consider floor-to-ceiling storage with a seamless veneer cover that can reflect its surroundings. By utilizing storage space from floor to ceiling, you save a significant amount of space elsewhere in the facility. And the right veneer can make the cover decorative and light-reflective. This type of thinking cuts cost and clutter.

Marie Wikoff is the creator of Wikoff Design Studio based out of Reno, Nevada. Her expertise in healthcare design has helped modernize healthcare organizations locally, regionally, and internationally, improving patient experience and outcomes. Her credentials include Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC), American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designer (CHID), the National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and LEED AP. Contact Marie Wikoff