COLOUR HEALING IN

ARCHITECTURE
CASE STUDIES FOR
HOSPITAL COLOUR DESIGN
COLOUR THERAPHY
Colour therapy and healing (also known as chromotherapy or light therapy) is a type of
healing that uses the spectrum of light and colour to affect a person’s mood and physical
or mental health.
Source: http://www.arttherapyblog.com/online/color-therapy-healing-an-introduction

COLOURS FOR HEALING

Healing colours influence mood, calm the nervous system and make the environments less
provoking and peace inducing. There are many colours that help healing but there are
7 colours that are proven to work through every cell of the body even exert influence on
the soul, consciousness and spirit.
Source: https://www.color-meanings.com/7-best-colors-healing/
7 BEST COLOURS FOR HEALING

According to Celeste Allen Novak Architect PLLC, which specializes in holistic

sustainable design and planning in Ann Arbor, Mich., the health effects of colours can
be broken down accordingly:

RED ORANGE YELLOW GREEN

Vitality, Optimism, Energetic, Relaxing,
Alertness Productivity Creativity Harmony

BLUE PINK VIOLET

Calming, Affection, Meditative,
Relaxing Compassion Sensitive

WARM NEUTRALS COOL NEUTRALS

Comfortable, Stability Soothing, Peaceful
HEALING COLOURS FOR HOSPITALS

Red is a passionate and warm colour which induces vitality and stimulates energy. It increases adrenaline and
elevates blood pressure-so avoid using it when the patient is suffering from hypertension. This could be the
reason why red is used only moderately in hospitals. At home though, you can use this colour for stimulating
appetite in weak patients. Red can also alleviate depression. It is one of the top healing colours for enhancing
sexual appetite and overall vitality.

According to colour healing therapy, orange is one of the best colours for hospitals and particularly for
children’s rooms. Orange radiates warmth and is associated with joy and happiness. In fact: even oranges
which are packed with Vitamin C-the powerful antioxidant- are known to heal and fight free radicals to boost
immunity. Therefore, as far as cancer healing colours go, orange is an important colour in the colour healing
chart.

Search for healing colours for hospitals and yellow would be high up in the list. This bright and cheerful colour
can help stimulate intelligence and also detoxify the body and mind to heal patients quickly. Yellow is
particularly recommended for patients with skin problems. It can inspire creativity in people who feel sluggish
or lethargic. Avoid overuse of yellow as it can hamper the digestive health and lead to stomach problems and
insomnia.
Typically associated with nature and the outdoors, is thought to help patients feel more grounded and
centred. Green colour is known for its balanced healing properties. It is a restful colour that symbolizes
growth and renewal. It also encourages comfort and equilibrium and is particularly beneficial for the heart,
lungs and circulatory system.

This spiritual colour is also the colour of the sky and sea. Blue is an important healing color as it is linked
with calm and serenity. It helps lower blood pressure and can reduce rapid heart rate. Blue is relaxing for
the mind and body. It is associated with organs like eyes, ears and nose and involved with the senses of
smell, sight and sound.

Pink is feminine yet a soothing colour that shows caring and affection. It is a protective and compassionate
colour that heals and soothes. This light-hearted colour can stimulate happiness. Too much of bright pink
might stimulate energy and incite passionate behaviour just like its distant cousin Red. Pink can be
however be safely useful in hospitals and prisons to reduce erratic behaviour.

Both, purple and violet, as well as its related shades like lilac and lavender are connected with spirituality.
These healing colours are also linked with perception, higher consciousness and insight. Health wise, these
colours are linked with the cerebral and nervous systems.
COLOURS IN HEALTHCARE ARCHITECTURE

White hospital walls and corridors are a thing of the past and tend to be associated with
sterility. Healthcare facilities now tend to borrow colours from nature, as well as those
used traditionally in hospitality design to either soothe or energize.

Researchers have found that while there is no evidence for any one colour impacting
healthcare outcomes, an understanding of the elements of colour when designing
healthcare facilities can impact healing.
Source: https://www.interiorsandsources.com/article-details/articleid/17001/title/empathy-in-architecture
CENTRE OF PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY, ONCOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
Moscow, Russia
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh, USA
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF MICHIGAN
Michigan, USA
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA SHANDS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Florida, USA
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA MASONIC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
Minneapolis, USA