Hygienic By Design
Using Colour In Hygienic Design
Creating spaces that look better, feel better and perform better
Colour is far more than an aesthetic choice. Used strategically, it can influence the way people think, feel and interact with a space, helping to improve wellbeing, productivity, navigation and user experience.
At Hycom, we help architects, designers, contractors and facilities managers harness the power of colour through hygienic wall cladding and flooring solutions that combine outstanding performance with thoughtful design. Whether you're creating a healthcare facility, educational setting, workplace, leisure venue, retail space or food production environment, colour can play a vital role in creating spaces that work harder for everyone.
Ready to introduce colour with purpose? Contact our team to discuss your project or explore the topics below.
Designing for Wellbeing
The environments we spend time in have a direct influence on how we feel. Colour can help create calm, welcoming spaces, encourage collaboration, reduce stress and support concentration. So, understanding how colour affects feelings can help create environments that are not only visually appealing but also support well-being and hygiene.
Different colours evoke different psychological and emotional responses. Here are some key colour associations:
The Benefits of Colour
Colour has a measurable impact on how commercial environments are experienced. When considered early in the design process, colour becomes a practical business tool, not simply a decorative finish.
Improve wellbeing
Strengthen your brand
Boost productivity
Enhance customer experience
Support wayfinding
Deliver long-term value
A word from Altro - Emily Smithers
Chroma – Colour with Purpose
Chroma refers to the intensity or purity of a colour. A highly saturated colour has high chroma, appearing vibrant and vivid. Colours with lower chroma appear softer and more muted.
Colours can belong to the same colour family but their chroma levels create very different visual effects and emotional responses.
When designing hygienic environments, understanding chroma helps create spaces that are not only practical but also supportive of wellbeing, wayfinding and user experience.
Children’s Wards
Higher Chroma to create engaging and welcoming spaces
Waiting Areas
Moderate Chroma to balance comfort and visual interest
Patient Bathrooms
Lower Chromas to encourage rest and relaxation
Mental Health
Carefully balanced Chroma to avoid overstimulation
Dementia Care Environments
Purposeful use of Chroma and contrast to support recognition and wayfinding
Light Reflectance Values (LRVs)
LRV is a measured value (on a scale from 0 to 100) that indicates how much visible light a surface reflects. The higher the number, the more light is reflected.
LRV is a key factor in creating spaces that are accessible and safe for everyone.
UK regulations require a minimum 30-point difference in LRV between certain surfaces to ensure sufficient visual contrast. This helps people with visual impairments navigate spaces more easily and safely.
To meet accessibility requirements, and to create spaces that are intuitive to use, this 30-point contrast should be considered across several key areas:
• Doors and their surroundings
• Handrails and balustrades
• Sanitary fittings
• Floor and wall junctions
At Hycom, we can advise on selecting complementary wall and floor finishes that achieve appropriate visual contrast without compromising on design.
Biophilic Design
Research shows that environments inspired by nature can help reduce stress, improve mood and support wellbeing.
Biophilic design is the concept of connecting people with nature through colour, texture and material selection.
Today, modern wall cladding and flooring ranges make it possible for designers to to introduce natural finishes and visuals into spaces without compromising cleanability, durability or infection control.
Designed to Make Colour Specification Simple
Balancing creativity with compliance can be a challenge, but Altro's wall cladding and flooring solutions have been designed to balance creativity and compliance. With published Light Reflectance Values (LRVs) and products available in the carefully colour collections, architects and designers can confidently specify finishes that support wellbeing without compromising on aesthetics or performance.
• Altro Satins
• Altro Wall Designs
• Altro DigiClad
• Altro Wood
• Altro Stronghold
• Altro Illustra
Why Choose Hycom?
At Hycom, we understand that every project is unique.Whether you're working in health and care, education, food production, commercial offices, leisure, hospitality, retail or manufacturing, we're here to help you make colour work harder.
From colour selection and Light Reflectance Values to wall cladding, safety flooring and expert installation, we help bring commercial environments to life with practical solutions that perform as well as they look.
Let's Talk Colour
Planning a refurbishment or new-build project?
Our team can help you specify the right products and create hygienic environments that balance aesthetics, functionality and long-term performance.
Some Altro Satins Examples Of Complimentary Colour Schemes with +30 LRV Differences
We're here to help.
Our intent is to remain the UK's leading hygienic build company in helping you achieve the best possible hygienic install or build for your particular budget and the needs of your environment. From product use, durability and integration to infection control and liability insurance, whether you need sales only or a complete Turnkey Project, we are here to help at every step.
