I am a trained color consultant and have a degree in psychology and almost one in sociology in addition to a couple more in design and so forth. I was a painter for years and restored antique homes.
Thanks for sharing your input with us, it's needed.
Kind of offends me that you would single out the elderly as needing special colors. What you should really be considering is the intensity of those colors if your anticipated patients have macular, retinal or corneal degeneration.
Why would you be offended? I thought that, in today's age, every group needs a special something, because that's what we are, a collection of groups. Politics aside, I think you're selling the good doc short. I highly doubt that he would consider electric blues and flourescent lime greens, you don't need a color expert to figure that wouldn't go over with the elderly, macular degeneration or not.
I think you should really focus your energy on lighting and its color if your population is elderly.
As suggested, if this is to be a special geriatric practice I would hire an interior designer, color consultant and before either of them a lighting consultant.
Good point, especially since, in it's purest definition, color is light. However, the wrong kind of light is garish and brutal on anyone's eyes. And frankly, as a non, but near approaching senior, I'm offended that you would even imply otherwise. What makes seniors so special that they need certain light. I think most soft blues and greens would fly under most traditional lighting.
I don't buy the blue green or beige look as comforting at all. All strike me is highly institutional. They are the last colors I would recommend to a geriatric practice.
On it's face, that's in patent opposition to generally accepted color psychology theory. Blues and greens are widely used in decorating for their calming effect. As to being institutional, any color can be that lacking the warming effect of decor and color coordination. They use those colors in institutions for the very same reason you disagree with. Institutions don't decorate, that's the problem, unless of course you consider mental health posters and exit signs decorative. I did a doctor's office in a robin's egg value blue with cream trim, and from what the staff tells me, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Thanks for getting rid of that sterile off white. It wasn't the color so much as the placement of new funiture and wall hangings that looked comfortable, decorative, and inviting, which replaced the doctor's office waiting room standard fare. And it was done under the typical flourescent office lighting, plus a few table lamps for balance. It was the living room versus waiting room effect.
BTW, color suggestions? Objections should always be coupled with suggestions.
I really did have a client way on top of the Chrysler Building in NYC once. It was a very high end dental prosthodontic practice. Lighting designer, not me or the interior designer, really pulled it off in my opinion although I will claim some credit.
top of the Chrysler Building in NYC = $$$$$
Sometimes you just have to design on a dime. How do we know the good Doc_Nap isn't some country doc from a sleepy hollow, as his user name implies? I think if the good Doc_nap was a high end sawbones, he would have assigned this task to his office manager, and not be hanging out in a DIY chatroom. I've been on jobs where lighting professionals were used and I know their prices and the products they peddle are not cheap, nor are the wire nuts that install them. Just saying.
Design professionals can really save you money in the long run. The poster ahead of me is correct. I have always used interior designers when it comes to furnishings. And after years with architects and such, I still insist on good lighting designers added to the team when budget allows.
I've had some fun at your expense Sdsester. I do respect your position and your knowledge, and appreciate your input. I agree that lighting does wonders to enhance setting and mood, but it's a little beyond practical on the everday level. Hell, for all we know, the good Doc_nap could be an eye doc who specializes in geriatric particulars, who knows more than we do, who already has the correct lighting, and is really just asking for color options.