Waiting. Nobody likes it. That’s why so much of modern life is designed to cut it out altogether. We stream shows on demand, order groceries with a click, and get news updates with every scroll.
But some waits are unavoidable, like sitting in a clinic waiting room before an appointment. And when you add nerves, restless children, or seniors with limited mobility, those minutes can feel unbearably long.
While you can’t take away your patients’ wait, you can make sure they’re as comfortable as possible. That’s why healthcare waiting rooms are moving away from sterile, institutional spaces towards warm, residential-inspired environments.
In this article, we explore what makes a waiting room truly family-friendly, with real-life examples of Australian and Kiwi clinics that are getting it right.
The Buro Lindis 4-leg with arms is a great chair option for modern waiting rooms.
Healthcare seating has leaned towards resimercial for years
Healthcare designers were early adopters of resimercial design because they know that furniture can directly affect how patients feel.
Softer finishes, warmer colours, and natural textures lead to waiting rooms that are calmer and more welcoming, which can be the difference between a stressful experience and a reassuring one.
As Buro’s Sales and Marketing Director, Tim Howard, explains: “Healthcare furniture and design has been leading the resimercial trend for over 15 years. This shift recognises that furniture needs to be softer and warmer – more home-like.”
Waiting rooms have evolved into resimercial spaces, welcoming and home-like, just like this inviting Konfurb Arco setting.
The features of a family-friendly waiting area
Design your waiting area with your patients in mind, and it becomes more comfortable, inclusive, and easy to use. Here are the features that make the difference.
Consider comfort
Even short waits can feel long if you’re uncomfortable. Comfortable and ergonomic waiting room chairs offer cushioning and help reduce pressure points, making waiting a whole lot easier on the body.
The Konfurb Hady’s stylish design, foam seat, and hard-wearing upholstery make it an ideal waiting room chair. Or consider the Buro Concord, a durable chair with a generous size and cushioned foam seat, offering anyone a comfortable wait with the added assurance of support for heavier patients.
Height-accessible waiting chairs
Getting into and out of a chair isn’t easy for every patient, so before you decide on a waiting area chair, think about what will be best for your particular patients:
- Higher chairs and chairs with sturdy armrests make it easier for seniors, people with injuries, or those recovering from surgery to stand up and sit down.
- Compact, adjustable options are ideal for children or shorter adults who require foot support.
Sturdy, weight-rated chairs provide peace of mind for heavier patients and avoid an awkward “will it hold me?” moment
Hygiene matters
We’ve all done it, scanned the waiting room for the hand sanitiser pump before sitting down, or chosen a seat beside someone in a sling on their arm rather than someone with a cough. Cleanliness is now at the forefront of the minds of many patients and their families.
While sanitiser stations and handwashing facilities are crucial, your seating also plays an important role. Antimicrobial fabric on waiting room chairs help stop the spread of germs, and make cleaning faster and easier, while still looking inviting.
Take the Buro Lindis 4 Leg – with arms. Not only is it sleek and stackable, but you can also upholster the chair seat and backrest with anti-bacterial fabric like Buro SafeTex or antimicrobial Dillon PU making it hygienic and easy to clean.
The Buro Lindis 4 Leg with Arms is a sleek, stackable chair with antimicrobial upholstery options for easy cleaning and hygiene.
Flexible layouts in medical waiting rooms
One minute it’s a parent juggling a baby and a toddler, the next it’s an elderly patient with a carer. There’s a huge variety among patients walking through your clinic doors every day, and flexible chairs give them the freedom to reshuffle the space so everyone feels comfortable the moment they walk in.
The Konfurb Arco series is a modular seating solution that ticks many boxes. It’s comfy, durable, and agile, with optional PU fabric for increased hygiene.
Don’t forget durability
Waiting rooms are high-traffic areas, and you want your chairs to go the distance. As our New Zealand National Sales Manager Andy McRobbie explains, “The majority of Buro products carry a 10-year guarantee and have been used in healthcare environments for decades”.
Aesthetics and warmth
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of atmosphere. Bright, welcoming tones, wooden frames, and organic shapes signal care, warmth, and familiarity. A waiting room that has been thoughtfully designed to look human rather than simply clinical says: you matter, and your comfort matters too.
“Today, we have an incredible range of antimicrobial and antibacterial fabrics, with colours, textures, and patterns that bring character into healthcare spaces.” – Tim Howard.
The Konfurb Hady combines style, comfort, and durability to make every wait a more relaxed experience.
The Buro Concord is a generously sized, durable waiting room chair with a cushioned foam seat, designed to provide lasting comfort and reliable support for all users.
Let’s look at Central Lakes Physio in Wānaka, New Zealand
When Central Lakes Physio improved their patient seating, comfort was the top priority. Because many of their visitors are dealing with back, knee, or neck injuries, they need chairs that are supportive and sturdy.
Elevated seating was selected to help patients navigate the waiting room and get in and out of their seats more easily.
“We are especially grateful for the Konfurb Hady guest chairs, which enhance the waiting experience for our patients by having a heightened seat. They are well-cushioned chairs and visually pleasing to the eye in a small space.”
Clinician support was also valued, and the physiotherapists now benefit from lightweight Bambach saddle seat stools with adjustable height, back, angle, and swivel features. These upgrades enhance mobility within the treatment area and ease the physical strain on staff.”
Efficiency was a surprising side effect of the waiting room upgrade. As it turns out, offering their patients more accessible waiting area furniture sped up simple tasks — like patients putting their shoes on more easily — which made consultations smoother and the whole clinic more efficient.
The Bambach Saddle Seat delivers ultimate ergonomic comfort, promoting healthy posture in healthcare, lab, and service environments, with an optional backrest for added support.
Let’s look at Dr Paul Placanica Medical Centre in Sydney, Australia
At Dr Paul Placanica Medical Centre, the goal was to modernise the waiting area with furniture that would meet strict hygiene requirements while supporting diverse patient needs.
Hygiene was a priority, so the team selected the Buro Lindis 4 Leg – with arms with antimicrobial upholstery and flat armrests. Easy to wipe down between patients, these chairs control infection risks and reassure families concerned about germs.
Flexible layouts make it easy to adjust the seating to suit their needs. The Buro Lindis is a lightweight individual chair that can be rearranged so patients can sit with family members or create space for strollers, mobility aids, or wheelchairs. Clinic staff can move chairs around to improve flow during busy periods.
Patient assistance means that elderly and less mobile patients at this medical centre can maintain their comfort and dignity. The Buro Lindis’s flat armrests provide leverage to help patients stand and sit safely, often even independently.
Is your waiting room a family-friendly space?
If it’s time to make your clinic’s waiting area more welcoming, hygienic, and supportive, Buro can help. Explore our range of healthcare seating for families, visitor chairs or get in touch with our team for advice on creating a waiting room that will give your patients exactly what they need.
