Color, light, and birth space design: An integrative review

Abstract

This integrative review sought knowledge across a broad spectrum of literature concerning the role of color and light in maternity environments. Today it is acknowledged that the clinical nature of birth spaces is detrimental to maintaining normal physiological birth rates. Significantly, “clinical” spaces are often described as white, pale, monochromatic, and/or overlit. Attempts to make maternity settings more “home-like” have promoted use of “warm” or “soft” colors. Ambience or spatial atmosphere is known to impact birth hormones, affecting labor commencement and progress. Today, efforts to improve birth spaces include “sensory rooms” (offering pain distraction via dark spaces and illuminated color elements); programmable colored light installations; and immersive image projections. Yet, as this paper shows, there is little specific study of the physical and psychological impact of color and light within birth settings. However, there are significant findings on colored light's impact upon birth processes, including the contraindication of bright blue light. And there is valuable knowledge embedded in old and new literature from diverse disciplines. This review thus exposes the strong need for further research and literature focused directly on how color and light in birth environment design impact birth experience for all involved. It is clear that environmental color and light need to be taken seriously as potent interrelated environmental factors that are directly implicated in the health and wellness of mothers and their infants during labor and birth. Thus, it is crucial to bring deeper awareness and comprehensive knowledge into use by designers, developers and managers of birth spaces.