Be-Plas Hygienic Walls and Ceilings Ltd

The Case for Colour, Surfaces, and Neurodiversity in Modern Specification

16-05-2025

Before we even begin to design a space, we’re already making choices about who it includes — and who it might overlook. Consider this: humans can only hear a small sliver of the sound spectrum and see just a narrow band of available light. What we perceive as colour and sound is filtered through these biological limitations. So when we design for what’s “average,” we’re narrowing that range even further — filtering out the high notes, the low frequencies, the vivid edges of perception. In environments like schools, hospitals, or workplaces, this can mean excluding not only the neurodivergent, but anyone who operates outside that narrow median. Inclusive design challenges us to broaden the band — to design for the full human spectrum.

Inclusive design is having its moment — not as a box to tick, but as a philosophy reshaping the way we think about space. For architects and interior designers, the brief has evolved: it’s no longer enough for environments to function efficiently or look aesthetically refined. Today, the environments we create must feel safe, intuitive, and emotionally supportive for a far broader range of users.

This is especially relevant in the conversation around neurodiversity — a term that embraces cognitive differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and sensory processing conditions. As awareness grows in education, policy, and mental health, so too does the responsibility of designers to understand how colour, surface finish, and spatial composition can either support or hinder the lived experience of neurodivergent individuals.

At Beplas, we’ve long championed hygienic, high-performance surfaces for sectors like healthcare, education and commercial interiors. But as design narratives expand to consider cognitive inclusion, our colour range and finish options take on new, even more meaningful roles.

Designing with Empathy: More Than Accessibility

Let’s be clear — inclusive design isn’t about adding ramps and wider doorways. It’s about creating spaces where people feel they belong. And crucially, it’s about recognising that the way a space looks and feels can affect focus, comfort, and even dignity.

Neurodiversity brings a rich variation to human perception. Some individuals may find saturated colours energising; others may experience them as overwhelming. Lighting reflections from glossy walls might be imperceptible to one person, yet cause distress or disorientation for another. This spectrum of sensitivity is not a fringe issue — it’s a central design consideration in schools, hospitals, workplaces, and beyond.

Designing for these differences doesn’t isolate anyone. In fact, it enhances the experience for all. A classroom that supports a child with ADHD also becomes calmer for a teacher managing 30 pupils. A hospital corridor with soft lighting and muted finishes supports cognitive ease for patients, visitors, and staff alike.

The Quiet Power of Colour

We often talk about colour in terms of branding, identity, or aesthetic — but its psychological and physiological effects run far deeper. Certain tones are proven to influence mood, behaviour, and even decision-making. As colour psychology increasingly makes its way into evidence-based design, surface colour becomes more than a visual decision; it’s a functional one.

Cooler hues, such as pale blues or gentle greens, can create spaces that feel serene and focused — a boon for high-pressure or high-sensitivity environments. Meanwhile, soft neutrals offer a sense of stability and reduce visual “noise” in areas where overstimulation must be avoided.

Of course, the nuance lies in context. Bright, energising tones can be helpful in moderation — used to signify zones or activate creative areas. But for individuals who process sensory information differently, consistency and subtlety are not just calming — they are enabling.

It’s why colour choice in wall cladding, often considered a finishing touch, is now taking centre stage in inclusive specification strategies. More on that — soon.

Surface Matters: Texture, Glare, and Sensory Clarity

As any designer knows, light plays an enormous role in shaping the user experience — and surfaces are its main partner. Glossy finishes may reflect light unpredictably, causing glare that disrupts concentration or orientation. In contrast, matte finishes help absorb light more evenly, reducing visual overstimulation and supporting psychological comfort.

Texture, too, communicates safety or confusion. Smooth, seamless surfaces create predictability — especially vital for users with cognitive or sensory sensitivities. Beplas’ own hygienic wall systems offer both durability and sensory consistency, helping spaces feel not only cleaner, but calmer.

These subtle design decisions are often where inclusivity lives. They’re not always headline features, but their impact is profound. And as research increasingly points toward the benefits of sensory-aware environments, surface specification becomes not just about performance — but perception.

Sector Considerations — Without Giving Too Much Away

It’s no surprise that certain environments require more thoughtful specification. Schools, healthcare facilities, workplaces and residential care all involve user groups with varied — and sometimes heightened — sensory needs.

While we won’t spoil what’s coming in our upcoming CPD (watch this space), we will say this: designing with colour zoning, sensory predictability, and visual calm in mind can transform how a space is experienced — by everyone, not just those formally diagnosed with a neurodivergent condition.

In education, for instance, calm tonal palettes can support concentration and emotional regulation. In healthcare, low-stimulus finishes can reduce anxiety during stressful procedures or long waits. And in offices, colour and surface cues can help delineate zones of focus versus collaboration — aiding all users, but especially those prone to cognitive overload.

If you’re a designer or specifier seeking to build spaces that truly serve their occupants, the integration of inclusive design thinking — particularly around surface and colour — is no longer optional. It’s best practice.

The Future of Design is Inclusive

The standards are shifting. Mental health, sensory comfort, and cognitive accessibility are becoming integral to procurement frameworks and ESG strategies alike. From BS 8300 to Part M, and newer guidance emerging around neurodiversity in the built environment, the message is clear: inclusive design is the future.

Yet it’s also deeply present. Every material we touch, every wall we paint, every corridor we walk — these decisions are already shaping user experience in powerful, often invisible ways.

At Beplas, we’re proud to play a part in that transformation. Our hygienic cladding systems have always delivered performance, but now, we’re seeing how the right finish — in the right colour — can also deliver peace of mind, clarity, and inclusivity.

Ready to Think Differently?

Designing with empathy means considering more than just compliance. It’s about specifying with the human experience in mind — from the surfaces people touch, to the light that bounces off them, to the colours that shape perception.

If you’re ready to explore how colour and surface specification can support cognitive wellbeing and inclusive design, stay tuned. Our upcoming CPD will explore these ideas in depth — bringing together the latest research, sector examples, and practical guidance for designers and specifiers.

Because inclusion doesn’t live in grand statements — it lives in the walls.