At the 2025 PDC Summit in Atlanta, Shaw Contract Healthcare set out to spark conversation. What we didn’t expect was to uncover a surprisingly clear answer to a long-standing debate in healthcare design:
Does the color of operating room flooring affect how easily surgical instruments can be found when dropped?
The 2022 FGI Guidelines offer clear direction on the physical properties of OR flooring: cleanable, slip-resistant, and monolithic with a coved base. But they’re silent on color. That silence left room for interpretation, and for us, an opportunity to explore.
The experiment
At the Summit, we created two mockups to simulate real-world conditions. Each featured surgical instruments – scissors, sutures, needle holders, and even shiny and dark orthopedic screws — placed on both light and dark flooring. We used Montage 4484V in Flicker 84505 for the light tone and Montage 4484V in Navy Shuffle 84485 for the dark. Participants viewed the setups from two perspectives: tabletop height and floor level. Lighting wasn’t controlled or measured for the experiment. Our participants were a diverse group of randomly selected attendees and exhibitors of all ages, genders, and professions.
What we found
The results were clear. Out of 129 participants, a resounding 91.4% (118 people) said it was easier to spot instruments on the lighter flooring, regardless of viewing height. The few who preferred the darker flooring often noted that their choice depended on the specific instrument’s color and material.
Our recommendation
Based on these findings, we recommend using lighter colored flooring around operating tables and in areas where quickly locating dropped instruments is critical. This small experiment reminded us of the power of evidence-based design. Sometimes, the answers are right under our feet — we just have to look a little closer.
For more information, contact your local account manager or visit Shaw Contract Healthcare.
