Safety Features of Furniture for Mental Health Facilities

No matter what type of facility you run, it’s likely important to you to keep your residents as safe and comfortable as possible. This is especially true when considering accommodations related to behavioral health. In fact, furniture for mental health facilities is outfitted with certain safety features and design elements we’ll discuss in this post.

Materials used

Whether you’re looking to update the furniture in your mental health facility or you’d just like to become more familiar, one of the first safety features to consider is the materials used. Furniture for mental health facilities is often made from materials like:

• Finished, splinter-free wood
• Durable fabrics, such as vinyl
• Mindful use of coated metals

If these materials sound pretty common to you, you’re not wrong. Furniture for mental health facilities should feel familiar and comfortable. However, it also comes down to its construction to make it special. We discuss more about that in the following section.

Furthermore, furniture or mattresses that feature upholstery made out of vinyl should be waterproof, bed bug proof, tear-resistant, antibacterial, and able to withstand frequent sanitation. At least, that’s what you’ll find from American Bedding! Looking for a complementary item? Our popular Metal Frame Bunks also withstand frequent sanitation.

Mindful construction

Furniture for mental health facilities begins with durable materials. However, it’s their construction that make them even safer and accommodating. Most behavioral health furniture has the following design features in common:

• Streamlined design: Nuts, bolts, screws, knobs, and other fasteners are covered, made of wood or softer materials, or are inaccessible.
• Pinch-free: Joints of furniture are smooth and do not allow hands or fingers to get smashed or pinched.
• Extra storage: Many basic furniture pieces feature an additional drawer or cabinet for extra storage, perfect for residents preparing for longer stays.
• Bottom-heavy or bolt-down: A bottom-heavy or bolt-down design prevents tipping, excess movement, and injury.
• Cushioned, upholstered, and roomy: When possible, furniture offers additional cushioning and room for added comfort. 

Versatility and capability

Two final things you’ll notice about the safety features of furniture for mental health facilities is how versatile and capable it is. In fact, the same set of furniture and industrial bedding can be optimized time and time again to accommodate more or fewer residents.

You can accomplish this by incorporating bunk beds (as well as ladders), raising beds to fit desks underneath for a loft-style setup, or stacking low dressers, for example. Of course, it’s important to clean furniture and bedding thoroughly for each new resident or after any illness occurs.

Though finding the right furniture for your facility may take some time, it can be affordable, too, especially if you work with American Bedding. And, if you care for your furniture and industrial bedding properly, it can last for years to come!