The Market…..
Mental health is a crucial aspect of our overall well-being. The United Kingdom is widely regarded as a world leader in mental health, with significant investment in research, treatment, and support for those living with mental health conditions. The UK government has recognised the importance of mental health and has made efforts to improve access to services and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.
One of the main reasons for the UK’s success in mental health is the NHS, charitable organisations and Mental Health private practises. These have all been at the forefront of mental health research and have developed innovative treatments and interventions to support those living with mental health conditions.
The UK has a growing demand for mental health services, and the industry is rapidly expanding to meet this demand. The mental health market in the UK includes a range of services, including counselling, therapy, and psychiatric treatment. Alongside these services, there is also a growing need for specialised furniture designed to meet the unique requirements of mental health environments.
When it comes to mental health environments, the furniture needs to be more than just functional. It needs to create a homely atmosphere, making patients feel more comfortable and relaxed, while also being robust and anti-resistant to ensure the safety of patients and staff. Mulberry Contract Furniture Ltd is, a UK-based contract furniture manufacturer that maybe a new start-up company but has worked in this market for 30 years. In these 30 years we have seen and been involved in the evolution of product development. We have seen what works and what doesn’t and we want to put our expertise into practice to benefit the marketplace. We have so far been manufacturing bespoke products for our clients while in the background we have been working on our new product ranges.
The Ranges…
We are proud to introduce our two new product ranges, Apollo Pro and Titan, These two ranges have been designed specifically for challenging environments.
The Apollo Pro range is an ungraded version of our Apollo range. Our Apollo range is suited to low-risk environments, hostels and care homes and our Apollo Pro range has been developed to offer the most robust and durable cabinet products currently available on the market, it is suitable for extra challenging environments. Featuring 25mm carcass, shelves, base and top panels instead of the industry standard 18mm. Our cabinets are designed and built to withstand the most severe environments. We want to provide as many options as possible to fit your needs including with or without doors, sloping top and lockable options. We’ve taken extra measures to reduce any ligature risks by rebating the shelves and our standard stocked items come with additional shelves for more storage, in place of hanging space. Our Apollo Pro range comes with security screws as standard. As well as our range of standard finishes, we can offer alternative decors from an extensive collection, which we would be happy to discuss with you.
The Titan range is a collection of bedroom and lounge cabinetry furniture. Our Titan range has been specifically designed to blend strength, style and durability. The range boasts several features that make it stand out from other cabinetry products, including 36mm panels, rebated shelves that eliminate ligature risks, curved edges and anti-climb shelves. These design elements not only promote safety in extremely challenging environments, but also provide a warm and inviting space for users. We understand the importance of creating an environment that feels like home while ensuring that individuals are safe and secure. Our Titan range has been designed with these factors in mind. The Titan range provides a solution that offers both functionality and aesthetics, without compromising on safety and comfort.
Browse our products to see what product suits your needs and if you would like to view a sample of the products first hand then arrange this for you.
Both Apollo Pro and Titan have been designed to meet the specific needs of mental health environments, where patients require a safe and comfortable space. Both ranges are made from high-quality materials, making them both durable and they are designed to be aesthetically pleasing, with a modern, clean design that creates a calming environment for patients. We have multiple options available for finishes to suit your space.
The Design…
Designing furniture for the mental health market is not an easy task. It is a challenging market with unique requirements that demand specialist expertise. The furniture needs to create a homely and comfortable environment while also being robust and anti-ligature. It requires an in-depth understanding of the needs of mental health patients, their behaviour, and their environment. The following are some of the challenges that designers face when designing furniture for the mental health market.
Firstly, furniture must be anti-ligature, which means that it cannot have any exposed parts that could be used to harm oneself or others. For example, any hooks, sharp edges, or gaps in the furniture could pose a threat. This is why we have rebated our shelving, unlike any other cabinetry product on the market we have taken the design one step further and removed the risk of gaps on joins. We have also removed the hanging space and replaced it with shelving so service users have more space for their belongings and less risk of harm. Our Titan range also offers a curved front edge to reduce sharp edges.
Secondly, the furniture must be robust and durable. Mental health patients may exhibit unpredictable behaviour, which means that furniture must withstand frequent use, impact and abuse. It must be able to withstand the weight of the patients and resist damage from cleaning and disinfecting products. The furniture must also be easy to maintain and repair, ensuring that it remains in good condition over time. Our products have been tested to withstand 500 tonnes of pressure without causing any damage.
Thirdly, the furniture must be aesthetically pleasing. It must create a calming and homely environment, which can help aid patient recovery. The furniture design must be modern, clean, and fit seamlessly into the mental health environment. The furniture should also have a non-institutional appearance that reduces the stigma attached to mental health facilities. We have spent time choosing the right finishes to create the most calming, homely environments that staff and users can enjoy.
Designing furniture for the mental health market requires a team of experts with years of experience in the industry. The team must have a deep understanding of the unique requirements of the market and the challenges involved in designing furniture that meets these needs. They must have a comprehensive knowledge of materials, construction techniques, and anti-ligature design principles. The team must also have an understanding of patient behaviour and the mental health environment, enabling them to create furniture that is safe, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. This is the most important investment for Mulberry Contracts and will continue to be. We also welcome the opportunity for client insight on our product development so we can always adapt to the needs and help create the best environments.