Striking a balance between functionality and aesthetics is a consideration for anyone responsible for the maintenance of schools, hospitals, offices and even homes. Wall protection must be taken into consideration in all places with high volumes of passers through or other risks of wall damage, such as trolleys, wheelchairs, people carrying rucksacks or wearing marking clothes.

Most of the wall protection we see is placed in hospitals, so those people who work in them or visit patients regularly will be familiar with it. Hospital corridors are lined with wall protection to avoid scrapes from passing trolleys carrying patients and medical equipment, or wheelchairs. Nowadays, hospitals are decorated in such a way to create a positive, relaxing environment for patients and staff, so that patients feel more at home, happier and therefore recover more quickly. Thank goodness, then, that wall protection isn't all boring. Au contraire: large ranges offer different colours and materials. Some regulations concerning provisions for the partially sighted state that protectors should be in different colours to the walls.This allows designers to be a little more creative.

In schools, corridors are also at risk from passing rucksacks, computer trolleys and general hustle and bustle, especially where teenagers are concerned. School corridors suffer hustle and bustle which can damage their walls. Wall protection is frequently seen in educational establishments. As with hospitals, décor in schools is increasingly considered as a way to provide an uplifting and positive atmosphere, to encourage learning.

Offices also struggle to avoid damage by high volume use, delivery boxes and the like. Ordinary plastic wall protection is rarely considered classy enough by office managers.Marked walls are unattractive and reflect badly on companies. Fortunately, the range of wall protection available is wider than ever. Customers may even wish to choose bespoke protection in corporate colours.

It might be that none of the above has been useful to you, and you might be wondering what this has to do with you. Wall protection does have a place in the home too. Gym equipment or wheelchairs can scratch and scrape walls.In such situations more discreet wall protection can be used, so that the general décor and feel of the home is not altered too much. Functionality is no longer the sole consideration behind wall protection. I don't suggest that wall protection is the next big home furnishing trend, but the balance between aesthetics and practicality is more even.