Key Principles and TIPs for Care Home Interior Design

October 12, 2023 | Time: | Location: | Category: News

“BoConcept Kent Trade & Contract continue to provide outstanding sustainable interior designs for the care home and retirement living sectors, elevating interiors delivering both functionality and pleasing aesthetics for modern, contemporary, homely interiors.” Jonathan Sawyers Head of Contract.

Our approach to designing the interior of a care home requires careful consideration to the needs, safety, and comfort of residents alongside the aesthetics of a space.

Here we share our interior design teams key principles with tips to keep in mind when designing the interior of a sustainable care home:

  • The Brief: Every care home is unique. Understand the offering, capturing the personality of a care home is vital in creating an interior concept that enhances the environment of those who will use it, be that residents, care givers, family and visitors.
  • Safety and Accessibility: Safety is paramount.  Ensure that all spaces are designed to be easily navigable by residents and care givers. This includes incorporating wide access between furnishings, continuous floor surfaces, slip-resistant flooring, soft edges, chair arms and good lighting.
  • Comfortable and Homely Atmosphere: Create a warm and inviting atmosphere that feels familiar. We consider biophilic concepts that increase human connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct and indirect nature, space, place and light. Aside from making spaces look nice, this interior design concept has a deeper significance, because as people, we are connected emotionally to the environment around us. Use of natural materials, fabrics and colour, can directly influence wellbeing, care and a sense of attachment to the world around us.
  • Functional Layout: Organise spaces in a way that promotes efficiency for staff while also providing a sense of independence and privacy for residents. Incorporating open plan spaces for communal areas that can adapt to daily activities, that ebb and flow and that incorporate areas for privacy and quiet time.
  • Natural Light and Views: Maximise natural light and provide views of the outdoors whenever possible. Exposure to natural light and nature can have positive effects on residents' well-being.

  • Colour Palette: Choose a soothing colour palette that promotes relaxation and a sense of calm. Pastel colours, earthy tones, and soft blues and greens are often excellent.
  • Furniture and Fixtures: Select furniture that is comfortable, materials that are easy to clean, and meet the needs of the residents. Pay attention to chair hight, leg positions and avoid sharp, harsh edges. Ensure furnishings colours contrast with wall colours to define spaces for those with dementia and limited visual awareness.

  • Dementia-Friendly Design: If the care home serves residents with dementia, incorporate dementia-friendly design principles. This includes clear signage, color-coding, and familiar, home-like environments.
  • Privacy: Balance privacy with accessibility. Residents should have the option for private time as well as having spaces for socialising and communal activities.
  • Personalisation: Creating familiarity through accessorising areas will enhance a sense of homeliness and connection, consider art work and pictures in rooms and involve residents and staff in personalising spaces.
  • Facilities: Consider including spaces that enhance the experience for both residents and families. Cinema rooms, private function spaces, reading rooms, family rooms, garden rooms and café spaces offer the benefits of quality care to the daily lives of residents.  
  • Sensory Stimulation: Consider incorporating sensory stimulation elements, such as textured materials, planting and music to cater to the sensory needs of residents, improving their everyday lives.
  • Technology Integration: Implement technology solutions to enhance the quality of care, such as mood lighting, and entertainment options.
  • Maintenance and Durability: Choose materials and finishes that are durable and easy to maintain, our BoConcept range has over 100 plus fabric choices, waterproof membranes and meets accreditations such as crib 5. 
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure that the design complies with the relevant regulation, including those related to fire safety, accessibility, and health and social care standards for the care home sector.
  • Consult with Experts: We collaborate with professionals who specialise in care facilities to ensure that our designs meet the specific needs of residents, that provide colour pallets that are friendly to care needs, such as dementia.

“Interior design of a care home should prioritise the well-being and comfort of its residents while also supporting staff in providing high-quality care. It should feel inviting to family and visitors for an inclusive offering.” Jonathan Sawyers Head of Contracts.

BoConcept Kent  has a dedicated care home interior design service where we are able to provide a concept proposal, supply furnishings and support an interior design with project management, delivery and install, covered by our 5yr warranty and aftercare program.

To find out more contact Jonathan Sawyers, Head of Contracts via jtsw@boconcept.co.uk  

 

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