Decorating a care home might not be as straightforward as it looks, since you will need to take a number of factors into consideration. There are many things that you will need to take care of to ensure that you can combine style and functionality. Achieving great interior design might be a challenging task, but it is crucial if you want to improve residents’ wellbeing. Today we have decided to share a handy guide, designed to show you how to decorate your care home with style and functionality in mind. You will find some great suggestions, that may also help you attract new residents.
Provide Enough Space
First of all, space is a key design element that you will need to consider, as it will act as a base for everything else you want to include. Make sure that there is plenty of room, which will allow residents and staff to move freely and access everything that they need with ease. This will prevent them from feeling closed in. If necessary, you may want to rearrange the space to meet residents’ specific needs later on. Moreover, ensuring there is enough space in your care home is a great way to reduce the number of accidents and trip hazards which may occur.
Choose A Great Furniture Supplier
Next, it’s important to think about the type of furniture that you want to get, as this will help you create a comfortable environment. Look for a care home supplier, who specialises in care home furniture like Nichol & Hill. Their team will support you in finding the right care home furniture depending on your residents’ needs. For example, you may want to buy furniture for dementia patients or people with limited mobility. However, it’s possible that you may also require furniture for visitors, as well as furniture which is easy to clean and disinfect. Thanks to Nichol & Hill, you can maximise your investment by getting furniture which is designed to last a long time.
Think About Lighting
Lighting is another important factor, which can make a significant difference to how residents feel on a daily basis. Whether it’s natural or artificial, you will need to provide constant levels of lighting in your care home. You should strive to create the right balance by aiming to maximise natural light at all times. There are many ways to allow more light in, such as placing more windows and doors in residents’ rooms. To provide better visibility, you should also use a variety of lamps and other lighting solutions.
Create A Homely Feeling
Creating a homely feeling is essential when decorating your care home. Homeliness is one of the most important things that potential residents and their families will look for when visiting your care home for the first time. Therefore, it’s recommended to go for a homely aesthetic, which will help you demonstrate your commitment to making residents feel at home. Make sure that residents feel comfortable decorating their rooms the way they prefer. This will serve as a reminder that they are treated as more than just residents.
Use The Right Colours
Sometimes, using the right colours is what can help you prevent your care home from feeling cold and uninviting. It’s another key element that many potential residents will pay attention to on their first visit. You should choose colours with good contrast, which means they will be dementia-friendly. Moreover, you should also take the purpose of each room into consideration. For example, when designing bedrooms, it’s best to go for calming colours, such as blue and green to create a relaxing environment for residents. However, when it comes to decorating a dining room, you will need to look for colours, which stimulate appetite.
Incorporate Texture
Texture is another element that can help you tie a room together to create a homely environment. If you feel like there is something missing in a room, you will likely need to bring in more texture. This is often considered the final piece of the puzzle, which can make your care home look complete. For example, to make a communal area more comfortable, consider adding some blankets and soft cushions. As a result, this may encourage residents to spend more time there and interact with each other.
Ensure Safety
Lastly, you should never forget about the importance of safety, when trying to combine style and functionality. It’s advisable to check if your care home is clean and free of clutter, as this ensures that the environment is safe for residents with mobility problems. Also, this will reduce the number of accidental falls due to misplaced objects or supplies. Therefore, you should take a good look around your care home to determine what improvements can be made. Safety should always be your top priority when decorating any room in your care home. Before you make any final decisions, it’s best to identify potential hazards and assess risks.