Senior-friendly Interior Design Tips

Senior-friendly Interior Design Tips

The target audience for my group project are elderly. Thus, my groupmates and I have to consider their safety and comfort when we are designing their collective living spaces.


Here are some safety and comfort tips for creating an elderly-friendly living space:

1. Strategise the placement of the furniture. Position well major pieces so they can support the elderly for balance while they are moving through the room. Keep pathways clear, especially if they are in walkers or wheelchairs.
2. Improve Accessibility. Put frequently used items in waist-high cabinets and drawers. Keep phones near beds and sitting areas. Situate lamps for unrestricted access, and ensure switches are easy to operate. Switch dresser knobs to drawer pulls for an easier grip.
3. Decrease the Risk of Falls. Avoid unsecured scatter rugs. All rugs should be non-slip and contrast in color with the flooring beneath. Tuck electrical cords behind furniture, or use cable management products, which are available in most office supply stores.
4. Increase Visibility. Make sure that major pieces of furniture, walls, drapes and floors are clearly defined through contrasting colors. During the day, allow as much natural light as possible into living areas. At night, illuminate the path between the bed and the bathroom with motion-sensor night-lights.
5. Create a Safer Bathroom. Place seating in front of the sink and in the shower for easy, comfortable grooming. Install non-slip strips on the shower floor and grab bars near the shower, tub and toilet.

Considering that elderly have eyesight problem, it is good to:

1.  Create strong color contrasts between major pieces of furniture, walls, drapes and floors. The same applies to different pieces of bedding—and even in the bathroom, where the toilet seat should be noticeably darker or lighter than the floor.
2. Outline windows with curtain fabrics that stand out from  the walls. Add cording to couches and chairs to better  define these pieces.
3.  Natural light not only helps keep things visible—it improves  sleep cycles.
4.  Night-lights and motion-sensor lights—especially between the bedroom and bathroom—make for easier navigation and reduce the risk of falls.
5.  Position reflective furniture to minimize glare. Avoid glass-top tables, which reflect light and can also be difficult to see in  dim rooms.

Additional knowledge:

• Busy patterns can create frustration and confusion; avoid designs with dark spots that may be misinterpreted as dirt or holes.
• Primary colors enhance appetite. Solid yellow bowls and dishes contrast best with food. • Cups and bowls with two handles improve ease of use. 
• Don’t fake it—plastic fruits, vegetables, or even berries on silk plants can be confused with real food.

Another tips to encourage social interaction in the house:

1. Ensure plenty of guest seating.
2. Group furniture in a way that encourages conversation,  such as placing seating in a semicircle.
3. Display interesting art, awards, photos and other personal  items in a way that sparks conversation. Stack photo albums where visitors will feel comfortable flipping through them.

Bibliography:

The Sunrise Design Team. 'Home Design Guide'. USA: Sunrise Senior Living, Inc, 2015.