There are indeed numerous ways you can brighten up a nursing home room. Truth be told, moving into a nursing home is not an easy endeavor, and you will find that residents as well as their loved ones usually deal with a lot of mixed emotions.
This is because they are moving into a new environment with little or no warmth or even the familiarity of home. Nevertheless, just as was noted above, there are viable ways to brighten up a nursing home room to ensure it becomes a comfortable and personalized sanctuary.
If this is what you intend or would like to do, below are top ways to ensure you can effectively brighten up a nursing home room.
10 Decoration ideas to Brighten Up a Nursing Home Room
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Personalize with Photos, Mementos, and Heirlooms
Personalization has proven to be one of the most viable ways to make any living space feel like home. You can also leverage it to brighten up a nursing home room. First, start by infusing personal photos, mementos, and heirlooms.
These items will work to sustain a connection to loved ones and past experiences. Come up with a photo wall or gallery that encompasses pictures of family, friends, and special events.
If you want to boost this connection further, then you should leverage digital photo frames that rotate through a collection of cherished images.
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Incorporate Cozy and Inviting Textiles
This is very much possible by inculcating soft, cozy textiles to ensure that the room becomes more inviting. If possible, it is recommended you layer the bed with a plush comforter, alluring throw blankets, as well as a variety of cushions.
You would want to go with textiles that align with the color preferences or favorite patterns of the resident. Coupled with the bedding, you can add area rugs to map spaces and inculcate more warmth underfoot.
It is recommended you use soft, non-slip rugs that are not difficult to clean and safe for older adults. Be sure to include drapes or curtains that feature cheerful colors.
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Bring the Outdoors in with Natural Elements
Experts have long used natural elements to make a room livable as well as aid the emotional well-being of residents. You can infuse plants, flowers, and natural materials into a nursing home room to ensure you come up with a calming, fresh atmosphere.
It is recommended you only go with low-maintenance plants such as succulents, snake plants, or peace lilies. Although they are not that attractive to the eye, they are well-known for their air-purifying properties.
If live plants are not practical or in any way accessible, you can go with high-quality artificial plants or dried flowers. Aside from that, seek ways to infuse natural materials such as wooden picture frames, wicker baskets, or stone ornaments to further boost the room’s earthy, grounded feel.
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Improve Lighting for Comfort and Ambiance
You can’t afford to underestimate the importance of proper lighting when seeking ways to brighten up a nursing home room. These rooms most often come with harsh, institutional lighting that makes the rooms feel cold and unwelcoming.
To get rid of this, you should swap fluorescent lights for warmer, softer bulbs that guarantee a more inviting atmosphere. Also consider using adjustable lighting, such as lamps with dimmer switches, to ensure seamless control over the room’s mood.
If possible, infuse task lighting for activities like reading or knitting. Residents might as well need a bedside lamp with a flexible neck.
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Enhance the Bed Area with Comfort and Style
The bed is the central feature in every nursing home room. As such, if you want to brighten up the room, you must work the bed area to ensure they are comfortable and as stylish as possible. This can be done by infusing high-quality bedding in colors and patterns that the resident loves.
You would also need a comfortable mattress pad or topper especially to inculcate the extra cushioning, whereas a weighted blanket will make available soothing pressure that aids with sleep and anxiety. Be sure to bring in more pillows, including body pillows or specialized ergonomic pillows.
This will most definitely make the bed more comfortable for sitting and lying down. Another thing to consider includes a bed tray table for meals or hobbies.
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Display Meaningful and Inspiring Artwork
When deciding on the right artwork for a nursing home room, you must take into account the resident’s tastes and interests. It is recommended you consider things like landscapes, seascapes, or nature scenes to infuse a sense of peace and tranquillity, whereas abstract or modern art would inspire creativity and thoughtfulness.
If the residents possess religious or spiritual inclinations, then consider artwork or symbols to provide them with a sense of solace and connection to their faith. Nevertheless, rotating the artwork periodically will ensure the room feels fresh and stimulating.
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Utilize Functional and Attractive Storage Solutions
Clutter has a way of making a room feel smaller and unlivable. As such, the room must possess storage solutions that are both functional and attractive to ensure that the space will remain organized and clutter-free.
To achieve this, you would want to utilize decorative storage boxes, baskets, or bins to hold personal items, books, and other essentials.
These can be stored under the bed, on shelves, or in closets, ensuring that the room remains tidy while also inculcating aesthetic value.
You might as well go with furniture with built-in storage, such as ottomans, benches, or nightstands with drawers. Don’t forget to label storage areas to ensure that residents can note what they need, guaranteeing independence.
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Introduce Calming and Familiar Scents
You can’t afford to underestimate the importance of scents when it comes to creating the right memories and emotions. Note that infusing familiar and calming scents into a nursing home room works to guarantee a comforting atmosphere.
As such, it is recommended you make use of essential oil diffusers that feature scents such as lavender, vanilla, or eucalyptus, which are renowned for their calming properties.
Aside from that, you can go with scented candles (if permitted) or room sprays, as long as the fragrance is mild and non-overwhelming.
Additionally, if the resident has a favorite scent from home, you infuse this scent to ensure you evoke positive memories and feelings of comfort.
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Engage the Resident in the Decorating Process
Working with the resident when decorating their space is a good way to ensure you take their desires into account and come up with a space that truly feels like theirs. Be sure to note their preferences especially when it comes to colors, styles, and the placement of items.
Note that working with them even on small decisions, such as selecting the color of a throw pillow or selecting photos to display, will ensure that the resident feels more in control and connected to their space.
Seek ways to work on DIY projects together, including coming up with personalized photo frames, designing a wreath for the door, or assembling a memory box.
Keep in mind that these activities aside from brightening the room will as well provide meaningful engagement as well as a sense of accomplishment for the resident.
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Incorporate Elements of Familiarity and Routine
One critical tip to keep in mind is the importance of retaining that sense of routine and familiarity, especially for residents with cognitive impairments.
This can entail infusing elements from their previous home, including a special chair, a favorite blanket, or even a particular clock.
This will work to make the transition easy as well as guarantee comfort. If possible, you can arrange the room in a way that mirrors their previous living space.