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Dementia-Friendly Bedroom Furniture: Choosing the Right Colours
- 27 June, 2025
- Frederick Tomblin
Colour plays a powerful role in dementia-friendly design. In the bedroom—an environment meant to feel calm, safe, and familiar—the right colour choices can help individuals with dementia better navigate their space, reduce confusion, and promote restful sleep. Here are some key colour considerations when selecting dementia-friendly bedroom furniture:
1. Use Contrasting Colours for Visibility
Contrast is essential for helping people distinguish furniture from walls, floors, and other objects. For example, a wardrobe in a soft blue or oak tone will stand out clearly against a pale wall and neutral floor. Contrasting handles, such as white on a darker drawer front or vice versa, make them easier to see and use.
2. Soft, Muted Tones for Calmness
Avoid bright, overstimulating colours like vivid red, orange, or stark white, especially in large furniture pieces. Instead, choose soft, muted tones such as gentle blues, sage green, lavender, dusty pinks, or warm neutrals. These promote a feeling of calm and help support a good sleep routine.
3. Familiar, Homely Colours
People with dementia often respond well to colours they associate with home and comfort. Traditional wood finishes like light oak, walnut, or painted cream can evoke familiarity and reassurance. These shades also work well with a variety of bedding and décor styles.
4. Avoid Patterns and Busy Finishes
Furniture with bold patterns or high-gloss finishes can cause visual confusion or be misinterpreted as something else (e.g. reflections or movement). Stick to matte or satin finishes in solid, predictable colours to avoid disorientation.
5. Functional Colour Cues
Colour can also be used to subtly cue function. For instance, painting or selecting a bedside table in a different tone from the wardrobe can help individuals identify it more easily at night. A contrasting drawer front may act as a visual reminder of where personal items like glasses or medication are stored.
In summary:
- Use contrast to improve visibility
- Choose calming, muted tones
- Stick with familiar, traditional colour palettes
- Avoid busy patterns or reflective surfaces
- Use colour to cue function where helpful
Thoughtful use of colour in bedroom furniture can go a long way in making the space safer, more supportive, and emotionally comforting for someone living with dementia.
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