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How Dementia-Friendly Furniture Differs from Everyday Furniture
- 09 May, 2025
- Frederick Tomblin
When designing a living space for someone with dementia, one of the most important—but often underestimated—considerations is the furniture. While standard furniture may meet general needs for comfort and aesthetics, it often fails to address the specific challenges faced by people living with cognitive decline. Dementia-friendly furniture is thoughtfully engineered to support memory, reduce confusion, and enhance safety—all while preserving dignity.
So, what exactly makes dementia-friendly furniture different from ordinary household furniture? Here's a detailed look at the key differences:
1. Visibility and Recognition
Standard furniture:
Traditional wardrobes, drawers, and cabinets are usually opaque, unlabeled, and visually uniform. This can make it difficult for someone with dementia to remember or recognise what’s inside them, leading to frustration or reliance on caregivers.
Dementia-friendly furniture:
Often includes clear-front drawers or glass panel wardrobes so the contents are visible at a glance.
Frequently uses picture labels or text tags to help identify the purpose of each drawer or shelf.
Incorporates contrasting colours between handles and doors to make them easier to see and use.
These features reduce cognitive load and promote independence in daily routines like dressing or tidying up.
2. Safety Features
Standard furniture:
Everyday items are typically designed for general use and may include sharp edges, unstable structures, or slippery finishes—none of which are ideal for someone with dementia who may have impaired mobility or depth perception.
Dementia-friendly furniture:
Designed with rounded corners to prevent injuries from accidental bumps.
Made from sturdy, anti-tip materials for stability and to allow users to lean or hold on for support.
Finished in low-glare, matte surfaces to prevent visual confusion or distraction caused by light reflection.
These safety elements help prevent falls and accidents, critical concerns for both individuals and caregivers.
3. Supportive Design for Routine Tasks
Standard furniture:
Often prioritises style and compactness, which can make it harder for someone with memory loss or reduced dexterity to interact with it easily.
Dementia-friendly furniture:
Beds are usually adjusted to an optimal height for easy access, reducing the risk of falls when getting in or out.
Wardrobes and drawers are often shallow or open-style, encouraging exploration without the stress of opening and closing multiple compartments.
Items may include cueing features like memory boxes on wardrobes to prompt recognition of personal belongings or space ownership in shared settings.
This emphasis on routine and ease of use allows individuals to maintain more control over daily life.
4. Colour and Contrast
Standard furniture:
Contemporary furniture often follows design trends that favour muted tones, minimal contrast, or monochromatic colour schemes. Unfortunately, this can be problematic for someone with dementia who may struggle with visual perception.
Dementia-friendly furniture:
Uses contrasting colours to distinguish between furniture and flooring or walls.
Choose shades that are soothing and familiar, avoiding overly busy patterns that could cause confusion.
Incorporates bold colours on key elements like drawer handles or chair arms to make them easier to identify.
Colour choices play a vital role in helping someone with dementia feel oriented and capable within their space.
5. Dignity and Comfort
Standard furniture:
Often focuses on visual appeal, which can unintentionally make it look cold, clinical, or inappropriate for someone in later stages of dementia.
Dementia-friendly furniture:
Marries practicality with warmth, offering homely styles that don’t feel institutional.
Includes touches like customisation options—for example, family photos or familiar objects can be integrated into the design.
Is built to encourage a sense of ownership and identity, even in shared care environments.
Maintaining dignity is a central part of dementia care, and thoughtfully designed furniture plays a powerful role in that.
In Summary
Dementia-friendly furniture is more than just "safer" furniture—it’s a tool for independence, comfort, and well-being. It’s designed specifically with the challenges of dementia in mind, offering support through clarity, simplicity, and safety. While it may look similar at first glance, the attention to detail—visible storage, purposeful design cues, secure structure, and calming finishes—sets it apart from everyday household furnishings.
If you’re caring for someone with dementia or planning a dementia-supportive environment, investing in furniture tailored to their needs isn’t just a practical decision—it’s an act of care, respect, and forward-thinking design.
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