Why colour matters in senior living settings

If you design retirement or residential care facilities as part of your role, you’ll know colour is key in creating spaces that feel uplifting and enjoyable to live in.

Dulux Trade understands that designing for elderly people, particularly those in residential care or living with dementia, presents unique challenges. Using evidence-based design principles, Dulux Trade can support you in creating spaces that help reduce resident anxiety and promote wellbeing.

Listen to expert insights on colour and paint specification

In the latest episode of the Third Age Design podcast, host Lori Pinkerton-Rolet is joined by Dawn Scott, Senior Colour Designer at Dulux, and Tony Westgarth, Specification Manager for AkzoNobel. During a fascinating 35-minute discussion, the pair offer expert insights on colour and paint specifications for retirement, care and dementia environments.

Did you know, for example, that as the eye ages, its lens becomes more opaque? This impacts the eye’s ability to perceive colour and contrast. So, Dulux Trade has developed a series of evidence-based, dementia-friendly colour and design principles.

Within a care home setting, for example, critical surfaces such as walls, floors and doors should have a strong contrast between them. So, when selecting colours, it’s best practice to have 30 points LRV (light reflectance value) between each critical surface.

Occupant-centred colour and design principles

The considered application of colour enables people living in care environments to navigate the space safely and maintain a sense of independence. Colour can also reinforce positive personal connections, provide stimulation within the space, and help reduce feelings of stress or anxiety.

You can download the Dulux Trade dementia-friendly Colour Palette and Design Guide, which provides an overview of these design principles. Plus, you’ll find more design resources and case studies covering sectors including healthcare, education, leisure and more on the Dulux Trade website.