Interior design
Increasing wellbeing via interior design choices
Victoria Bellerby, founder of BellaBe Design Consultancy, explains how interior design can be harnessed to improve wellbeing of care home residents and staff alike
Wellbeing is defined as a state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy and it is a key factor in the WHO’s definition of health. A focus on design for wellbeing is becoming increasingly important for the happiness of residents and staff in all types of shared buildings. In this article, I will discuss the elements of wellbeing that can be integrated into interior designs for care homes. Health, comfort and wellbeing are
the values a care home delivers to its residents and the choice of interior design solution can enhance those values. The choice of interior design is normally driven by functional need and the brand image desired for the care home. For a new build, this image will be
part of the architectural design. In a refurbishment , it will either support the current brand image or be a key enabler to a refreshed image. The interior design of lighting, paint colours, furniture choices, space allocation, fittings and accessories internally deliver this brand. Wellbeing design is not in addition to brand design - it should be an integral part of the brand image and a key design criterion. Over the years, I have met with many
residents in the organisations I have been lucky to work with, and I have found the key to any successful design is resident and staff engagement. Their participation in the decisions being made for their homes. I call it ‘the wisdom in the room’ and this is essential.
I could spend hours thinking about
what residents need, what activities they would like to enjoy, how their environment can be improved. Yet an excellent starting point is to ask them first.
What should we do? The available budget will set the parameters of the changes that can be made but bringing wellbeing principles into design options does not have to cost more. The criteria for wellbeing design are as follows:
I could spend hours thinking about what residents need, what activities they would like to enjoy, how their environment can be improved. Yet an excellent starting point is to ask them first
March 2021 •
www.thecarehomeenvironment.com
l They should be beneficial to the physical and mental health of the residents and improve their comfort and happiness.
l Staff should find their work environment more inviting thus improving job attraction and retention.
l In a competitive environment, the image of the home should differentiate it from competitors.
l Sustainability - investigate options for using carbon neutral and sustainable materials throughout the design.
Building an environment that is a ‘home from home’ not only adds to a sense of place but also the comfort and wellbeing of its residents. I once heard a resident say they wanted a home to live and grow, not a series of services. That made me think. We grow
throughout our lives and the buildings and communities we live in shape our lives. The design principles of wellbeing can
31
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
