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At this year’s Care Show Birmingham, Kerry Southern Reason, CEO of the Care Home Interiors Group, shared her invaluable insights on the evolving landscape of care home environments. One of the key topics she discussed was the increasingly important question: how to make care homes feel like home.
As an expert in designing care home interiors, Kerry offered a perspective rooted in both practicality and compassion. “My experience of dementia is that it’s quite scary,” she explained. “When you go into a home that looks like a hospital, that’s not where you want to live.” Her point underscores a critical issue in care home design—balancing the need for clinical functionality with creating a comforting, homely atmosphere. This is especially important for residents living with dementia, for whom a hospital-like environment can heighten feelings of confusion and fear.
A powerful tool in achieving this homely, comforting atmosphere is personalisation, especially through soft furnishings that reflect the resident’s life and interests. Products like those offered by Care Home Photo Furnishings enable care providers to create highly personalised spaces with items such as cushions, lampshades and bespoke upholstery that resonates deeply with each individual. These images can include family photos, places of personal significance, or themes connected to their hobbies and interests. Such personal touches create a sense of familiarity and connection, helping residents feel anchored in their environment.
This level of personalisation isn’t just about decoration; it’s about creating an emotional connection that enhances well-being. Kerry emphasised that, for many residents, seeing familiar faces or cherished places within their room fosters a sense of identity and belonging. “These items help bring back memories and make the space feel uniquely theirs,” Kerry shared. “Personalised furnishings are a beautiful way to turn a room into a comforting retreat that resonates with a person’s life story.”
In addition to the emotional comfort that these personalised items provide, they are also crafted with practicality in mind. Using easy-to-clean, durable fabrics that meet health standards, these furnishings combine safety with a homely feel, making them perfect for care environments. Yet, despite the functional materials, each piece retains a warmth and sense of intimacy that industrial designs lack. “It’s about creating a balance,” Kerry noted, “where people can have both the familiarity of home and the security of a well-maintained environment.”
Kerry’s approach to care home design reflects a broader shift in the sector, moving toward spaces that prioritise both clinical care and emotional well-being. Her belief is clear: care homes should feel like a personal space, not an institution. Personalised soft furnishings play a pivotal role in this transformation, supporting residents by providing daily reminders of who they are and the lives they’ve led.
As care providers continue to reimagine what a care home should be, Kerry’s work and insights are helping to shape environments that honour an individuals unique journey. Ultimately, as Kerry so eloquently put it, “It’s about creating a space where people want to live, not just where they need to be.”
For more ideas and inspiration on creating cosy care home living spaces, visit My Photo Furnishings.
