When decorating a nursing home room, you want to create a home away from home. The rooms are usually tiny, so only a few cherished items can be used. However, with a little space planning, you can make the room comfortable and be inviting.
Decorating a nursing home room is a challenge because the rooms are pretty small, and facility rules are to be followed. Recently, I had the challenge of decorating a nursing home room for my mother. My goal was to create a comfortable, cheerful space using her most cherished items.
The room furnished a bed, nightstand, armoire, and bulletin board. A roommate shared the area, so we needed to keep all of our decorating to one side of the room and coordinate the look to match the roommate’s side.
Below is a photo of what a typical nursing home room will look like before you move in.
Create a Home Away From Home
Step 1: Find out the Rules and Regulations of the Facility.
Here are a few questions to ask:
- What is the policy for hanging items on the wall?
- Are you allowing you to change the window treatments?
- Does the facility provide pillows? Linens?
- Are live plants allowed?
- What type of electronic items can you bring?
- What type of furniture can you bring into the room?
Step 2: Select a Color Scheme and Theme
Start by choosing a color scheme and theme for the room.
- Coordinate the existing paint color of the room to your bedding and accessories.
For my Mother’s Nursing Home Room (shown above), the walls were a pink tone with a rose pattern wallpaper border.
Unfortunately, the home did not allow us to paint the walls or change the wallpaper, so we chose a light pink color and floral theme for our bedding set and accessories.
When selecting a color scheme – theme, choose one that matches the likes and personality of the resident.
Step 3: Select a Bedding Set
Use the bed as the focal point for your decorating because it is the most oversized item in the room. Select bedding that will brighten the space and reflect the lifestyle interests of your loved one.
The bedding set will change the look and feel of a room from a hospital setting to a home atmosphere. Cheerful flowers, animal prints, sports, outdoor scenes, hobbies, or exciting shapes will create an inviting environment. Choose a theme that suits the lifestyle of the resident.
As the seasons change, so can the theme of the bedding. In spring, a gardening theme can easily switch to a hunting theme in fall. The holidays can be celebrated with a decorated duvet that is easy to change.
A nursing home resident spends a considerable amount of time resting in bed. Incorporate a variety of pillows for support and use soft pillowcases for comfort.
- The standard hospital bed will fit a twin or full comforter and blanket.
- NOTE: Sometimes a Full or Queen Comforter will work on a hospital bed because it covers a larger area and works well when a skirt cannot be used.
- Verify the bed size before purchasing your bedding. Measure the size of the bed to verify if a larger comforter will work.
- Choose bedding that is easy to wash and simple to make the bed.
Here are some examples of themes that can be used:
- Fishing
- Football or Sports
- Flowers
- Colors
- Travel
- Shapes
- Farming
- Holidays
Bedding Sets that Create a Fun and Inspiring Room
Making a nursing home room more cheerful and fun can be as easy as changing the bedding set. These colorful and inspiring bedding sets will help make your loved one’s stay more comfortable and enjoyable.
Step 4: Personalize the Room
Personalize the space by using a few cherished items that remind the resident of their home and life.
My mother loved a painting she owned that depicted three children dancing around a tree. She said it always reminded her of her children on the farm. So we decided to hang that piece above her chair.
- NOTE: Be mindful that the resident will need to see and reach most of the items in a room. Often these items need to be wheelchair accessible to keep things within an arm’s reach from a sitting position.
- When lying in bed the resident should be able to see a clock and something pleasant and inspiring to look at.
Step 5: Get Comfortable in a Lift Chair
Before bringing your furniture to the home, ask what type of facility allows it. For example, most homes will enable you to bring in an easy chair or recliner.
A power lift chair can add comfort and support for the resident. Traditional Recliners can be challenging for a frail person to operate the footrest. It will fit nicely in the corner.
Keep a small blanket on the back of the chair to use for daytime naps or a lap blanket. If possible, place a nightstand or end table next to the chair to hold everyday items.
Step 6: Decorate with Accessories
Plants add softness to space.
- Select a silk floral or a silk potted plant set on the windowsill, dresser, or shelf.
- Place some greenery along the top of the armoires to add some softness to the room.
Unfortunately, most nursing homes do not allow live plants and flowers due to the allergens and mold they produce.
Family Memories
A digital photo frame is a nice touch that takes up little space but adds many memories.
This photo frame is small enough to fit on a nightstand. The slideshow will create a wonderful visual of memories to watch while resting in bed.
In addition, there are digital photo frames that you can send pictures to from the internet.
Choose a clock with a large digital display with a cd player, radio, or iPod. This allows music to come on at set times or some relaxing music to listen to while resting in bed. Select music that is enjoyable to the resident, such as country, classical, or old-time favorites. A few choices are “You Are My Sunshine” or “Goodnight Irene.”
Feature Your Family Photos
Take Advantage of Empty Wall Space
Use the wall space to display family photos, favorite art pieces, a calendar, and a bulletin board. Decorate the bulletin board with inspirational sayings or favorite pictures and greeting cards.
Create an about me page for the staff to read. Include what work they did, favorite hobbies, favorite color, pets, and exciting things about their past. This will give the staff and visitors ideas for conversation with the resident.
Place a small television in the room that will fit the space allowed. Attach a VCR or DVD player. Select some old but favorite movies and shows to keep on hand for watching, such as “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Sound of Music,” or the Lawrence Welk Show. For those who have trouble working a remote, choose a simple remote with an on-off, volume, and channel changer.
What Day Is It?
Hang a large calendar on the wall—Mark special events and holidays in large letters for the resident.
TIPS:
- Tag each item in the room with the resident’s name.
- Use sticky notes or labels to help your family member learn their new surroundings. Such as; help button, phone number, and the name of the place that they are in.
- Purchase a DVD player and some old-time movies to watch. Be sure that the device is easy to use.
- Most nursing homes do not allow you to change the window draperies.
- When purchasing furniture such as easy chairs choose the smallest size that the family member is comfortable in to fit in the space.
- Change the bedding to match the seasons. This gives a fresh new look to the room.
- Purchase a clothes hamper that has wheels and is easy to carry to the laundry room.
- Consider getting a companion robotic pet to make the room feel like home.
Top Gifts for Someone in a Nursing Home
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