WHY SENSORY AWEARNESS MATTERS IN EVERY DAY HOME
A home should do more than keep us safe and dry. It should help us feel restored, understood, and cared for. Especially after illness, injury, or a major life transition, the spaces we live in can either hold us back—or make us be the best version of ourselves.
Too often, we accept the bare minimum: white walls, standard fittings, and layouts that function but don’t nurture. But our homes can do more. We should expect more. Homes can be places of positive recovery, spaces that quietly regulate the nervous system, invite calm, and reconnect us to eachother.
This is where sensory-aware design becomes a powerful tool. By paying attention to the way colour, texture, light, and layout affect us, we can build environments with the rejuvenating power of nature, not as a luxury, but as a necessity for wellbeing.
The Sliding Scale of Sensory Needs
In my Biophilic Design Starter Pack, I share my unique, simple but flexible approach: a sliding scale of sensory engagement, which is a unique way to find your own/ clients' sensitivities. Because one size never fits all, this scale helps match the design of a room to the sensory needs of the person who lives there.
10% Sensory Profile
For clients who need a calm and predictable layout, less is more. A scheme that quietly takes care of you with spaces that are pared-back, ordered, and soothing: straight lines, soft neutrals, symmetry, and gentle lighting. They create refuge from overstimulation, offering balance and reassurance.40% Sensory Profile
The balance point for many. This approach invites the client to express their personality with layers of natural textures, soft contrasts, and thoughtful lighting to spark curiosity while maintaining calm. It’s where rooms feel alive with shape without feeling overwhelming.80% Sensory Profile
For those who thrive in vibrant, energising surroundings with bold contrast, tactile materials, and colour combinations. It’s when a client seeks stimulation, exploration, a dynamic environment with movement and sound, where every surface leaves the spectator in awe.
The scale isn’t prescriptive. It’s a guide. A way of making sure the home reflects the individual, not the other way around.
Why This Matters for Recovery
When life changes, whether through injury, ageing, or new routines, the emotional connection we feel to our home can falter. A room that once worked may suddenly feel unappealing, disconnected, or even off-limits.
Well-designed interiors can gently shift that. A supportive home can:
Encourage daily routines by being practical and easy to use.
Restore confidence by creating spaces that feel safe and cared for.
Reduce stress through natural cues—textures, light, and colour that align with how we process the world.
Provide pride and identity, reminding us that a home is more than function—it’s a reflection of who we are.
This isn’t about making spaces “Instagram perfect.” It’s about creating positive homes where people feel understood, cared for, and at ease. Homes that actively contribute to recovery and wellbeing.
A Bridge Between Biophilic Design and Wellbeing
Biophilic design- the intentional integration of natural elements - is often misunderstood as simply “bringing the outside in.” In truth, it’s about designing spaces that support behaviour, express values, and encourage connection with each other and the natural world.
Occupational therapists already understand the importance of sensory profiling, regulation, and routine. My role as a designer is to take those insights and translate them into spaces that work—with the warmth of natural light, the grounding of texture, and the calm of thoughtful layout.
Homes should not be just shelters. Together, we can fill them with the rejuvenating power of nature woven into their very surface.
Thank you for reading. I’d love to keep this conversation open so we can learn from each other. If there’s a topic you’d like me to cover, or if you simply fancy a chat, please do reach out. I’m always up for a good discussion.
Jana 🥬