What impact can bedroom personalisation have on residents, especially those living with dementia?

Bringing treasured items from home, such as well-loved photos, heirlooms or favourite soft furnishings, turns a new room into a familiar sanctuary. Studies show that personalised environments reduce confusion, anxiety and agitation for people living with dementia, boosting emotional wellbeing and a sense of security. Care Homes encourage residents to arrange furniture, hang pictures and place meaningful items around the room to reflect their personality and life story.

How can a choice in furnishings make a room feel comfortable and safe?

Choosing soft furnishings and furniture that reflect residents’ tastes, such as a cosy armchair, their own bedding or vibrant cushions, helps create warmth and individuality. Most rooms come with full furniture and profiling beds, yet allow residents to bring pieces that matter most to them, blending functionality and familiarity. This customisation supports autonomy and eases the transition into residential life.

Why do memory aids like photographs and 'memory shelves' matter?

Visual reminders such as framed family photos, memory boxes or memory shelves with personal tokens help preserve identity and foster conversation. Dementia Care Homes have used “memory shelves” in living spaces to anchor familiar objects, aiding recognition and emotional connection. These memory anchors, like a favourite mug or childhood photo, help residents maintain a sense of self within their new environment.

How can sensory touches like sound, scent and nature enhance wellbeing?

Gentle sensory stimulation supports calm and focus for residents living with dementia. Familiar sounds, like favourite music can trigger positive memories, while calming scents (lavender, rose) can reduce stress. Introducing potted plants or flowers helps connect residents to nature and lift mood through colour and scent.

What role does layout and practicality play in creating a homely dementia-friendly space?

Effective design balances familiarity with clarity. Clear, uncluttered layouts, visible storage (such as clear drawer fronts or labelled cupboards) and safe wayfinding supports make rooms more navigable for those with cognitive challenges. Bedrooms are thoughtfully arranged to minimise obstacles while enabling residents to move freely, retaining autonomy in personal routines.

How does personalisation enhance daily quality of life and care?

Activity spaces, like an arts and crafts station, a music area or a photo album station, reflect hobbies and support meaningful engagement. Tailoring rooms to daily rituals and preferences helps maintain independence and boosts wellbeing. Dementia-trained staff collaborate with families to co-create room layouts that support favourite pastimes and daily rhythms.

How do family connections and regular interaction enrich the room environment?

Bedrooms are not just private spaces, they’re settings for family moments. Providing comfortable seating, space for visiting loved ones and multipurpose areas for shared meals or conversations makes the room a hub of relationships. Building memories through visits reinforces emotional support and reinforces the room’s identity as a home, not just a bedroom.

What practical balance is needed between personal touches and safety?

While personalisation is encouraged, care homes must maintain accessibility and safety. Soft furnishings shouldn’t hinder mobility and framed photos should avoid glare to reduce confusion, especially important for those living with dementia. Care Homes should ensure residents’ rooms are spacious, free from trip hazards, with profiling beds and nurse call systems installed for safety.

Why does a homely room matter for long-term wellbeing?

A thoughtfully personalised room supports more than aesthetics, it nurtures emotional wellbeing, independence and cognitive health. Studies show that alignment between personal preferences and home design contributes to better mental outcomes and building familiarity in dementia care settings. At Tŷ Llandaff, this philosophy helps create a space where residents truly feel at home.

Making a care home room feel like home, especially for someone living with dementia, is not just about decorative touches. It’s a meaningful strategy rooted in evidence: retaining identity through memory anchors, supporting autonomy with personalised layouts, soothing with sensory familiarity and fostering connection through comfortable, family-friendly spaces.

At Tŷ Llandaff Care Home, we’re committed to co-creating these homely environments with residents and families, combining luxury standards, such as en-suite rooms, profiling beds, Wi-Fi, and en-suite wet rooms, with heartfelt personalisation and dementia-friendly design.

Would you like to explore our room layouts, see how we support personalisation or discuss dementia-friendly features with our team?

Click here to arrange a personal tour today