How to Decorate to Help the Visually Impaired

The decor of your home can help a visually impaired loved one live with confidence.

When you're decorating your home, you will likely consider elements of color and texture, but those decisions are even more important if a member of your family is visually impaired. Decorating choices become more than just expressions of your style preferences; strategic use of color, light and texture can create a safe, comfortable space for your visually impaired loved one. Keep the needs of your visually impaired family member in mind when you are choosing paint or arranging furniture, so that he can lead an independent and comfortable lifestyle in your home.

Things You'll Need

• Bold high-gloss wall paint
• Shag area rugs
• Dark-colored hallway rug
• Textured throw pillows
• Textured wallpaper
• Chair rail

Instructions

1. Use bold wall colors. Many people with visual impairments retain their ability to differentiate between dramatic colors. Establish a bold color on the wall so that other items in the room are discernible against the dramatic color. Opt for rich colors like bright red, blue, or yellow. Use a different color in each room so that the rooms can be easily differentiated.

2. Utilize color contrasts between furniture and wall colors. If you don't want to use dramatic colors in every room, stick to stark white and use dramatic black furniture to create visual contrast. Decorate your couch with light and dark throw pillows so that it is easier to see. If you have a dark dining room table, cover it in a light tablecloth that contrasts with the dark chairs.

3. Incorporate textures into each room for stimulation and ease of navigation. Add a velvet throw pillow to your couch or bedroom, or use shag carpeting to designate a furniture-free zone in your living room. If you are using area rugs, be sure to use a color that contrasts with the floor color, and include a non-slip pad to prevent tripping accidents.

4. Add texture to the walls so that a visually impaired person can feel clear paths from room to room. Chair rails add texture to the wall and allow a visually impaired loved one to follow the line of the chair rail from the dining room to the kitchen, for example. A textured wallpaper border helps your loved one locate a pathway from a main living area to her bedroom or bathroom. Contrasting colors are even more effective for providing room-to-room guidance.

5. Arrange each room with various sources of ample light. Table and standing lamps clutter the room and pose tripping hazards, but recessed lighting, track lighting, cable lighting and high-hung chandeliers are stylish options for ensuring that each room is well-lit for easy navigation. Place lights on a dimmer whenever possible; some people with visual impairments are sensitive to light and may find harsh lighting painful or distracting.

6. Keep your home consistently organized. Remove clutter from floors and limit your inclusion of low furniture like coffee tables, which pose tripping hazards. Keep essential items like remote controls, extra toilet paper, or eating utensils in color- or texture-coded bins for easy access.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask visiting guests to be respectful of the way you've arranged furniture or organized items.

• Independent Living Centers often offer outpatient services for assisting with home modification, if you are living with a family member with a disability.

References

• American Foundation for the Blind: Holiday Guide for Family Members of People with Vision Loss
• American Foundation for the Blind: Your Living Room

Resources

• Virtual CIL: Directory of Independent Living Centers