The Role of Colour in Resident Emotional Wellbeing
Colour is not merely aesthetic -- it has a measurable impact on mood, behaviour, and emotional wellbeing. For residents with dementia, whose emotional responses to environmental stimuli are often heightened, colour choices in signage, walls, and furnishings can create calm, warmth, and comfort or trigger anxiety and agitation.
Colour influences how we feel about a space before we consciously process any other information. This emotional response to colour is preserved in dementia even as other cognitive functions decline. Research from the University of Stirling's DSDC demonstrates that people living with dementia respond to colour at an emotional level -- warm tones can evoke comfort and familiarity, while certain colour combinations can provoke anxiety or confusion. For care home managers, understanding the role of colour in resident wellbeing is essential for making informed decisions about signage, decor, and environmental design.
How Dementia Affects Colour Perception#
Dementia does not eliminate colour vision, but it significantly alters how colours are perceived. Contrast sensitivity declines, making it harder to distinguish between similar tones. The ability to perceive blues and purples may be reduced due to yellowing of the lens in older age, though this varies between individuals. Pastel colours that appear distinct to a person with normal vision may merge into an undifferentiated wash for a person with dementia. This is why the DSDC emphasises bold, saturated colours with high contrast for signage -- subtlety is lost on a visual system that is struggling to differentiate.
Evidence-based colour principles for dementia care environments:
- Use warm, saturated colours (reds, oranges, warm greens) for a welcoming atmosphere in communal areas
- Avoid large expanses of very dark colours, which can appear as voids or holes to residents with dementia
- Ensure a minimum 30-point LRV difference between sign background and wall colour for visibility
- Use colour consistently to aid orientation -- the same colour scheme for all signs of the same type
- Avoid highly patterned surfaces that can cause visual confusion and misinterpretation
- Select calming tones (soft greens, warm neutrals) for bedrooms and relaxation areas
- Use bold colour for wayfinding cues -- a brightly coloured toilet door is easier to find than a neutral one
Colour and Emotional Response#
The emotional impact of colour extends beyond individual preferences. Research in environmental psychology consistently links warm tones with feelings of comfort and security, and cool tones with calm and relaxation. In dementia care, this knowledge can be applied strategically: warm, inviting colours in dining areas may encourage residents to linger and eat more; calm, soft tones in bedrooms support relaxation and sleep; and bold, clear colours on signage communicate information with confidence and clarity. The Alzheimer's Society's guidance on creating a dementia-friendly environment specifically recommends considering the emotional as well as functional impact of colour choices.
Pro Tip
When choosing signage colours, consider both contrast performance and emotional tone. Our range is available in multiple colour options -- from warm oak tones to bold purples and blues -- so you can select a scheme that provides high contrast against your specific walls while creating the emotional atmosphere you want in each area.
DSDC research shows that colour contrast is the single most important factor in sign visibility for people with dementia. However, colour choice also affects emotional wellbeing. The best signage schemes deliver both high contrast and appropriate emotional tone.
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Our signs are available in a carefully curated palette of colours, each selected for both contrast performance and emotional appropriateness. From the warmth of oak and walnut to the clarity of purple, blue, green, and red, every option meets DSDC 1A colour contrast standards.
Colour is a powerful but often underestimated tool in dementia care. When colour choices are informed by evidence -- considering both the functional requirements of contrast and the emotional impact on residents -- they contribute to an environment that feels safe, welcoming, and supportive. For care home managers, every colour decision is both a design choice and a care decision.
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