Wayfinding in Open-Plan & Communal Spaces
Open-plan spaces can be both liberating and disorienting for residents with dementia. This guide explains how to define zones, create sightlines, use furniture as boundaries, and maintain orientation within large communal areas without compromising the sense of openness.
Open-plan communal spaces are increasingly common in modern care homes, designed to promote social interaction, natural light, and a sense of spaciousness. However, for residents with dementia, a large undifferentiated space can be as disorienting as a featureless corridor. Without clear boundaries, zones, and sightlines, residents may not know where they are within the space, where to sit, where the exit is, or how to find the toilet. Research from the University of Worcester Association for Dementia Studies shows that well-zoned open-plan spaces can improve social engagement, but poorly designed ones increase confusion and withdrawal.
Defining Zones Within Open Spaces#
The key to successful open-plan wayfinding is zone definition: creating visually and functionally distinct areas within the larger space without erecting walls or barriers. This can be achieved through furniture groupings, flooring colour changes, lighting variations, and focal objects. A dining zone might have a different floor colour, pendant lighting, and table-and-chair arrangements, while a sitting zone has softer lighting, carpet, and armchairs arranged around a focal point such as a fireplace or television. Each zone should be identifiable from the entrance to the space so that residents can see where they want to go before they start walking.
Strategies for open-plan wayfinding:
- Use furniture groupings to create distinct functional zones (dining, sitting, activity) within the larger space
- Change flooring colour or material between zones to signal transitions
- Provide a clear sightline from the entrance to the most important destinations within the space
- Position focal objects (a clock, a display, an activity station) to anchor each zone
- Install zone identification signage where the open space meets corridors or entrances
- Ensure the toilet is visible or clearly signed from every zone within the open area
- Avoid placing furniture in configurations that create confusing routes or dead ends within the space
Sightlines and Orientation#
In a well-designed open-plan space, residents should be able to see the exit, the toilet, and the main activity areas from any seated position. Clear sightlines reduce anxiety because residents can confirm where they are and where they need to go without standing up or asking for help. Tall furniture, room dividers, or displays that block sightlines should be avoided or repositioned. The DSDC recommends maintaining at least one unobstructed sightline from every seating position to the nearest exit and the nearest toilet sign.
Pro Tip
Test sightlines from a seated position, not standing. Walk through the space and sit in every chair and on every sofa. From each seated position, can you see the exit? Can you see the toilet sign? Can you see a clock? If not, consider repositioning furniture or adding additional signage at lower heights.
Signage in Open-Plan Environments#
Traditional wall-mounted signs are less effective in open-plan spaces because there may be fewer walls to mount them on, and distances from sign to viewer are greater. Consider freestanding signs, overhead suspended signs, or signs integrated into furniture and display units. The most important sign in any open-plan communal area is the toilet sign, which should be prominently displayed at every entrance to the space and visible from the maximum number of seating positions. Use projecting signs where corridors meet the open area to guide residents entering the space.
Recommended Products
Our projecting signs are ideal for open-plan environments where corridor meets communal space. Mounted perpendicular to the wall, they are visible from a distance and guide residents as they approach the open area. Pair with our directional signs to ensure key destinations such as toilets and dining areas are clearly indicated from within the space.
Design principle
An open-plan space should feel open and welcoming, not confusing and overwhelming. The goal of wayfinding in these environments is to provide enough structure for orientation without undermining the sense of spaciousness and social connection that makes open-plan design valuable. Subtle zoning through colour, light, and furniture achieves this balance.
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