Interior design plays a far greater role in care homes than many realise. Care UK’s Sophia Wolsey Hurst explains how it shapes daily life, comfort and connection for residents.
A rewarding Process
When asked about the most rewarding part of her job, Sophia is clear: “Design is a long process, but when a home is completed, you finally get to see your vision come to life. The best part of that is seeing a resident move in and see them enjoy and interact with what you’ve created. To have designed a space that they and their loved ones feel at home and safe in, and a place where they can find joy, is really special. It’s what drives the design team to create the best environment possible.”
A tailored Approach
Care UK’s small but mighty team of interior designers are responsible for supporting not only new build homes, but also refurbishments of existing homes across England, Scotland and Wales, some of which have been with the provider since the 1980s.
The team recognise that each care home is individual and needs to be treated as such. Every new-build care home is inspired by the local area, helping residents feel a sense of familiarity from the minute they move into their new home. For example, a newly-opened care home in Southampton, The Wickets, is inspired by the county’s cricket scene. This theme is present throughout, particularly in the artwork, where specifically sourced images and 3D elements, including an old Hampshire cricket ball, bat, and wickets, are on display. These encourage conversations between residents, their loved ones and carers on a daily basis.
Collaboration at the Core
The designers work closely with the construction and development teams, but just as importantly, they engage operational colleagues by sharing plans from the outset. This collaborative approach helps them understand the practical needs of residents and colleagues, enabling them to shape thoughtfully designed spaces that support everyday living.
Inspired Designs
A welcoming impression is key in all Care UK homes, which is why the team take inspiration from the hospitality sector for key parts of their design. “You want someone to greet you straight away at a friendly but official front desk”, Sophia explains, “and then you want everything else to feel homely, not sterile and neutral, as has sometimes been the case with care homes.”
The team loves using texture and colour in their designs and is always looking for new inspiration, from their natural surroundings and, often, from bars, restaurants and hotels, which can inspire the cinema rooms, in-house pubs and bars, dining rooms or lounges at Care UK homes. The team always want to try different things: “this can range from designing a new piece of furniture, to simply re-colouring a pattern on a curtain fabric!” Sophia says.
Interior design is also moving on, the team notes. The post-war themes that have regularly been present in care homes are being updated for today’s residents, ensuring that artwork and accessories feel dynamic and engaging: shifting the dynamic towards familiar references from the 1970s and 1980s.
Functionality in Design
Functionality is a key consideration in any care home design and, as a result, bespoke joinery has become a significant part of the design process. From TV units, to the bar and its surroundings, and even built-in bookcases – the team must ensure the items are suitable and accessible for residents and colleagues to use, all whilst remaining aesthetically pleasing.
The team is also moving towards a more functional approach to dementia suites, experimenting with how to keep residents safe whilst they engage with familiar hobbies. Where non-operational sewing machines and typewriters have previously been on display to evoke residents’ memories, there are ongoing discussions about replacing such items with usable, tactile objects. Artwork is changing too, a cluster of vintage holiday posters asks the question “where have you visited on holiday?”, all of which benefit conversation and reminiscence.
Common challenges, particularly in older care homes, are a lack of day space. The three interior designers at Care UK, Sophia, Sarah Mossman and Katharine Shea, prioritise the creation and design of these new spaces wherever they can. Within dementia suites, they recognise that the need for additional spaces, such as a ‘quiet lounge’ or a space for care sessions, is crucial. In a recent refurbishment at Blossomfield Grange in Solihull, the team added an extra dining room to the dementia suite, helping residents enjoy calmer mealtimes.
Designing Suitability
There’s a lot to consider on dementia floors. Within the décor, strong patterns are avoided, and items must be carefully selected to ensure sufficient contrast between furniture, flooring, and walls, enabling residents to easily identify seating. Throughout the corridors, handrails will contrast with the wall colours, aiding with residents’ orientation, mobility and independence.
As well as innovative, personalised design, the team know that it is important for their work to speak to customers. Recently, they’ve worked with Care UK’s digital marketing team and Imagineer to create virtual marketing suite tours that walk you through all upcoming new-build homes in 3D. This will not only help relatives explore the intricacies of the design prior to the home’s completion, but will, most importantly, allow potential residents to familiarise themselves with their new home.
Sustainability at the Core
In keeping with Care UK’s commitment to responsible corporate citizenship, the design team champions sustainable suppliers. During refurbishments, they will work with Shackletons to recycle furniture that the home no longer needs. Repurposed materials play a central role across our new builds and refurbishments; curtain and upholstery fabrics are made from recycled plastic bottles, and carpets are woven with reused fibres.
“Our job isn’t complete until residents feel at home. It’s a privilege to work on something as important as this.”
