When it comes to providing a safe and inviting environment for your own child or relative, many homeowners are now taking matters into their own hands. While there are a number of facilities set up, along with sensory and padded spaces available at most schools, we are seeing an influx of concerned parents that are interested in designing similar spaces from within the comfort of their own homes.
Because of the sometimes demanding therapeutic or sensory needs of some children, especially those with certain sensory processing disorders, autism or other mental health conditions, the benefits of a padded safe space can be innumerable. These rooms are designed to provide a controlled and comfortable environment that caters specifically to the individual’s unique needs.
It’s important to note that, generally speaking, these rooms are all customized in some way. Given the unique locations and the individual that will be using them, we always recommended the advice of a professional before embarking on a design for a padded room in your home.
That said, as you begin the planning process, here’s a few quick and easy considerations for building out your at-home sensory room.
Available Space
This one is a given, but is of utmost importance. As with any new padded room build out, you’ll want to ensure you have ample space to do so. With many homeowners, they will have an empty or unused bedroom that they would like converted into a padded space.
Otherwise, many homeowners will use extra space in basements to frame out a safe space for their child and create a sensory space there. Factors such as size, accessibility and proximity to other living spaces are things to take into consideration when planning out a padded room in your home.
Assessing overall Sensory Needs
Many of these rooms can be as unique as the individual that used them. As with many at-home build-outs, these are often managed by the parents who know their children and their individual preferences and sensitivities very well.
In some cases, homeowners will look to build out a space with great sensory output through tactile, visual or auditory stimulation, while others will be looking to build out a calming, low-sensory space.
Depending on the specific needs, things like adjustable lighting, color schemes, sound elements and acoustics along with visual cues such as wall decals and designs are often included in these customized spaces.
Safety and Flexibility
Obviously, you’ll want to ensure you are working with a trusted designer and manufacturer for your padded room. Ensure you are working with individuals or organizations that have extensive experience with sensory rooms and the safety requirements of these technical spaces. Ensuring that the right padding is used on the walls and corners is an important consideration along with the fire-retention of the padding as well.
A good room will be built out with fire-retardant padding to ensure the utmost in safety for those that use it, along with peace of mind for your home.
Finally, you’ll want to ensure that your design has some future flexibility built in. With changes preferences with age, it’s always nice to be able to alter certain elements of your padded room, should the preferences or needs of your child or family member change.
It’s important to note that the design of at-home sensory rooms should be tailored to the specific needs of the individual, and consulting with professionals, such as occupational therapists or sensory integration specialists, can provide valuable insights and guidance.
If you’re ready to talk in more detail about your padded room project, be sure to reach out to a member of our award-winning sales team to get your project moving in the right direction.
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