5 Ways to Make a Care Home Feel More Homely

9.12.24

Creating a homely atmosphere in a care home room is essential for promoting comfort, emotional well-being, and a sense of familiarity. Transitioning into a care home can be a significant adjustment, so personalising the space can help to make it feel more familiar and welcoming. Creating a room that reflects a loved one's personality, preferences, and cherished memories helps to create a stronger connection to the environment and can help to reduce feelings of displacement or loneliness. Simple touches, like family photographs, favourite decorations, or familiar furnishings, can make a massive difference in creating a warm and inviting space. A homely environment not only enhances the resident’s quality of life but also helps maintain their sense of independence and identity, contributing to a positive and fulfilling experience in their new home.

In this blog, we will describe our top 5 ways in which you can make care homes feel like home in all areas including the en suite bedrooms, in-house facilities and furnishings.

Display Photographs and Memories

Keeping in touch with loved ones is so important for emotional well-being, especially within a care home setting. Putting up photographs and mementoes of family members, cherished friends, and happy memories creates a sense of familiarity and happiness. Items such as photo frames, albums, or even more simple things like scented candles can be comforting reminders of special moments and provide a sense of identity and familiarity.

One of the best ways for residents to stay in touch with friends and family members is by calling them. Installing a personal phone line into their en-suite bedroom ensures that residents can be reached at any time of the day. Regular conversations and check-ins provide comfort, reassurance, and the opportunity to share daily experiences, which helps residents maintain bonds with the people who matter most.

Bring Furniture or Decorations

Bringing items like furniture and/or decorations into a care home room is great for adding warmth and familiarity, making the transition feel smoother for your friend or relative. Familiar items, like a favourite chair, lamp, or decorative pieces that hold sentimental value, help personalise the space and make it feel more like home. These additions create a reassuring environment and add a personal touch, which can remind them of their own home.

Throughout the rest of the home, the teams carefully choose furnishings that can also encourage relaxation and provide physical comfort, making the home a more enjoyable place to spend time with like-minded individuals.

Bring Personal Items From Home

Bringing personal items can help to create a more homely feel to a resident's new private space and add a welcoming touch. Items such as treasured books, meaningful gifts, or their own bedding or favourite clothes can bring a feeling of continuity and connection to one’s past. These personal touches make the space uniquely theirs, nurturing a feeling of ownership and identity in their new surroundings. Decorating with items that hold sentimental value encourages residents can feel more at ease, enhancing their overall well-being and quality of life.

Adding items that relate to a family member or friend's hobby is a wonderful way to incorporate personal interests into the all-inclusive activities programme which brings joy and a sense of purpose to their new environment. Whether it's knitting supplies, a favourite puzzle, gardening tools, or board games, activities they love can encourage them to stay engaged with their passions. Hobbies provide mental stimulation, reduce feelings of boredom and promote a sense of achievement. Surrounding loved ones with items that reflect their interests also helps to personalise their space, reinforcing their sense of identity in their new home.

Incorporate Residents' Favourite Colours

Incorporating a resident’s favourite colours into their bedroom is a thoughtful way to create a space that feels personal and uplifting. Favourite colours can evoke positive emotions, promote relaxation, and make the environment more inviting. This can be done through soft furnishings, for example, bedding, cushions, curtains, or decorative touches like artwork and rugs. Visitors bringing residents' favourite flowers is another great way to brighten a room, whether it is fresh, dried or silk flowers. Colour not only makes a room feel more homely but also reflects the resident’s personality, helping them to feel at ease in their new environment.

Throughout the rest of the home, it is tastefully decorated to match the furniture and atmosphere, including contrasting colours that evoke calmness and a home environment.

Incorporate Familiar Smells and Sounds

Finding some of to incorporate familiar smells and sounds can provide great comfort and a sense of familiarity for someone newly moving into a care home. Familiar scents, such as air fresheners or diffusers with fragrances they know well, can create a calming environment. Additionally, the sounds of their favourite music on a CD player or gentle background sounds can help make the space feel more personal and relaxing—especially at night. These small but meaningful touches can reduce stress, ease the transition, and promote the creation of positive new memories.

Your New Home Away From Home at Darcy House Care Home

Darcy House Care Home is dedicated to creating a warm, welcoming environment where residents feel truly at home. With a deep understanding of the importance of comfort and familiarity, the home prioritises personal touches and a sense of belonging for every resident. Each room is thoughtfully designed with en-suite bathrooms to provide privacy and convenience, while personal phone lines can be installed to help residents stay closely connected to family and friends.

Offering residential, respite, dementia and nursing care, Darcy House provides tailored support to meet the unique needs of every individual. Our caring team encourages independence and well-being, making sure that every resident feels both valued and cared for. Beyond exceptional care, Darcy House focuses on creating a homely atmosphere through a blend of professional service, quality facilities and personal attention.

Our home features comfortable living spaces and is committed to fostering an environment where residents can thrive. Whether it’s through personalised care plans, warm surroundings, or small details like cherished belongings, Darcy House Care Home exemplifies what it means to create a true home away from home.