Autism is a disorder which usually starts from the early childhood. People with autism have difficulty in socializing and communicating with other people as well as using abstract concepts and languages TodayKos.
And with the forthcoming National Autism Awareness Month this April, it is crucial more than ever to know what are the best interior designs for them. The society should acknowledge and understand the pivotal role that these designs can do in the lives of persons with autism.
For a little help, listed below are the some of the best interior designs for an autism-friendly home. Check them out!
A Quiet Place
A person with autism sometimes gets over-excited. For some, this act takes in the form of self-destructive demeanor such as scratching, biting or hurting themselves, and head-banging as well.
And for many people with autism, noises can be very problematic. For instance, the flickering of lights can be severely agitating for them. The same goes with the noise of the air-conditioning unit. Even the sound of kids playing, footsteps, or cars passing by can be troubling for some autistic people.
To be able to create a quite and soundproof space for them, consider investing in absorptive carpeting. By doing so, it will lessen tumult and clamor. Also, you can try installing sound-dampening panels on the wall’s surface. But if your floor cannot, by any chance, get covered with carpet, think about having soft rubber flooring. It will still do the same effect.
Keep in mind to move all boilers, ventilation, and air conditioners to completely deaden their sounds. By doing all of these, you can certainly create a sense of calm in your home.
The Right Lighting
For sure, lighting is a crucial consideration in any area, but for people with autism, it is even more important. For them, the light should not be too cold, too warm, too dim, too bright, too artificial, too harsh, and too natural. It should be a balance of them all.
As such, the light in your home should be a combination of artificial and natural sources. Don’t use direct fluorescent lighting because autistic people are more susceptible to its flickering that can cause eye strain, headache, and can trigger repetitive behavior.
Furthermore, calm, rhythmic lighting can also help people with autism to relax and calm down. These lights work well in any home, building, or classroom. Plus, some of these rhythmic motion lamps don’t need installation.
Durable Furniture
The pieces of furniture in your home can go a long way to giving organization and structure, also in securing everyone’s safety. People with autism can get extremely boisterous on furniture. Thus, be sure to buy strong and durable items.
For the dining room, make sure to have soft, heavy seats with lengthy back to ensure the maximum security and support. And for those who have weaker motor skills, go for an adjustable table because it can prevent everyone from tripping.
Organize their room in such a way that they can freely move from here to there without interrupting their routine. If the person with autism has the desire and the motor skills, you can opt to add rock climbing walls.
Furthermore, don’t forget to put labels on every type of furniture because it can certainly help the person with autism to identify it and will help them know how to use it properly. For instance, label the bed as “ this is for sleeping.” As such, they will be able to use it the right way.
The Texture
As we all know, people with autism are highly sensitive to noise, light, and sound. But that’s not all because some autistic people get hyper-sensitive to the texture or feel of some objects.
For example, there are people with autism who finds slippery and shiny surfaces pretty, while others may find it nasty things to touch. As such, it is best to go for natural materials and textiles such as rubber, cork, wool, and porcelain because it represents a happy medium.
Furthermore, add materials and textiles that non-autistic people also like. Materials such as flat woven carpet and wooden surface are great for people with autism as well.
Therapeutic Shelves
Although shelves might seem like an unimportant feature in the home, with the right placement, it can help the person with autism to get active and engaged. Just make sure to install these shelves below the eye level to prevent them from climbing.
Install these shelves in the different rooms of your home. Know that these shelves can be very beneficial and therapeutic. It is also a great coping and calming strategy. For instance, if they outburst or get over excited, you can opt to give them some knick-knacks to play with and organize them on the shelves.
Takeaway
Of course, every autistic individual is very different, meaning each of them has a whole different spectrum condition. Thus, it can make home designing very challenging. But it’s not impossible to create an Autism-friendly home. Just be sensitive to the sensation and stimulus of the people you are designing.
You can follow the tips above of how to create an Autism-friendly home and shop for things that are good for them in any online store such as BlackMango.