Words: Joanne Jayes

With one in 11 people in the UK living with dementia, the need for future-proofed interiors has never been more pressing.

As an interior designer I am tuned in to how design impacts everyday life – for everyone. Through my own lived experience, I saw the impact of how dementia can change how someone feels in their home first hand. I am now passionate about sharing my insights and proving that thoughtful interior design can promote dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging.

As designers, manufacturers, and showrooms, we have a unique opportunity to lead the way in ensuring that homes are not only stylish but also supportive for those living with cognitive impairments. By understanding the principles of accessible and dementia-friendly design, you can create spaces that will enhance the quality of life for your customers.

“Future Proofing” is a bit of a buzz word(s) right now, but what does it really mean? With an aging population and an increase in complex care needs, homes must be adaptable. Future-proofing through smart design choices ensures that a home remains functional and welcoming for many years.

Considering a home or public space to be dementia friendly – and this is a term that I use carefully and with empathy as it can sound flippant – is trickier to define without real practical examples; which I will go in to later on.

But essentially it means looking at the space through the lens of someone who’s eye sight, hearing, sense of balance, processing skills and cognitive function is being affected. The key elements are safety, orientation, and comfort.

Accessibility isn’t just about disability – it’s about life. At some point, most of us will have a resident or visitor with changing mobility, cognitive, or sensory needs. With multi- generational living on the rise, we must consider how spaces can be designed to support everyone, from children to grandparents, without compromise.

Kitchens and bathrooms are the highest-risk areas in any home, making thoughtful design essential. By integrating dementia-friendly principles into mainstream KBB design, we can create environments that promote safety, independence, and dignity while maintaining aesthetic appeal.

With dementia in particular, there are some key principles you can consider when designing spaces. Dementia affects memory, perception, coordination, and decision- making. The goal is to create spaces that reduce confusion and increase confidence.

In the kitchen…

Layouts should be logical with wide walkways that are kept clear for safe movement. Now is the time to be as minimal as possible with how much is kept in the kitchen. Encourage clients to have a good clear out and keep essentials only.

Pull-out shelving & corner carousels makes storage accessible. They prevent things getting lost at the back of cupboards and keep things to hand. Open shelving & glass-front cabinets also help with recognition and recall. Keeping things  –especially items that are used regularly like tea canisters, toasters, mugs and so on – in plain sight will help someone with dementia stay independent for longer.

Contrasting worktops, such as dark counters with light cupboards (or vice versa) help to define edges. Colour contrast is a whole other design element, but the main thing to remember is to make sure there is at least a 30 point contrast between surfaces. That way, accidents can be prevented, such as encouraging fewer falls due to missing the counter edge when trying to steady yourself, and less dropping things off the edge and so on.

In the same vein, waterfall-edge worktops help prevent spills from reaching the floor. This is a simple but effective solution that can be incorporated so easily. A waterfall edge will contain a spill preventing further accidents.

Matt-finish surfaces reduce glare and improve visibility too. To someone with dementia who’s vision is impaired, gloss surfaces can look constantly wet. Not to mention the glare these surfaces create. Matt all the way.

Non-slip flooring is essential for safety in both kitchens and bathrooms. This is probably the most obvious suggestion, but you’d be surprised how many people still don’t think about it. Encourage good quality nonslip flooring and suggest options. Again, think about colour contrast, avoid gloss and heavily patterned (checker board is a no-no).

Induction hobs can reduce burn risks. Again, an obvious and simple way to keep someone safer in the kitchen. Whilst traditionally gas may be a favourite, by demonstrating the safety – not to mention the ease – of induction, clients can be won over.

Lever taps are easier to use than traditional twist taps. Think about the tap ware you are specifying. They have to be easy to use and if they clearly have ‘hot’ and ‘cold’ identifiers on them, even better. Now is the time to think retro if necessary.

It won’t surprise you to know that technology is game-changing for accessible design, but it must be intuitive. Anything too complicated is just going to create more confusion and anxiety. Key innovations to look out for (and start incorporating in to your designs and showrooms) include: smart lighting, voice control, and appliance safety features – think Induction hobs that turn off automatically, flood sensors for water leaks.

I have no doubt that this is one of the biggest areas of growth in the KBB industry, so keeping abreast of new products is essential. The key is to use technology as a support tool, not a replacement for well-thought-out design.

In the bathroom…

Walk-in showers are much safer than step-in baths and easier for all ages. In fact, this is likely to be one of the main reasons someone walks in to your showroom or contacts you. They are considering adapting a bathroom. It’s not as cut and dry as offering them a shower enclosure though, so listen to their needs and consider the space carefully. Would a wet room be better? Or walk in enclosure?

Wall-hung toilets can be installed at custom heights and adjusted later. Many people don’t consider how the height of a WC can impact their life. Explaining how this is helpful may be a little delicate, so keep the conversation light. But it really can be quite life changing.

Contrasting toilet seats and grab rails also ensure visibility. An all-white bathroom is not the way forward here. There has to be contrast to enable the person living with dementia to easily and safely see where things start and end. A toilet seat that is a different colour to the pan is essential.

Sensor taps can reduce confusion and prevent water waste. Again, this type of newer technology needs to be demonstrated. But the ease of use makes them a key choice for me. However, bear in mind what stage of dementia the person is at as introducing something completely unfamiliar may not be a good idea. In which case, lever and traditional cross head taps work better.

Thermostatic mixer taps are also important, because they can prevent scalding. This one’s another no brainer one for me. Show how these work and this will reassure everyone that a simple swap out is well worth it.

Shower seats & stylish grab bars can increase stability without looking clinical. A shower seat is a necessity for many people as they age. I’m on a mission to encourage manufacturers to look at things like this in a different light. No more white clinical designs please – let’s start talking colour, different finishes and funky designs.

Showroom support

The KBB industry has a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of dementia-friendly design. Collaborating with accessibility experts like myself ensures that products and spaces are developed with real-world usability in mind. There needs to be more manufacturers developing materials and finishes that support cognitive and sensory needs. More innovation in non-slip flooring, contrasting surfaces, and ergonomic fixtures. More manufacturers ensuring appliances and taps are designed for ease of use.

In a showroom itself there are so many ways you can consider dementia friendly (and accessible) design. I’d love to see more showrooms dedicate space to a “Dementia- Friendly Living” area showcasing some of the principles I’ve mentioned above. Host events and workshops with accessibility specialists; show your community you care and that you want to be part of the conversation around inclusive design.

A showroom is the idea place to use interactive displays to demonstrate how simple changes improve safety and independence. I believe, by promoting inclusive design, showrooms can provide invaluable education for consumers and trade professionals alike.

Accessible design isn’t just for “other people” it’s for all of us. We’re all ageing, and at some point, we all experience accidents, temporary injuries, or changing needs. Why design homes that we’ll have to adapt later, when we can create inclusive, functional spaces from the start?

Good design is about dignity, independence, and ease. It’s time for the KBB industry to embrace it – not as an afterthought, but as the standard. By collaborating with specialists and incorporating dementia-friendly principles, we can ensure that homes remain safe, beautiful, and functional for everyone.

If you’re interested in collaborating, showcasing accessible design in your showroom, or simply learning more, let’s have a conversation. Together, we can make a real difference!