What are residents’ favorite memories? Sipping frothy caffeinated drinks and flipping golden brown pancakes with loved ones on a slow Sunday morning. Taking trips to the beach and feeling the sand between their toes as they watch the bright sun peek over the sparkling water and make its way up into the clear blue sky.
In this unique season we have been re-evaluating everything, but one thing remains — what is precious to us is worth protecting. When it comes to selecting Senior Living color palettes, the hues you choose can create connection and association to fond memories or cherished things for residents — reassuring them with the comfort they bring. Here are this year’s top colors trends for Senior Living interior design:
2023 Colors Trends for Senior Living
This year’s popular colors provide a timeless appeal, taking cues from the 1970s to create a familiar blast to the past for your residents. Direct Supply® designers named Brandy Brown the color of the year to evoke a sense of strength, resilience, security and safety.
Brandy Brown, paired with other earthy tones, relays feelings of warmth and comfort. Jumping on these design trends will boost a community’s marketability.
Offer staff and residents a beautiful, trendy place to live and work. With the expected influx of seniors in the coming years, adding a touch of flair with these trends and colors will make you an attractive player in the market, especially to this new age of seniors.
It’s time to restore a sense of reliability to our industry. Taking cues from the 70s, you can use the 2023 Colors for Senior Living to create a blast to the past for residents. Seniors are familiar with the eclectic hippie vibes of this era. Make their home familiar yet fresh by combining these colors with soft furnishings, exposed wood and era-specific art and wall décor.
4 Tips for Selecting Senior Living Colors
Tip #1: Scale the intensity
It is proven that color directly impacts mood. Studies show color also impacts your ability to perform cognitive tasks, and directly affects your behavior.
The intensity of colors matter. While softer blues are used to create a calm, tranquil environment, a more intense blue, like a loud turquoise or teal, is much different. High-intensity colors will create more excitement, making them great for lobbies or activity spaces in a Senior Living Community.
From creating peaceful retreats to designing invigorating spaces, the key to achieving the desired feel is choosing the right color intensity. Consider the feelings colors tend to leave us with and the way intensity might change that:
- Red is associated with importance and love. It is known as the color of energy and can increase a person’s pulse and heart rate.
- Purple is associated with luxury and royalty. It makes a room, and the people in it, feel a sense of grandeur.
- Yellow brings happiness and warmth. It denotes a sunny disposition and draws attention.
Maxwell Thomas® Crestone Open-Back Loveseat.
Tip #2: Consider the room’s function
When deciding whether a calm shade of pink is more appropriate than a loud red, consider the function of the room:
- Reds, oranges and yellows all encourage appetites and help promote proper nutrition.
- Brighter shades of blue might be appropriate for an energizing rehabilitation gym.
- Softer yellows or greens would work well in a relaxing sunroom.
An example of earthy green tones is found here in a small household living-like dining area, supported by revealing, trendy cabinets.
Colors have the power to change the mood of the room, in addition to changing how we perceive other elements in the space.
Blues aren’t commonly found in Senior Living dining rooms because they can cast a strange hue onto food, making it look unappealing or bruised. Earthy greens, on the other hand, make dining rooms feel invigorating.
As eyes age, they take in color differently. It is more difficult to differentiate between colors. The correct lighting in a Senior Living space makes it easier to determine colors.
Tip #3: Aim for contrast
As the eyes age, color perception in elderly residents declines, and it becomes more difficult to distinguish between objects in a room. Help differentiate between major pieces of furniture, walls and wall railings, drapes and floors with clear color contrast. This approach is also helpful for different pieces of bedding.
Blue and green tones are particularly difficult for aging eyes to distinguish. Consider using warm reds and golds, which are much easier to see.
Tip #4: Adjust colors for Memory Care
Colors are especially important in Memory Care environments. For residents with dementia, dark colors may appear as a hole or missing space. Consider using darker shades purposefully when creating a walking path or an area that residents should avoid.
The use of color, texture and material combined here reflects of the character of the surrounding community.
Color intensity is also an important factor in Memory Care. Refrain from intense colors, and keep in mind the vibration and saturation of the color you’re selecting. Flooring or patterns with high contrast can play tricks on the eyes, appear as though they’re moving, or may make some residents feel dizzy.
Residents with dementia may even believe something is coming out of the floor and be afraid to walk there. Solid colors in softer shades can be the best paint colors for dementia and Memory Care environments. Find more tips for designing for Memory Care environments.
Color Trends for Senior Living FAQ:
How do you select Senior Living color palettes? When it comes to selecting Senior Living color palettes, color hues, intensities and contrast are important to consider.
What are the best colors for Senior Living in 2022? The 2022 color of the year is Orchid Flower. Other favorable Senior Living colors include red, purple and yellow.
What are the best paint colors for dementia and Memory Care environments? Solid colors in softer shades can be the best paint colors for Dementia and Memory Care environments? Learn more Memory Care Design tips.
The Bottom Line: 2023 Color Trends for Senior Living & How to Use Them
Color matters! The colors you choose to incorporate in Senior Living facilities impact resident emotional well-being and safety. We can support your Senior Living design project with a complimentary selections service to coordinate fabrics and finishes with your wall colors.
Are you an interior designer? See how we can help with your Senior Living design.
For more Senior Living insights and support on your next design project, connect with our Senior Living experts today.
Read the Rest…
As eyes age, they take in color differently. It is more difficult to differentiate between colors. The correct lighting in a Senior Living space makes it easier to determine colors. Lighting plays a bigger role in the health and wellness of staff and residents. Read more about the importance of lighting in Senior Living spaces.
