Why colour matters

Accommodating Changes in Vision

As people age, the eye’s lens naturally thickens and can yellow, which may reduce sensitivity to blue, green and purple hues. For people with dementia, these age-related vision changes can be compounded by changes in how the brain processes visual information, making colour differentiation and depth perception even more challenging.

Colours may appear washed out or indistinct, making daily tasks and navigating difficult. These changes impair depth perception, spatial orientation and surface distinction.

Age-related conditions, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma and colour blindness, may exacerbate these effects especially among older and male residents, compounding challenges around recognition and security.

Older people often need substantially higher contrast than younger people to recognise objects clearly - sometimes two to three times more contrast is required for effective visual perception. An elegant neutral colour scheme may seem appealing, but the addition of colour and contrast may work better for an older person with weaker vision.

Supporting Wayfinding and Independence

Colour plays a vital role in creating environments that help people living with dementia navigate independently and confidently. Colour can act as signage. Painting doors to bedrooms or communal areas in specific colours, instead of using text-based signs, can help leverage visual memory over language-based cues, especially when cognitive and language processing is impaired.

Colour‑coded door frames, zones, and signage can help residents navigate spaces more intuitively. When rooms or corridors use consistent colour themes - such as warm tones for dining areas and calming palettes for bedrooms - people living with dementia may begin to associate certain hues with specific functions or locations. This can support greater independence and assist in stimulating cognitive pathways, helping to reinforce memory recall and spatial awareness.

Enhancing Recognition and Safety through Contrast

High tonal contrast is essential. A minimum light reflectance offset of 30% between critical surfaces - such as walls and floors, doors and walls, or furniture and flooring - is recommended to support edge and surface perception. Where possible, aim for even greater contrast for key functional elements like toilet seats, grab rails, and door frames, as some individuals may require higher differentiation to perceive them clearly.

Complex patterns, shiny finishes, and intense geometric designs can be confusing or unsettling for some people with dementia. For example, a high‑gloss floor may be misinterpreted as water, while a speckled carpet might be perceived as debris.

Simple, uninterrupted areas of consistent colour are generally preferred over bold patterns or complex textures, as these may be misread as obstacles or changes in depth and can be visually overwhelming for some residents.

Promoting Emotional Well-being

Colour has powerful physical and emotional effects. It can create a sense of warmth and sociability, stimulate appetite, reduce anxiety and enrich environments to make them more engaging and homely. Different colour tones can cultivate distinct emotional responses:

Cool, soft tones (light blue, lilac, green) may help reduce activity in the central nervous system for some people and can be well suited to bedrooms or rest areas. Blue tones, in particular, are often associated with calm environments and may contribute to lower blood pressure, which is why they are commonly used in spaces where quiet is encouraged. Soft greens are frequently linked with nature and, for some individuals, can evoke a sense of balance and tranquility that feels soothing.

Warm tones (peach, pink, coral, muted yellow, terracotta) evoke a homely, welcoming atmosphere, supporting comfort and ease across communal and personal areas. Peach and soft pinks are known to have a calming and reassuring effect, making them especially beneficial in environments designed for people living with dementia.

Yellow is often associated with happiness and optimism, though individual responses to colour vary. In dementia care settings, some people may find highly saturated yellows overstimulating, potentially triggering agitation, so it is advisable to use them thoughtfully and in combination with calming tones.

Stimulating hues (reds, oranges) can be effective for drawing attention to key elements such as table mats or call buttons. However, these colours should be used with restraint and balanced with softer tones, as overuse may be overstimulating for some individuals.

Do’s and Don’ts for Using Colour in Retirement Living & Dementia- Inclusive Design

Do’s - Design for Clarity and Comfort

Use strong tonal contrast: Ensure at least a 30‑point difference in Light Reflectance Value (LRV) between key surfaces - such as walls and floors, doors and walls, and furniture and flooring - to support depth perception and help reduce the risk of falls.

Contrast doors, handrails and fixtures: Paint doors, handrails, and light switches in contrasting tones to surrounding walls to improve visibility and support wayfinding.

Choose calming warm colours: Colours such as soft yellows, peaches, apricots, and muted greens create a calm, welcoming atmosphere. These hues are generally easier for older eyes to perceive. In lounges and communal areas, warm tones like soft peach, apricot, gentle yellow, or subdued greens can help uplift mood while maintaining a sense of calm.

Keep patterns simple or avoid them: Plain, solid‑colour surfaces help reduce visual confusion and misinterpretation.

Use matt finishes: Specify Dulux flat or matt sheen levels. Reflective surfaces or glossy flooring may look wet or slippery. Matt finishes can be safer, as well as reducing glare and sensory confusion.

Leverage colour-coding for wayfinding: Consistently use specific colours or visual cues for different zones (e.g. red for dining, blue for bathing areas) to support orientation and reduce memory‑related confusion. Use low‑contrast colours to blend staff‑only or exit doors into surrounding walls, helping to minimise visual distractions.

Don’ts - Avoid Confusion and Discomfort

Avoid medium-contrast monochrome schemes: When walls, floors, and furniture sit in similar tones, residents may struggle to distinguish between surfaces, which can increase the risk of trips and falls.

Avoid strong patterns or speckled finishes: Bold stripes, checkerboards, or speckled designs can be misinterpreted as changes in level, holes, or debris. Even small flecks may cause visual confusion, with busy floor and wall patterns appearing as obstacles to people living with dementia.

Use cool colours with care: Blues, greens, and purples can become harder to differentiate with age, often appearing washed out or greyish, particularly under poor lighting. These colours can still be used effectively when paired with warm accents and strong tonal contrast, ensuring they do not dominate a scheme or reduce visibility of key elements.

Avoid clashing colour use across functions: Using the same or similar contrasting colours for both hazards and points of interest can lead to misinterpretation. For example, avoid using red to indicate both hazards and engaging activity zones, as this may cause confusion.

Avoid similar-brightness colour pairings: Even when hues differ (such as red and green), colours with similar Light Reflectance Values (LRVs) can blend perceptually, making elements harder to distinguish.

Avoid predominantly pastel or cool palettes: Soft blues, greens, and lavenders can appear grey or indistinct to ageing eyes, which may compromise navigation and feature recognition.