It’s estimated that about 1 person in 7 is neurodivergent — where the brain functions differently from the majority neurotypical population. The term covers autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), among others. Neurodiversity also includes neurodegenerative disorders, such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.
Why are these statistics relevant to design? Largely because a considerable number of neurodivergent — as well as some neurotypical — people experience some kind of sensory processing difference, where a person could be hyper-sensitive or hypo-sensitive to, say, textures, visuals, smells or noises (and more). This means their surroundings are likely to have a significant effect on their well-being. And all that, of course, makes interior design and architecture important areas where understanding and response can radically improve a person’s quality of life.
As awareness of sensory processing difference grows, so too does the number of professionals in the industry factoring it into their work. Meet some of them below and learn what design that is mindful of the senses looks like — and how it can benefit us all.
Beacham Architects
Pippa Jameson Interiors Ltd & The Sensory Home®What Are the Signs That Someone Has Sensory Processing Difference?
SPD is more noticeable in children than adults — or, at least, adults may often have learned better coping mechanisms, according to the Seashell charity in Stockport, England.
Stylist and sensory home consultant Pippa Jameson, who has an autistic teenage daughter, says: “I noticed from around 3 or 4 that my daughter was uncomfortable with her surroundings. Noises and smells from the kitchen and mess were very stressful for her. She couldn’t bear cleaning her teeth, she couldn’t go to sleep very easily, and she did a lot of mime talking, which was her trying to process the information around her.”
Jameson eventually sought a diagnosis, and the family learned her daughter was autistic and began to understand more about her sensory difficulties.
Kate BurtInterior designer Sophia Fish
Interior designer Sophia Fish of Golden Feathers Interiors is mother to 10-year-old Maddien, who has ADHD and sensory processing disorder.
“The link between neurodiversity and interior design became very apparent to me a few years back when my son started to have very strong thoughts, opinions and behaviors in spaces he was in,” says Fish, also an ADHD ambassador for her county.
Fable Interiors“ADHD really is a superpower — and, if trained well, it can lead to incredible outcomes. But children and adults with ADHD also have to juggle having noisy minds and being easily distracted, disorganized and unable to rest or sit still, plus they can talk excessively,” Fish says. “They can take risks or be careless and don’t always see danger.
“Sensory processing disorder can go hand-in-hand with ADHD, and environments are key to helping all the effects of both,” she says.
Kate BurtArchitect and inclusive design consultant Stephanie Kyle
What Sorts of Design Features Can Be Difficult for Someone With Sensory Processing Differences?
Just like people, responses will vary wildly. “My experiences are completely different to someone else who’s autistic,” Kyle says. However, she says, some things commonly tend to be difficult. “Standouts include too much sensory stimulation, for example, high-contrast features, black and white or crazy patterns.”
Kyle suggests perception should also be considered. “For example, if you have a blue carpet with a wavy pattern, to someone with Alzheimer’s disease, or a visual sensory processing difference, that could be seen as water,” she says.
Kyle recalls this happening on the dementia ward of a care home, where the residents had stopped going into the garden, believing they were already in it, thanks to a newly installed rug they perceived as the pond.
Indie & Co.In Public Buildings, It’s About Covering All Bases, but What About at Home?
Part of the aim is to provide an environment that will help someone “regulate” — reach a point where they are not overwhelmed and can function well, engage, respond proportionately to stimuli, focus and generally feel calm and relaxed.
“It’s an individual process and takes a lot of unpicking of things [we may have done] without thinking about our sensory responses,” says Jameson, who is also author of the book The Sensory Home (Ryland Peters & Small).
Kate BurtSensory home designer and author Pippa Jameson
In a consultation, Jameson asks clients to walk her through their homes, describing how they feel on entering, what they can see that brings comfort, what they can smell and so on.
Read on for some of the key considerations for a home designed to soothe the senses.
Apartment Rehab NYC1. Shape
Kyle advises focusing on anything permanent, such as brick choice, flooring and external materials.
With bricks, for example, seek multi-tonal colors and rough-cut rather than wire-cut. “Our brains are designed to be able to process organic geometries,” such as everything in a forest, Kyle says. “Trees may be straight but not like a wire-cut brick. If you’re in a space for 10 hours surrounded by organic shapes, your brain is going to have to work less hard than it would in a space where you’re surrounded by lots of straight lines.
“It’s relevant to everybody, but especially to people with sensory processing differences because they tend to process things at a higher rate so they process everything, whereas someone with a neurotypical brain can filter things out that aren’t relevant.”
Golden Feathers Interiors2. Color and Pattern
Sensory reduction — no pattern, low saturation colors, no contrast — may be a helpful approach for some autistic people, Kyle says. “But somebody with ADHD may need sensory stimulation to focus.” So Kyle would typically provide three muted walls and one patterned, for example.
“Sensory design doesn’t mean plain and bland. We need to feed the senses to create the correct emotion for that area — then zone to define those feelings,” agrees Fish, who designed her own, decidedly un-bland bathroom (pictured) with son Maddien in mind.
In terms of color, across the board, Kyle advises low-chromatic tones. “In laymen’s terms, a color that has a bit of gray mixed into it,” she says.
Merritt Design & Co.3. Nature
“Incorporate indoor plants, natural materials and breathable fabrics, such as linen and cotton for bedding, to enhance the connection with nature and reduce stress,” Jameson says. “Use a sensory alarm clock with a sunrise and sunset simulation for a calm wake-up routine.”
“Being in areas with a lack of nature or natural elements creates a stark and unwelcoming feeling,” Fish says. She asked Maddien to comment on this too.
“I like to be around plants and nature. I like playing outside. I love to hear nature, especially the sound of water or the forest, to fall asleep to,” he says. “It’s difficult to be in very busy spaces. Sometimes I feel unsafe, and it’s always so bright and noisy.”
Fable Interiors4. Clearly Defined Spaces
“Someone who’s autistic has to have things in place. Everything has to be set up properly, otherwise it’s stressful,” Jameson says.
“Use low-level lighting, tactile elements and personal items to designate areas for regulation. For children, small tents or tepees can provide a sense of security.”
“Areas with defined zones for rest, eat and play help to organize a chaotic mind,” Fish says.
SHAPESIDE5. Smell
“If we take away eyesight, humans’ most powerful sense is smell,” Kyle says. Her approach to design with this in mind is always to ventilate heavily, “so that if someone burns toast, you can get that smell out quickly.”
Jameson advises built-in trash bins too. “I’d also say to avoid synthetic air fresheners, which can be overbearing.”
Pippa Jameson Interiors Ltd & The Sensory Home®6. Lighting
“Use smart sensory lighting that can be customized,” Jameson says. “We couldn’t change all our lighting, as we’d already renovated, so we added LED strips in the girls’ rooms, with a remote control, so they can control their lighting.”
Jameson also loves smart bulbs and plug-in wireless sound-light systems, which won’t involve rewiring. “As a general rule, simply having layers of lighting will give options if someone’s feeling overwhelmed, and I’d always advise dimmer switches,” she says.
Pippa Jameson Interiors Ltd & The Sensory Home®7. Noise
“Try to reduce both external and internal noise,” Jameson says. “Plant trees and shrubs to reduce outdoor noise, and add bookshelves, acoustic panels, extra underlay and soft furnishings indoors to absorb sound.
“Ensure the relevant bedrooms are in the quietest position in the house, away from traffic noise,” she says. “And look out for ‘quiet’ appliances for the kitchen.”
Studio MilneHow Relevant Is All This to Neurotypical Households?
“Interestingly, I have my older, neurotypical daughter to thank for the birth of all things sensory home,” Jameson says. “One day she came in, sat down and said, ‘I’m just so happy at home! I love the colors, the music, the smell.…’
“What I realized in that moment was how important sensory design was for all of us,” she says. “We now know our surroundings are intrinsically linked to our mental health and that the decisions we make, the colors we choose and how we set up our homes are all going to affect our mood.”
“As a family, we find that what helps Maddien benefits us all,” Fish says. “With more and more people of all ages struggling with anxiety, mental health and spectrum disorders, we need to be more conscious of what we can control and help our own environments. Our homes should be our havens, and happy families stem from happy homes.”
Why are these statistics relevant to design? Largely because a considerable number of neurodivergent — as well as some neurotypical — people experience some kind of sensory processing difference, where a person could be hyper-sensitive or hypo-sensitive to, say, textures, visuals, smells or noises (and more). This means their surroundings are likely to have a significant effect on their well-being. (cited)
What Effect Do Sensory Processing Differences Have?
We can probably all imagine an environment that might make it hard to focus, or one that makes you want to shut your eyes or cover your ears, or provokes anxiety, even fear. Maybe it’s a room where you can’t escape the sound of nails scraping down a blackboard, or being surrounded by teetering piles of dusty paperwork or perhaps a slippery patio.
Now imagine the things giving rise to those sorts of feelings are everywhere — and that the people around you don’t seem to notice them. It’s a broad brushstroke comparison but gives a tiny insight into life for people with sensory processing differences, who, recent research suggests, make up around 16% of the population.
Stephanie Kyle is one of them. She’s also an architect and an inclusive design consultant at Maber, which specializes in public and commercial projects.
“When I was 12, I was diagnosed with auditory processing disorder, which is under the neurodivergent umbrella,” Kyle says. As an adult, she’s been diagnosed with autism.
Kyle recalls school trips and buildings that were “horrific” for her, including an aquarium. “It was a reason I wanted to become an architect. I thought, ‘I can do better.’”