FOR AUTISTIC KIDS---DESIGN ROOMS THAT CALM

By Chris Chagaris

Children on the Autism spectrum need special kinds of surroundings, says interior designer Carolyn Feder.  These kids have sensory overload, she stresses, so they function best in spaces that exude calm.  When designing spaces for them, “I like to think that I lessen the visual noise that surrounds us.”

     The registered interior designer owns Sensory Interior Design, a Dallas based firm that specializes in organizing, arranging, and designing residential and other spaces to fit the needs of special children.  Since Autism behaviors can vary according to the individual, Feder often works with the children’s therapists to come up with design concepts that will be of the utmost benefit.  She works by phone with out of state clients.

     Feder has focused her design talents on special needs since the fall of 2008.  “I had kind of segued into it,” she says.  “My experience had been in remodeling and custom drapery, and because of my experience on that end, somebody approached me at a dinner party and asked me if I’d ever designed for special needs kids.  I then signed on to design a concept of a classroom for a special needs initiative.  I loved it and was in tune with it.”  Though not many therapists are aware of this field of design, Feder says, it is beginning to grow.

     One of the main issues to consider for children with Autism is color.  The primary colors of red, yellow, and blue are prevalent in everything from classrooms to therapists offices to bedrooms.  But Feder says that these colors can be overwhelming and distracting, and suggests that parents consider more tranquil hues when choosing colors for a bedroom.  “I tend to use the blues/greens/violets as my color palette when designing, because they are calming, as opposed to the louder primary colors,” she says.  “The brain catches these soothing effects on a subconscious level and this really helps to improve behavior.”

     She sites an example of a project she recently completed for a young Autistic boy who had pronounced sensory integration issues.  “His therapist had referred him to me, and it was discovered that he was very tactile, which is  a self soothing mechanism.”  Feder suggested using calming aquatic paint colors in the blue/green family.  She also made use of texture, such as fluffy pillows, textured wallpaper, and a beanbag chair to appeal to the child’s love of touch.  “He really responded positively to the changes to his room.”

     Feder believes that it is very important to incorporate soft lighting without glare into the living environments of children with Autism.  “A fluorescent light is not only troublesome for these individuals because of its color, but because of its sound,” says Julie Liberman, a speech therapist who has worked with Feder.  “Individuals with Autism typically have heightened sensory systems and this can be distracting.”

     Feder prefers full spectrum lighting and halogen lights.  “Fluorescent lighting distorts color,” she says.

     “I also like to gear my décor toward natural materials.  I’ll use wooden blocks instead of plastic, for example,” says Feder, also suggesting using plants and natural sunlight to further enhance an organic environment, and advises parents to avoid metallic or iron furniture.  “These types of pieces can be very cold in temperature and feel, with no texture,” she says.  “I would recommend furniture made from real wood with anything from a medium stain or a hue from blonde to black.  It can be painted but should have an identifiable grain, as this relates to nature.”

     Hardwood floors and rugs that are soft enough to sit on as well as walk on are ideal, she says.  Parents can decorate walls with cork bulletin boards.  “These also serve as sound proof devices, are made of natural elements, and don’t show holes as regular pictures do.”  Picture should be few and large, with non glare glass.  They also should preferably depict natural scenes, and give the impression of window looking out on nature.