When you walk into many Australian aged care facilities, one thing often stands out: neutral beige interiors. While safe, neutral tones have been the default for decades, they don’t always serve residents in the best way. In fact, overly bland environments can feel clinical, uninspiring, and in some cases, even disorienting for older adults.

At FHG, we believe aged care environments should be just as welcoming, stimulating, and supportive as any home. And furniture plays a huge role in achieving this balance. Our FHG Project Consultants work with facility managers to go beyond beige, creating interiors that are safe and enriching for residents.

Here’s how:

1. Use Colour to Support Wellbeing and Orientation

Too often, “safe” in aged care design has been translated to mean neutral walls, beige chairs, and muted décor — but colour, when applied thoughtfully, can actually enhance safety, support orientation, and uplift residents’ moods.

Practical ideas:

• Introduce calming blues and greens in sofas and armchairs to promote relaxation.

• Use contrasting dining chairs and dining tables to help residents with visual impairments distinguish surfaces.

• Add brighter accent chairs in common spaces to create focal points that encourage social interaction.

• Coordinate soft furnishings — scatter cushions, recliners, or armchairs — in cheerful, homely tones.

• Avoid overly busy patterns but embrace subtle prints to add personality without confusion.

How FHG can help: Our Project Consultants guide you in choosing fabrics and finishes that balance safety with vibrancy, ensuring residents feel both secure and uplifted.

2. Choose Furniture That Feels Homely, Not Institutional

While clinical-looking furniture might tick the boxes for durability and compliance, it rarely makes residents feel at home — and in aged care, creating homely, familiar surroundings is just as important as meeting functional needs.

Practical ideas:

• Opt for timber finishes with warmth rather than plain laminate.

• Incorporate comfortable armchairs with fabric choices that reflect a home environment, not a hospital ward.

• Select dining chairs with upholstered seats and supportive armrests for both comfort and dignity.

• Use sideboards, coffee tables, and shelving to create the feel of a lived-in lounge, rather than a waiting room.

• Add occasional chairs in corners to make small “retreat spaces” where residents can read or chat.

How FHG can help: Our team specialises in designing and manufacturing furniture that balances homely aesthetics with fit-for-purpose durability, customised to each facility’s needs.

3. Prioritise Fit-for-Purpose Comfort and Safety

Comfort and safety can never be an afterthought in aged care, and furniture designed with the right proportions, supports, and finishes can make all the difference to residents’ independence and daily experience.

Practical ideas:

• Select armchairs with the right seat height and arm supports to assist sit-to-stand transitions.

• Use sturdy dining chairs with grip-friendly armrests to encourage participation in mealtimes.

• Opt for rounded corners on tables to reduce the risk of injury.

• Choose fabrics that are easy to clean but still soft to the touch.

• Ensure lounges are deep enough for comfort, but not so low that residents struggle to get up.

How FHG can help: Every FHG Project Consultant understands the balance between safety, compliance, and resident comfort — and will help you choose furniture that works in real-world settings.

4. Create Variety Through Zoning

Spaces that look and feel the same throughout a facility can be confusing and uninspiring, but introducing subtle variety through furniture and layout helps residents navigate, connect, and enjoy different experiences.

Practical ideas:

• Use different styles of armchairs in lounges vs. quiet rooms to cue their purpose.

• Incorporate distinct dining chair colours for each dining area, aiding wayfinding.

• Introduce occasional furniture (consoles, cabinets) to differentiate communal and private areas.

• Add rugs under furniture clusters to visually anchor zones.

• Use furniture placement — like angled lounge chairs around a coffee table — to define conversational spaces.

How FHG can help: We create tailored furniture solutions for every area of a facility, helping you design spaces with identity, function, and flow.

5. Incorporate Personality and Storytelling

Aged care interiors don’t need to be stripped of personality — in fact, furniture choices that reflect local character, history, and residents’ lived experiences help create spaces that feel meaningful and alive.

Practical ideas:

• Select fabrics featuring subtle florals, geometrics, or heritage-inspired designs that resonate with residents.

• Use statement armchairs in patterned fabrics to spark conversation.

• Bring in furniture styles that reflect local culture or history.

• Choose colourways that align with the branding and ethos of your facility.

• Create “signature spaces” with furniture that feels unique — not cookie-cutter.

How FHG can help: With access to a wide range of fabrics, timber stains, and custom manufacturing, our Project Consultants work with you to create interiors that reflect your community’s story.

Final Thoughts

“Safe” doesn’t have to mean bland beige interiors. In aged care, design can (and should) be safe, homely, and uplifting. By using colour thoughtfully, prioritising fit-for-purpose furniture, and embracing personality, you can create spaces that support wellbeing and dignity for residents.

At FHG, our Project Consultants partner with you at every step — from initial concepts to final installation — to ensure your furniture choices bring both function and joy to your community.

💡 Ready to move beyond beige? Let’s create spaces that feel like home. Ask us how.