Top 10 Sensory Room Ideas for Schools

Top 10 Sensory Room Ideas For Schools

Creating a sensory room setup in schools can make a significant impact on students, especially those with sensory processing disorders, autism, ADHD, or other special needs. In particular, a well-planned school sensory room setup provides a safe space where students can decompress, self-regulate, and engage their senses in a controlled environment. Moreover, whether you’re designing a sensory room for autism specifically or exploring new sensory room design ideas to enhance an existing space, these top 10 sensory room ideas will help your students thrive

Room installed into a school with blue mood lighting and a range of tactile panels installed onto the wall with an interactive floor

Calming Lighting

Soft, calming lighting is essential when creating a sensory room setup within a school. For instance, consider using dimmable lights, string lights, or LED lights that change colours slowly. Additionally, the right lighting helps reduce anxiety, minimize overstimulation, and create a soothing atmosphere.

Top Tip: To enhance the calming effect, avoid harsh fluorescent lights and instead opt for soft, warm tones. Furthermore, projectors that create gentle light patterns on the walls or ceiling can also be very effective in creating a tranquil environment

Sensory room installed into a school, featuring the top sensory room design ideas

Tactile Wall Panels

Tactile panels or sensory walls allow students to explore different textures and shapes, providing a valuable sensory experience. Moreover, encouraging tactile exploration can help soothe and ground students who need sensory input.

Top Tip: To maximise the benefits, include a variety of textures such as soft, rough, smooth, and bumpy to cater to different preferences. In addition, regularly updating the textures can keep the experience engaging and beneficial for all students.

See our range of Tactile Panels

bubble panels and a tactile panel in a soft padded plinth

Comfortable Seating options

Bean bags, floor cushions, rocking chairs, and soft padded benches can make the sensory room more inviting and comfortable. Furthermore, soft padded seating options provide a safe and cozy area for students to relax and unwind.

Top Tip: To better accommodate different needs, offer a variety of seating options, including wipeable choices for easy maintenance. Additionally, consider pop-up dens to provide a calmer, more private seating area for those who may need extra privacy.

Sensory Therapy Suspended Pear Beanbag Swing

Sensory Swings

Sensory swings or hammocks are often used to provide vestibular input, which helps with balance and spatial awareness. In addition, swings are great for calming students who need to self-regulate or seek motion through gentle swinging motions.

Top Tip: To ensure safety, make sure any installed swings are securely mounted and that there is enough space around the swing for safe use. Moreover, there are numerous swing attachments available, so it’s important to do your research into which ones will best suit the needs of your students.

See our range of Swings and Attachements

Bubble Tubes or Panels

Bubble tubes or wall-mounted bubble panels provide a calming visual and auditory element to the room and often feature prominently in most schools’ sensory room design ideas. Furthermore, the combination of the sound and motion of the water naturally soothes and helps students to relax.

Top Tip: Keep in mind that bubble tubes and panels require some maintenance; therefore, it’s important to regularly change the water to prevent algae and bacteria growth. Additionally, make sure to use any treatments that the tube or panel comes with to keep your bubble tube working at its best.

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Room within a school, wall panels and soothing colour tube installed

Waterless Tubes

Waterless tubes, or chroma tubes as they are sometimes referred to, display mesmerizing shows of vibrant color. Consequently, these tubes are a great maintenance-free alternative to a bubble tube.

Top Tip: When selecting a tube, research whether you would like the students to have control over the colors the tube displays. Although passive tubes are lower cost than those with colour control, the added remotes or dice can provide an extra layer of interactivity within the room, enhancing the overall sensory experience.

See our range of Waterless Tubes

Aromatherapy and calming scents

Providing calming scents in the sensory room can significantly enhance the overall sensory experience. In fact, aromatherapy can influence mood, reduce anxiety, and create a more relaxing environment for students.

Top Tip: Before diffusing any scents into the room, always check for allergies to ensure safety. Additionally, some aromatherapy units can be controlled via software, giving you greater control over when and what scent is being introduced into the room, thereby tailoring the experience to the students’ needs.

See our Aromatherapy units

Child looking happy at the sound activated sensory wall panel

Sound and Musical Options

Certain sounds, like white noise, nature sounds and soft background music have a calming effect. This can help students reduce anxiety, manage stress and relax

Sound can be used within the sensory room either by speakers and a Bluetooth amp to play selected sound files. Interactive sound panels can provide an alternative musical option by which the student is making the sounds themselves. Combining auditory and tactile stimulation these panels allow student to interact and influence their environment.

Top Tip: Consistent auditory cues can help create a sense of routine which is comforting for many students especially those with autism, starting the sensory session with the same sounds or music can signal the beginning of the activity.

Soft padded colour changing cube controller

Interactive Sensory Panels

Interactive wall panels can provide various auditory and visual feedback, making them a versatile addition to any sensory room. For example, interactive wall panels like the Infinity Tunnel produce a calming LED optical illusion, providing visual stimulation that captivates students’ attention. Furthermore, wall panels with various sensory activities, such as switches, lights, mirrors, and zips, keep students engaged and allow them to practice fine motor skills.

Top Tip: To maximise accessibility, position the panels at varying heights to accommodate students of all sizes and abilities. Additionally, ensure that those in standing frames and wheelchairs have easy access to interact with the panels comfortably.

See our Sensory Collection

Space

Include a dedicated space in your sensory room where students can move around or engage in simple activities. This is important because physical activity helps release pent-up energy and, in turn, improves mood.

Top Tip: If space allows, consider adding soft mats, a simple obstacle course, or soft padded rocking seating to encourage movement and coordination. Moreover, providing these options can make the room more dynamic and beneficial for students with various sensory needs.

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