It’s been a year since the day center closed. For the most part, it was a good thing for me. I, after all, was often overwhelmed in my day activities group. One thing I miss about the day center though, is the sensory or snoezelen® room. Today, I am sharing how I recreated a sensory room experience in my own bedroom. Since I am blind, I skipped the visual aspect mostly, but I’ll add some ideas for it regardless. That way, you can create a sensory environment for yourself.
Sound
In the day center sensory room, we have a really cool speaker system that’s attached to the bed. It isn’t likely that advanced, so with some speakers at the right position, you may be able to recreate it. I don’t own wireless speakers. However, I found that I can recreate similar effects with earbuds or headphones. I would recommend earbuds for better positioning, but since I don’t have wireless ones, I use my wireless headphones anyway.
I mentioned before that I use an app called MyNoise. This app has over 120 soundscapes and you can customize each individual sound to your own hearing. There are nature soundscapes, but also white noise, Buddhist-like and SciFi soundscapes. I prefer the nature ones.
Like I said, I don’t own wireless speakers, though I might want to invest in some at some point. My phone or computer speakers work okay when listening to music though. There are many calming playlists on Spotify and undoubtedly other music apps too. The ones I love most are Harp Music for Sleeping, Peaceful Guitar and Peaceful Piano. There are also a number of nature sound playlists.
I at one point wanted a music pillow. I may still buy one at some point, but I haven’t yet found one that’s big enough to be used as a sleeping pillow and also works with Bluetooth.
Smell
One thing that my bedroom has and the snoezelen® room didn’t, is an aromatherapy diffuser. I have posted many times about my love for it. Mine cost €40, but they start at as cheap as €15. Essential oils can be a bit expensive depending on the quality you choose. I am obsessed with creating my own blends, so I really like to have a large collection of essential oils. However, if all you want is a nice smell, fragrance oils are also great.
Touch
In the day center sensory room, we had a specially designed waterbed. That felt good, but my own bed is also a pretty good substitute. I usually turn up the head side of the bed slightly.
A thing that’s a true blessing for my senses though, is my weighted blanket. These come in different forms. Some are filled with plastic balls. Mine is filled with sachets filled with granules. It’s a rather expensive blanket at over €500. Thankfully though, my care facility paid for it. With the company we used, you can borrow the blanket on a try-out basis for two weeks for just postage. That helped me make sure it was the right one for me. Mine weighs 12kg, which is relatively heavy considering my body weight of 70kg, but I actually love it this way.
I put a flannel duvet cover over my weighted blanket in winter. When it’s really cold or I need some extra softness for sensory reasons, I use a fleece blanket too.
In addition, I have various soft toys. My favorite is an ordinary stuffed bear. However, I also have a 1.60m large stuffed bear that I got from my mother-in-law for my birthday last year. This one was probably quite expensive. Another of my favorite soft toys, is my sensory cat. This stuffed cat can be microwaved and then gives off heat and a lavender scent.
Sight
Like I said, I am blind with the exception of a tiny bit of light perception. I for this reason don’t benefit from visual stimuli. That being said, I do know a bit about making your room visually appealing to the senses.
My essential oil diffuser works as a night light too. It can be set to seven different colors and I believe also two intensity levels.
Of course, you may want to use your sensory room experience for more than just sleeping. I’m pretty sure in my care home’s makeshift sensory room, the staff put up some form of Christmas lights for the visual effect.
In addition, there are many different visual projection systems. My care facility owns the Qwiek.
Conclusion
I really love my makeshift sensory room in my own bedroom. Generally speaking, creating a true sensory room requires a lot of money. I am so glad though that I could buy some equipment myself or ask for it as a gift. That way, I was able to skip the unnecessary for me expensive things and find things I truly would use. I am very glad that my facility paid for the weighted blanket.
Weighted blankets are a wonderful thing.
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Yes, they definitely are. Thanks for commenting.
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Talking of speakers, my friend tells me that she owns a Bluetooth beanie which will play music. Siunds pretty cool. But to be honest, I’m still stuck on those sci-fi sounds!
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Oh, that Bluetooth beanie sounds cool. Thank you for sharing.
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It does sound pretty cool, doesn’t it? Not least the concept of putting your hat on to charge!
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Yes, so true. And LOL to your comment about putting your hat on to charge.
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You sure have the full experience going on and wireless speakers would be fun, except for the constant charging them up part.
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Thanks. Yes, having to charge the wireless speakers constantly doesn’t sound fun indeed.
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i’ve never tried a weighted blanket – must do that. #MMBC
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It’s great! If you get the opportunity to try it, I’d definitely do so. Thanks for commenting.
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Oh this sounds so lovely! I really want to get an aromatherapy diffuser 🙂 #mischiefandmemories
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It’s definitely worth it! I love creating all kinds of different scents. Thanks for commenting.
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I’ve been looking at getting a weighted blanket and aromatherapy diffuser to see if it helps calm me down when i’m feeling anxious.
Katrina x
#MischiefandMemories
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I’m pretty sure that they will help. Thank you for commenting.
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What a fantastic idea. I’ve been wanting a weighted blanket for ages, but I can’t work out which one would be a good match. I do like the sound of one filled with granules though. Thank you for joining us for the #mischiefandmemories linky.
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Thank you so much for commenting! I can really vouch for this weighted blanket. It’s awesome! I also wanted one forever but wasn’t sure which to get. My physical therapist recommended this one.
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I was so intrigued by your sensory room, I suggested the idea to my daughter. She is older, divorced, with grand kids. She loved the idea. Thanks
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I’m so glad she liked the idea. Thanks for sharing.
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I have a friend that has been diagnosed with macular degeneration. She used to be a high school chemistry teacher. I just finished talking to her and she is interested in learning about creating a sensory room, so I forwarded your information to her. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you for commenting and for forwarding my info to your friend. I hope she’ll find it useful.
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I have heard lots of positive things about weighted blankets so would definitely want to try one for me and the kids. Thanks for linking up with #MischiefAndMemories
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Thank you so much for commenting. I’m glad you think you’d like a weighted blanket. I’d definitely encourage you to seek out a company where you can borrow one on a try-out basis or get one for rent, as buying one for both you and the kids would be quite an investment.
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This is such a good idea. I am thinking I might try to set up the kids games room with some sensory elements as you describe so that it could also be a place for relaxation and escape. #MischiefAndMemories
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That sounds like such a fun idea! I’m glad I inspired you.
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It sounds brilliant! I am so glad you were able to recreate a sensory room in your bedroom!
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Thank you and indeed it is so nice and comfy.
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