Recommendations · v7.0
How to create sensory environments
A summary based on Ad Verheul's book “Snoezelen materials homemade” (Centre De Hartenberg, the Netherlands) and additional sources. Book pages in brackets.
The essence of Snoezelen
- The main goal is relaxation; learning is a bonus.
- Stimuli “in depth, not in breadth” – selected, often one sense at a time.
- Visitors choose for themselves; staff are equal partners.
Planning and the room
- Planned together with users and staff.
- Zones separated acoustically, not only visually.
- Soft pastel colours; avoid dark blue and dark green.
Equipment
- Waterbed in a corner, with a view of the door.
- Tactile objects low down, visual ones on the ceiling.
- Shatterproof mirrors only; no strobe lights.
Safety
- Foam and synthetics are flammable – treat and test every 6 months.
- Hang items on steel wire, not nylon cord.
- Home-made electrics only up to 14 V.
Hygiene and maintenance
- Visitors touch surfaces with their lips – clean often.
- Log defects; do not use the room until they are fixed.
Staff and sessions
- Usually 1:1 or groups of up to 3–4 (up to 6 if mobile).
- A gentle ending: brightening light, fading music, a gong.
Key figures
| Indicator | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Base lighting | ≈ 50 lx | 100–500 lx for people with visual impairment |
| Sound level | 20–50 dB | adjust for each visitor |
| Waterbed temperature | ≈ 28 °C | especially for people with limited mobility |
| Soft flooring | ≈ 150 mm | firm to walk on, soft to fall on |
| Door width | ≥ 1 m | no thresholds |
| Controls | ≈ 85 cm | reachable when seated |
| Home-made electrics | ≤ 14 V | never directly to 230 V |
| Mirror ball speed | ≤ ½ rpm | faster becomes chaotic |
| Flame test | ≤ 15 s / ≤ 60 s | flame / glow; every 6 months |
The figures in the book reflect Dutch and German practice. In Lithuania they must be checked against current building, electrical, fire safety and hygiene rules.
Sensory mapping
- Senses assessed: sight, hearing, smell, touch and temperature, balance, body movement, plus crowding and predictability.
- Measured: noise (dB), light (lx), crowd flow, temperature – at least 2–3 times at different times.
- Scale: green – calm place, yellow – moderate stimuli, red – intense place.
- The final colour is set by the occupational therapist with staff, based on measurements and the person's reactions.
Technology to match resources
Level 1 · for everyone
Observation and measurement
Personal vocabulary, noise and light measured with a phone, digital maps.
Level 2
Wearable sensors
Skin conductance and heart rate linked to location.
Level 3
Research platforms
Eye tracking, EDA, ECG, EEG – usually with a university.
Sensors show the level of arousal, not whether an experience is pleasant. Biometric data fall under Article 9 GDPR.
Personalised content
- Each person gets a “symbol passport”: name and form of address, life story, sounds, scents, music, language and faith, and what to avoid.
- Forms: sensory stories, songs with the person's name, soundscapes, rituals, performances, projections, work movements, scent stories.
- Age-appropriate content for adults; personal data only with consent.
Checklist – 121 points
- A. Planning and needs
- B. The room
- C. Lighting, sound and stimuli
- D. Waterbed and soft zones
- E. Electrical and fire safety
- F. Home-made equipment
- G. Hygiene and maintenance
- H. Staff and sessions
- I. Monitoring and evaluation
- J. Tactile, sound and visual equipment
- K. Scents, pool and sensory garden
- L. Sensory mapping and sensory diet
- M. Personalised multisensory content
We will send the full recommendations and checklist (currently in Lithuanian) – write to us.