How do I learn about a client's sensory preferences and sensitivities?

Understanding sensory preferences is one of the most important parts of my design process because no two neurodivergent people experience their environment in exactly the same way.

Rather than making assumptions, I begin with a series of conversations designed to understand how you experience your home and how different environments affect your wellbeing, comfort, focus, energy levels, and ability to relax. I want to understand what helps you thrive, as well as what creates stress, fatigue, distraction, or sensory overload.

We typically explore factors such as lighting, noise, colour, temperature, textures, smells, visual complexity, and spatial layout. For example, some people find bright, open spaces energising, while others may find them overwhelming and prefer softer lighting, reduced visual stimulation, and clearly defined areas for different activities.

I also look at how you use your home throughout the day. Sensory needs are often connected to daily routines and activities, so understanding where you work, rest, socialise, regulate, and recharge helps me create solutions that support your individual needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

Where helpful, I use visual references, mood boards, material samples, and examples of different environments to help identify preferences that may be difficult to describe in words alone. Many people know how a space makes them feel, even if they don't immediately know why.

Throughout the project, I view you as the expert on your lived experience. My role is to listen carefully, translate those insights into practical design decisions, and create an environment that supports your comfort, independence, and quality of life.

Ultimately, the goal is not simply to design a beautiful home. It's to create a space that respects how your brain and senses work, helping you feel more at ease, more in control, and better supported in your everyday life.