Dining Room Safety

Amount of Light

Is the lighting adequate? Is it too dim, too bright, or does it cover too small an area? If so, consider changing the bulb wattages (within the recommended limits), repositioning lamps, adding additional lighting, or putting dimmer switches on the lights so you can vary their intensity as required.

Unless you have blinds or other light curtaining that will protect you from glare, think about re-positioning your seats so you are sitting with the light behind you. It's always a good idea to have at least one seat close to the window so you can gain full benefit from the natural light, but again, make sure the light is coming over your shoulder for less vision strain.

Dining Room Lighting & Contrast

Setting the Table with Contrast

A white plate on a darker background, or vice versa, may help you see the edges of your plate more clearly.

Plates with plain centers and contrasting banding on the edges may also help define the size of the plate and locate your food visually.

Plates with patterns in the middle, like flowers or plaid, can actually be confusing and make the food less visible.

Finally, consider the color of the food being served and use a plate in contrast to the primary color of the food. For example, a white filet of fish, corn and mashed potatoes served on a white plate can "disappear" for most people with visual impairment, while the same meal served on a dark plate would be easily visible. You don't need to have two sets of dishes, just one place setting in contrast to your usual dish set.

Doorways

As it's sometimes difficult to locate doors in a room because they are often the same color as the walls, you might want to consider painting them a different color. The edges of the doors and door knob could also be painted in a contrasting color to the door itself. Painting the doorway threshold a contrasting color may help you define a possible change in level, and thus avoid unnecessary accidents.

Decorating with Contrast

To help you better navigate the room, use contrast. For example, if you have dark furniture and a dark carpet, you might think about placing light colored cushions and/or headrest covers on the chairs and sofa. If you have a light colored coffee table consider placing it on a darker colored carpet so you can more clearly see its edges. Also consider using contrasting colored lamp bases or shades to help you locate specific pieces of furniture.

If you're buying new furniture you might want to consider solid colors rather than 'busy' patterns or stripes. You might also think about the texture of the furniture. Do you want something that feels smooth, rough, patterned, soft, or hard? For some, furniture placed in the middle of the room can also be a problem, especially if you forget it's there! Again, contrasting colored identifiers placed on or near the furniture, such as cushions, large ornaments, lamps, a ticking clock, or a change in floor texture, can serve as tactual and visual reminders. Also, keeping the furniture arrangement the same will help you always know where you are and enable you to navigate the room safely.