A sensory room is a specially designed space that uses lighting, sound, textures and interactive equipment to create a calming and engaging environment.
Sensory rooms are commonly used in schools, healthcare settings and care environments to support individuals with sensory processing needs, autism, learning difficulties or anxiety. By providing controlled sensory stimulation, a sensory room can help users relax, focus, regulate emotions and develop key cognitive and motor skills in a safe and supportive setting.
Multi-sensory environments, often known as Snoezelen or sensory rooms, provide a carefully controlled space where lighting, sound and tactile equipment work together to create a calming and engaging experience.
They offer a safe sensory environment that helps reduce anxiety, regulate emotions and encourage relaxation. Sensory rooms also support exploration, independence and social interaction, helping users build confidence and develop important cognitive and communication skills.
By providing a space designed around sensory needs, sensory rooms can improve wellbeing, focus and engagement for individuals with autism, sensory processing disorders and additional needs. They can be installed in a wide range of environments, from schools and healthcare settings to public venues, creating more inclusive and supportive spaces for everyone.
Sensory rooms help regulate the five senses – sight, sound, smell, touch and taste – using lighting, sound and tactile equipment. This controlled sensory input can help individuals with autism and sensory processing difficulties feel calmer and more comfortable.
Build Key Developmental Skills
Sensory equipment encourages the development of cause and effect understanding, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, supporting learning through exploration and interaction.
Create A safe, Calming Environment
Sensory rooms provide a quiet space to relax and regulate emotions, helping reduce sensory overload and the likelihood of meltdowns or anxiety.
Provide Relaxation for All Ages
Sensory environments benefit children, teenagers and adults, providing calming visual and tactile experiences in schools, care settings and public spaces.
Sensory rooms are used by a wide range of individuals who benefit from environments designed to support sensory regulation, relaxation and engagement. They are particularly valuable in settings where users may experience sensory overload or require additional support.
Sensory rooms can benefit:
Children and adults with autism or sensory processing disorders who may need support managing sensory input.
Individuals with learning disabilities or additional needs who benefit from interactive sensory activities.
People experiencing anxiety, stress or sensory overload who require a calm, structured space to relax and regulate emotions.
The size of the room will influence the type and amount of sensory equipment that can be installed. Even small spaces can be transformed into effective sensory environments with the right layout and carefully selected equipment.
Lighting Control
Adjustable lighting is essential in sensory rooms. Features such as bubble tubes, fibre optics and colour-changing lighting help create calming or stimulating environments depending on the user’s needs.
Acoustics
Managing sound levels helps create a comfortable sensory environment. Soft furnishings, acoustic panels and calming audio can reduce noise and prevent sensory overload.
Flooring & Safety
Safety is a key consideration in sensory room design. Soft flooring, padded surfaces and non-slip materials help create a safe environment where users can explore sensory equipment with confidence.
Budgets
Sensory rooms can be designed to suit a wide range of budgets. From small sensory corners to fully equipped multi-sensory environments, the space can be tailored to meet your goals and available resources.
Our design engineers work closely with you to get to the nitty gritty of your requirements. This stage is essential in developing an understanding of your needs, allowing us to create the perfect sensory experience.
We then head off and conceptualise your ideal sensory space. We’ll keep in touch throughout the design process, ensuring that you have full control of the end result, helping us deliver exactly what you want and need.
Once the design is complete and signed off, we pass it on to our specialist installation team. They’ve been installing sensory equipment for decades; they know exactly what it takes to make the process a breeze!
Designing, Building & Creating Inclusive Sensory Spaces
From big football stadiums to cosy classroom corners and bright pink sensory buses – we love to create bespoke sensory spaces that are perfect for learning, calming, and exploring!
Frequently asked questions
What Equipment Is Typically Found In A Sensory Room?
Both! Sensory rooms are adaptable and can be used in a wide range of environments. Sensory rooms are more popular in schools as they’re a safe and effective way of helping to regulate students’ behaviour and emotions. But calming sensory areas are really beneficial for workplaces too, offering staff a place to take a break and decompress.
Find out more about sensory rooms in schools right here:
Ideally – where there are no limits with budget or space – we’d recommend that a sensory space is at least 3 x 4m. This ensures enough room for sensory resources, space to move around and explore, and accessibility for room users and support staff.
If you’re looking to create a social sensory space that can used by multiple people at the same time, we’d recommend using this formula: 3m x (the number of people you’d like to use the room x 1m).
Designing a sensory room starts with understanding the needs of the users and the space available. A good sensory room includes controlled lighting, calming sounds and interactive sensory equipment such as bubble tubes, fibre optics or tactile panels. The layout should allow users to safely explore while supporting relaxation, sensory regulation and engagement.
The cost of a sensory room can vary depending on the size of the space and the equipment included. Smaller sensory corners can be created with a modest budget, while fully equipped multi-sensory rooms with lighting systems, interactive equipment and padded flooring may cost several thousand pounds. Many sensory rooms are designed to suit different budgets.
A sensory room can be created on a budget by starting with a small dedicated space and introducing simple sensory elements such as soft lighting, tactile materials, calming sounds or sensory toys. Over time, additional equipment such as fibre optics, projectors or bubble tubes can be added to expand the sensory environment.
We’re absolutely delighted with our new sensory room. I’ve been really impressed with the whole process from start to finish. Everyone at Rhino has been really friendly, helpful and efficient.
Catriona CampbellHead Of Education, East Park
“Rhino UK have been a dream to collaborate with. They have provided the best equipment and training, so that we can bring a sparkle of happiness to the children in the hospital. Their team were always on hand to help – thank you very much!”
F BinnsPlay Specialist, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
"Many thanks for your hard work and dedication and most of all, patience, with the demand of our new Paediatric Burns Unit. It’s all very exciting, and the Rhino resources and equipment look fantastic! Have a well deserved Christmas and a very Happy New Year in 2013."
S AylottPlay Specialist, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital
"The sensory team at Rhino UK were brilliant at finding the best equipment for my daughters’ sensory room. With a no hassle sales approach, everything, from the first phone call to the final handover was very professional. Thank you very much!"
Mr RogersParent at carehome.co.uk
Beaulieu House is extremely impressed with the installation of our three newly developed spaces, the Sensory Room, Story Lounge, and Ball Pit Room. The quality of workmanship delivered by Rhino has been exceptional throughout the entire process. Every aspect, from design to installation, has been completed to a very high standard, and the finished rooms have exceeded our expectations.
The young people absolutely love the new environments, each offering unique opportunities for engagement, relaxation, and imaginative play. The staff team have also expressed their delight with the spaces, noting the positive impact they are already having on the children’s wellbeing, sensory regulation, and daily experiences.
We are impressed with Rhino’s professionalism, communication, and the overall delivery of the project. The process was smooth, efficient, and handled with great attention to detail. The final result has brought enormous value to Beaulieu House, and we are grateful for the outstanding service provided.
Richard EvansBeaulieu House Respite Centre
Rhino UK is fab. They have been very supportive and have helped us to create beautiful interactive sensory rooms.
Emily SibthorpeLittle Miracles
I just wanted to send a quick ‘thank you’ message to the Rhino team for all your help and support in creating our sensory space. The installation was completed yesterday and looks beautiful.
I would like to send a special ‘thank you’ to the installer, Scott. He was so polite, friendly, and professional and went above and beyond to work with us to make the room perfect. He’s amazing.
A huge thank you from the Mount Pleasant Lane team. We look forward to working with you again in the near future.
Lindsay Lakhani SENCo
From start to finish, the whole Rhino team was amazing. Any questions that needed answering before the installation were answered. The install team were great and even took the time to show me how to use the equipment properly. I cannot fault Rhino UK. I will recommend them to all the schools I work with. They're BRILLIANT!
Deputy HeadPurple Oaks Academy
Thank you so much to the whole team for their hard work and support. A special shout-out to your install team, who have gone above and beyond!
SEN LeadSnowfields Primary School
Loved the process from start to finish - great communication. Big thanks to your team for all of their help. We would highly recommend you as a company.
Kim GoddardSENCo & Inclusion Lead, Trinity Primary School
Our new sensory rooms are amazing. Our pupils really enjoy the spaces. The whole process was easy, and the Rhino team were so helpful throughout. We would highly recommend both the products and the installation process.
Jen LomasHeadteacher, Watermill School
Arrange a Free Design Visit
Tell us more about your project and any sensory questions you may have – our sensory team are here to help!
