How to support visual hyper-sensitivity by reducing visual noise in the home environment.
24 March 2025
BY NEUROKIND DESIGN
The Research
Being hyper-sensitive to visual stimuli can be somewhat of a double-edged sword. Those who are highly aware of visual stimulation often have a meticulous eye for detail, are deeply observant of the world around them, and/or possess a keen artistic eye; able to notice the most nuanced of details in colour, texture, light, and form, etc, that exist in the visual environment. On the other hand, having a heightened awareness of the immense amount of visual stimulation that exists in our everyday environments can pose some challenges. For some, visually noisy spaces with a vast array of different visual elements may feel overwhelming, stressful, and lead to a state of overstimulation. Cluttered spaces, for example, that others seem to tolerate, or perhaps not even notice, may read like a visual cacophony, forcing your eyes into desperate search of visual respite. For others, visual noise is a cause of distraction that makes it difficult to stick to routine and complete daily tasks. Those who have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), for example, are more likely to be distracted by novel distractions in the environment and experience subsequent difficulty staying on-task in comparison to those who do not have ADHD. [i]
Research suggests that reducing the presence of visual noise in the spatial environment is of benefit to neurodivergent individuals who are hyper-sensitive to visual stimuli. One study by Pieter Duker and Eef Rasing explored how redesigning a physical classroom environment to reduce visual noise[1] affected student’s learning and ability to focus (stimulus overselectivity). [ii] A one-way vision screen was used to observe students’ behaviours during teaching sessions, both when the classroom was in its original state and after it was redesigned to reduce visual stimulation.
During treatment conditions, the classroom was re-designed to reduce visual stimulation, including:
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Removing ornaments and decoration from the walls, windows, and ceiling.
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Covering open cupboards with a sheet matching the wall colour.
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Replacing multicoloured curtains with unicoloured ones.
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Closing curtains to cover window views.
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Concealing the teacher’s desk with a wall-coloured sheet.
The study found that students showed improved learning and an increased ability to focus during teaching sessions when the classroom was redesigned to reduce visual noise. These findings serve as an example for the potential to reduce the need for neurodivergent individuals to adapt their behaviour to cope in certain environments, by instead adapting the environment to better support their sensory needs.
In learning from this example, how can we go about adapting our own environments to better support those who are sensitive to visual stimuli? Here, we will discuss four simple and achievable spatial strategies that can be utilised to reduce visual noise levels in the home. [2]
1. Implement closed storage.
Implementing closed storage is one of the most important strategies to implement in the home if you are overwhelmed by visual clutter; as it’s difficult not to become visually dysregulated when your eyes are darting between an innumerable number of objects, of varying shapes and colours, within one’s environment. As such, replacing open shelving with closed cabinetry, for example, helps to keep clutter ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and prevent visual overwhelm. You can go one step further by organising the contents of your closed storage units with labels and colour coding to enhance organisation and functionality. This may be particularly important in spaces you are required to concentrate in, such as home offices, homework areas, or reading nooks.
Try to think about what areas in your home may be the most cluttered or causing a lack of organisation. The entrance area of our homes, for example, is an often-forgotten space that is overlooked for its importance in setting the tone for how we move through and experience the rest of our home environment. I think we are all guilty of coming home after a long day and flinging off our shoes into any vacant corner, dumping bags on tables, and using dining room chairs as makeshift coatracks. Multiply this same routine by the number of people who live in your home, and suddenly the whole living area is cluttered with displaced belongings. To address this, treat your entrance space as a mud room by implementing closed storage that provides the belongings you use every day with a place to live. This prevents being greeted with visual clutter as soon as you enter the home, as well and helping to support organised daily rituals.
2. Don't over-decorate.
When every surface of the home is adorned with decorative items, no matter how beautiful, it can create a sense of visual clutter, making the space feel congested, disorganised and overwhelming for those sensitive to visual stimuli. Of course, we all have decorative items that we want to display for their aesthetic or sentimental value; our decorative possessions are often tied to our sense of self, reflecting our passions, interests, and personal experiences. The aim, as such, is not to conceal every possession we own, but to thoughtfully curate them within the home to ensure that the eye can find visually quiet areas to rest.
To achieve this, consider concentrating your decorative items to select walls or areas of a room, rather than decorating the entire circumference of the room. For example, you may want to thoughtfully select your favourite items or books and curate these into one bookshelf or shelving unit, as opposed to having lots of items scattered throughout the room. Likewise, try to think about where in the home these visually noisy areas can be viewed from. For example, when you are lying in bed trying to relax, you may not want a direct view of a busy shelving unit.
3. Manipulate window views.
Windows that reveal views to highly active areas, such as bustling streets crowded with cars and pedestrians, are potentially problematic if hyper-sensitive to visual stimulation. There are, however, some very simple ways of manipulating external window views to reduce the amount of visual noise they add to your interior space.
One option is to install window treatments that enable you to mitigate views of the external environment. A double curtain rod with both a sheer and block-out curtain is a great way to either conceal views entirely or minimise views but still allow light to enter the room. The same effect can be achieved by implementing double roller blinds, or a combination of both a curtain and roller blind.
A second strategy to reduce visual noise created by window views is to strategically position plants outside of windows to conceal bustling views beyond. Manipulating window views by incorporating natural elements may, in addition to reducing visual noise, have several benefits for neurodivergent individuals. Research suggests, for example, that views of natural settings can improve the attentional functioning of children and adults with ADHD. [iii] [iv] As such, plants are a great option for creating a visual barrier between your interior space and busy, visually noisy, external views.
4. Avoid visually loud patterns.
Visually loud patterns may be perceived as distracting, overwhelming, or overstimulating by those who are hyper-sensitive to visual stimuli. Consequently, try to avoid selecting materials and finishes with bold, contrasting colours, or overly striking patterns; especially for large surfaces areas such as flooring, bathroom tiles or kitchen splash backs.
If choosing a new kitchen tile, for example, opt for a unicoloured finish that blends seamlessly when joined together, as opposed to one that forms a contrasting, multi-coloured pattern. Alternately, if there is a patterned finish that you are eager to incorporate in your home, consider using it in a small area as a detail, rather than using it for large surface areas.
If you’d like to learn more about how to reduce visual noise within your home, get in touch with us today. We’d like to hear from you!
Endnotes:
[1] The authors of the research article discussed the lowering of ‘exteroceptive input of stimulation’ in the classroom environment, which we have interpreted as ‘visual noise’.
[2] We recognise that environments are rarely occupied by one, and some of the strategies we suggest may not address opposing needs. However they are intended to inform, empower and create conversations about how neurodivergence can be supported and celebrated in our physical environments. In the case of differing sensory needs in environments occupied by multiple people, we recommend prioritising adaptability, control and flexibility as much as possible.
References:
[i] Brodeur, Darlene A., and Miranda Pond. 2001. “The Development of Selective Attention in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.” Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 29: 229-239. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010381731658
[ii] Duker, P.C. and E. Rasing. 1989. “Effects of redesigning the physical environment on self-stimulation and on-task behaviour in three autistic-type developmentally disabled individuals.” Journal of autism and developmental disorders 19(3)L 449-460. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02212942
[iii] Van den Berg, Agnes E. and C. G. Van den Berg. 2010. “A Comparison of Children with ADHD in a Natural and Built Setting.” Child: Care, Health and Development 12(5): 402-409. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2010.01172.x?saml_referrer
[iv] Tennessen, Calolyn M., and Bernadine Cimprich. 1995. “Views to Nature: Effects on Attention.”Journal of Environmental Psychology 15(1): 77-85.
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