7 Spring Wall Art Ideas for Nursing Home Rooms

Spring is almost here! That means early flowers are blooming, songbirds are reappearing, butterflies are starting to flutter, and trees are beginning to bud out.

While most of us can open our windows to the fresh breezes and go outside for a walk in nature, those who live in nursing homes probably cannot.

If you have a loved one who is in a nursing home, and you've spoken to the staff  about decorating their room, spring is an excellent time to change out some of the decor. For those who are bedbound or otherwise unable to go outdoors, there may be little indication of seasonal changes in their environment. Room windows are often draped, and even large, glass lobby doors might not provide scenic nature views. (Usually, these simply overlook parking lots and roads.)

So why not bring a little spring indoors for your elderly loved one? A photo or print may never be as good as the real thing, but they can help to cheer the room and provide a new point of view.



Here are some pretty options featuring nature at its Spring finest:






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1. Bird and Flower Canvas Set

source: amazon

I like this set because while the colors are bright, they are not garish--which could be agitating to some elders. They are soothing, and show not only birds, but foliage and butterflies as well. Plus, with a set of four, you can arrange them to easily fit the available spaces around your loved one's room.



2. Spring Watercolor Flowers

source: amazon

A brighter set of watercolor flowers to bring in all the spring colors. The standard 8x10 size on these would make them easy to frame and arrange even in a small area. (Perfect for a shared nursing home room where wall space may be limited).

 If there is a policy against hanging art on the walls, these are small enough for tabletop frames, and could be used all at once, or swapped out over the season to keep things interesting.


3. Nordic Animal Prints

source: amazon

For those who like animals, these prints are fun and playful without being too bright. They also don't look like generic prints one usually sees in banks, hotels or doctor's offices--making them feel more personal and not like something you would also find on any dollar store calendar.

The artwork is also not "busy", but rather a nice, easy place to rest your gaze.


4. Cactus Art 

Source: amazon

For something a little different than the usual daisies and roses of spring, why not some fun succulents? These cheerful pieces will look good year round.


5. Rustic Dandelion Art

Source; amazon

What else signals spring and summer like the white fluff of a dandelion? Who hasn't blown away those seeds at one time in their life (with or without a wish attached)? Not only is this cheerful and bold, but it can bring back many good memories of childhood.


6. Forest Path 

source: amazon

For someone with enough wall space, this beautiful photo poster would be like having a large window looking right into a forest.


7. Hummingbirds

source: amazon

And finally, these soft beautiful hummingbirds. Because spring wouldn't be the same without these busy pollinators.


Decorate Your Elder Loved One's Life

For someone in a nursing home, the view rarely if ever changes. Providing them with something new to look is a thoughtful way of letting them know how much you care about them and their well being. There are thousands of choices of wall art available, with themes and images to suit any sort of personality or preference. Things to keep in mind before buying for a nursing home include:

Weight: if you are allowed to hang art on the walls, you probably won't be allowed to use anchors or brackets. To keep the pictures from falling, choose lightweight frames. These are also not as likely to hurt someone if they are accidentally bumped off the wall.


Safety: for tabletop frames, look for frames with sturdy props. If possible, plastic or acrylic is better than a heavy, ornate frame with glass front. Always check that frames don't have excessively sharp corners, and that anything that will be hanging on the wall has a good, secure hanger or bracket.

Comfort: Very bright colors, reflective frames, overly busy prints, and anything with a sort of optical illusion tendency can agitate or worry someone with poor vision or cognitive impairment.
Also remember that if someone is bedbound or wheelchair bound, their eye-level is different than yours, so hang artwork at a level where they can see it easily.

Thoughtfulness: You might have an idea where something would look best, but please ask your loved one where they might want their artwork to hang. They live there 24/7 so they know far better than anyone else where something would feel right to them.

Neighborliness: If your loved one shares a room, you are not required to consider the opinion of their roommate, but it would be very kind if you made sure that any artwork you hang is all right with them as well.

For instance, something that your loved one enjoys might trigger a memory that makes their companion extremely sad. If possible, see if you can find something both would enjoy, since most of the wall space and surfaces can be seen almost equally by both inhabitants.


Ease-of-Care: Choose something that can be cleaned easily with no risk of damaging the art work.

Art, whether it is a print, a canvas, a sign or just a postcard in a frame is a wonderful gift for elders in nursing homes. It can be changed out with the seasons, so that there is always something new and cheerful to look at. And unlike a vase of flowers or a balloon, these gifts will remain vibrant and pretty for years to come.