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Sensory Room Ideas When You’re on a Budget

Written by on . Posted in Sensory Rooms, Sensory Solutions
Sensory Room Ideas When You’re on a Budget

There is no doubting that sensory equipment can be expensive, particularly if you are designing an entire sensory space, and if you’re looking to create a sensory room on a budget, you might not know where to start. To help out, we’ve put together our favourite budget sensory room ideas to create a space that is functional and engaging without breaking the bank.


Designing a Sensory Room on a Budget

Whether or not you’re building a sensory room on a budget, your sensory room will need to incorporate items that will be the most beneficial for the room’s intended users. 

In order to understand which types of items would most useful, you need to think of the abilities of the user and how they respond to sight, sound, touch and smell. The last thing you want is to make a user feel uncomfortable in a space or fill it with sensory products which won’t work for them. Once you have successfully researched and understood how users respond to these senses, then you can begin to grow your sensory room ideas on a budget if required.




Sensory Room Ideas on a Budget

  • Sensory lighting

Although sensory lights such as bubble tubes and fibre optics are beneficial due to their combination of encouraging tactile and visual engagement, there are plenty of low-budget sensory room options (although not as many that are also touch-safe). You might even already have them on hand in the form of fairy lights, lava lamps or even disco balls, and you can pick up colour-changing lightbulbs or LED strips at most supermarkets. 

All of these are ideal for minimising the sensory impact of harsh, white lighting and creating more positive sensory input.

  • DIY sensory items

You can even ad-hoc some sensory items with things around the house – a child’s paddling pool filled with ball pool balls can double as a great ball pit, encouraging users to have fun and engage through touch. An exercise ball is another effective method for exploring touch and movement in the body. Similarly, if you can take off your couch cushions and lie them on the floor with a few blankets, you can create an exciting soft play zone!

  • Textile corner

Providing a sense of calm is essential for many users, particularly before bedtime or when they are experiencing sensory overload or distress. The use of soft textiles can be very effective when it comes to creating a sensory room on a budget. Your local arts and crafts shop will have a lot of items with different textures to make a low-energy sensory activity or sensory bin. 

You could also use the fluffiest blankets and rugs you can find, paired with big pillows and UV gloves or strands in a dark room to create a soothing sensory space.

  • Sensory bathroom

The bathroom can be a difficult place for those with certain disabilities, but the benefits of sensory pools and bathing spaces are truly outstanding. Creating a sensory bathroom or pool in its fullest form is preferable because, despite the cost, they provide the best and safest experience.

However, this isn’t an option for everybody. For an easy budget sensory room idea, try creating ambient lighting using lamps or a projector and playing soft, soothing music (being sure to keep safe and ensure that no water can reach the electricals!). Pool floats can also usually be found quite cheap, and bath toys can be a welcome distraction – just make sure to clean them out regularly!

  • Invest in one piece and surround it with cheaper bits

Good, long-lasting sensory products tend not to come cheap so if your sensory room budget won’t stretch to kitting out an entire room, you could always invest in one key item – we would recommend a bubble tube or fibre optic installation – and create a smaller sensory corner.

You could cordon it off with a curtain, add a rug or a beanbag and have a sensory bin or a box with fidget toys and there you have it – an engaging multisensory space!




Fundraising for Sensory Equipment

If you’re looking to raise the money to invest in sensory room equipment, there are plenty of ways to go about it. We’ve created a free fundraising pack to help you get started with fundraising ideas and top tips, sample press releases and letters and a poster.

Human nature never ceases to amaze us and many experiences can be truly life-changing for those taking part in the activity, as well as users who benefit from the funds raised.

You can also contact charities to see if you or your institution is eligible for any supportive funding. Experia has worked extensively with one of the UK’s leading youth sports and disability charities, the Lord’s Taverners, in the past to create sensory spaces across the country, including a sensory room at Watford FC and a sensory pool for Manor Mead School. You can find more examples on our case studies page.


These are some of our favourite sensory room ideas on a budget, but you can find sensory experiences everywhere if you’re willing to get creative! If you’re interested in creating your own sensory room on a budget, please get in touch with our team for our free sensory room design service – we can tailor our plans and prices to your budget so that your users can get the most out of their sensory room.