Designing for a Migraine Prone Client

Designing a space that positively influences a client’s physical health is exceedingly rewarding. So when our East Falls, Philadelphia client told us that she wanted a bathroom reno that would help alleviate her migraines, the project became much more interesting. 

Keep the Tub

Many of our clients want to get rid of their tubs because they never use them, but this client told us that baths help relieve her migraines. According to WebMD warm compresses can help with migraines. If you think about it, a bath is like one big hot compress–it helps relieve muscle tension. There isn’t space for a freestanding tub, but we specified a deeper alcove tub.

In a more general sense, taking a bath relieves stress, which is often a cause of migraines in the first place. 

Embrace the Darkness

Most homeowners are afraid of dark colors, but that isn’t the case here. Many people that suffer from migraines also have light sensitivity called photophobia. So, adding a darkening window treatment could be a quick fix. On this project, we’re going all in–the selected wall tile is black, and it’s going to look amazing. 

We’re also putting the recessed lighting and a sconce above the medicine cabinet on dimmers to provide another level of light control. 

Avoiding Strong Scents

There are some strong odors from artificial chemicals that you sometimes run into during construction. When my client came to our design studio for the preliminary design meeting, I asked if the air diffuser would bother her. She said no, because all those scents are natural (we ended up using a Lavender essential oil in case you’re wondering).

One thing we do on almost all our projects is specify zero-VOC paints–it’s a game changer. Imagine walking into a newly painted space and not knowing it was freshly painted by the smell.  

A Reno Should Make You Feel Better

Every residential interior design project should improve quality of life, whether it’s mental, emotional or physical. A bathroom reno for a client that has chronic migraines allowed us to deep dive into what we can do as designers to make her life better. If you’re looking to make some changes for your well-being, we’d love to help.