Son won’t come in living room

[Cantthink222]

Just as the title says really, I decorated my living room around 7 weeks ago, got a new sofa and carpet. My son who is 9 and autistic(don’t know if that’s relevant) will not step foot in since, he won’t even look at it or walk past if the door is slightly open.

Anyone any ideas on how to get him to come in?

Do you have some throw pillows or similar bits of decor that you could take out of the living room and show him and get him used to them? Could you bribe him to enter once and stay in the room for x amount of time - even by giving him a chocolate that's in the room for him to fetch? Can you just ask him about it?

I think the autism is very relevant as this is not NT behaviour!

@LimeSqueezerI’ll try the throws and cushions thank you! I’ve tried getting him to come in to get something he wants like his favourite crisps he’d just rather go without. He won’t speak about it either just shuts it down instantly.

Oh no. As we know there is no “ one size fits all” This would really bother some autistic children others may barely notice.

Does he have lots of sensory needs? The carpet may be too thick underfoot, the wallpaper or paint colour/sofa colour could be overwhelming or maybe it’s the smell? ( paint, carpet glue, paste etc) Maybe he just doesn’t like the change and it’s not familiar.

I changed jobs ( started at a new school) when our daughter ( diagnosed ASD SPD) was age 4, she had nothing to do with me for 3 weeks! It was like I was a different person.

As PP suggests you could try tempting him in but sounds like you’ve tried. You could try some sensory supports such as sunglasses or a baseball cap. I wouldn’t make too much of an issue maybe leave toys or a favoured activity just by the door.
You could try something familiar, a cuddly a chewy item a Slanket or weighted blanket when not so hot. A favourite TV programme.
You could try a bespoke social story if he’d be able to understand.

@24Dogcuddler It wasn’t something that ever crossed my mind beforehand, I’ve decorated before and it’s hasn’t bothered him. He was okay coming in until the carpet went down, so I’m thinking maybe it’s something to do with that. I’ll give some of those suggestions a go, thank you x

If it’s the carpet is there a difference at the entrance e.g. wooden/ laminate flooring in the hall with a metal strip in between?
Could be a depth perception issue. I’ve worked with children who wouldn’t walk on /step over a carpet edge taped down in a nursery or school and an autistic teen who had to sit down on the edge of pavements to negotiate them. They couldn’t tell it was flat or how deep a kerb was.
could of course just be any of the things I suggested earlier. You could try a flat mat across the entrance gradually moving it nearer then across entrance. Shoes on/ off might also help with “ grounding” good luck.

New carpet has quite a smell. If you asked DS if it was that, would he be able to answer? If it is, airing the room as much as possible will help. I haven’t tried it but apparently baking soda can help reduce the smell.

If it isn’t about the smell, could you take photographs and stick them up in other rooms?

Was the living room a place that he deemed as a safe space and somewhere to unwind etc before decorating? If so it may be too different now and he may not feel it’s his safe place anymore because of different furniture.

I second the new carpet smell, it may be a real sensory overload for him.