People’s needs can change for a variety of reasons, including age, injury, illness, and many others. New technology and creative remodeling techniques are making it easier and easier to redesign your home to fit your needs.
Aging in place remodeling (also called “living in place” or “universal design”) is a broad term that involves making your home more convenient, safer, and more beautiful to live in. When these changes are incorporated in the right way, you don’t have to give up style for function. It’s really about changing your home to meet your individual needs right now, as well as your potential future needs.
If you’re thinking about making some changes to your home, keep reading to learn about a few of the most important design changes you can make.
Move More Comfortably in Your Home
Making a home easier to navigate creates a more streamlined living experience. Floor level toe kick lighting is a great way to ensure you can move around safely in the dark. You might also want to install smoother flooring transitions between rooms, avoiding awkward, curb-like transition strips that are easy to trip on.
If you’re planning a fairly involved remodel, you might even consider moving walls or doors to create a smoother, more functional floor plan. In multi-level homes, many people also choose to add railings or stairlifts.
Ergonomic Fixtures and Appliances
Ergonomics is “concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely” (Merriam Webster). This is what universal design is all about.
In the kitchen, it could involve:
- Easy-access rollout shelves
- Cabinets, appliances, and other features installed at the optimal height
- Lever-handle sink faucets, which are easier to operate
In the bathroom, it might mean:
- Slip-resistant, impact-absorbent flooring materials
- Curbless, walk-in showers
- Grab bars and benches
High-Tech Products that Add Comfort and Function to Your Life
Wouldn’t it be great if you could turn up the heat without lifting a finger? Or adjust the lights with a remote control? The latest technology can make your home work better for you. Here are just a few examples:
- Home assistant products (like the Amazon Echo) that you can verbally command to play music, make phone calls, order products online, and more
- Digital, voice-controlled thermostats
- Automatic door systems that don’t require handles
- Light switches you can control with a remote, smartphone app, or voice command
- Video doorbells, so you can see, hear, and speak to people at the door
- High-tech showers and toilets that are easier and safer to use
Bigger Changes: Whole House Remodels, Home Additions & More
In some cases, it may make sense to make larger-scale changes to your whole house, with a full custom home remodel. In other situations, you might want to build a home addition or accessory dwelling unit if you’ll have a family member or other caretaker living with you.
With large remodeling projects like these, it can be difficult to know where to start. An experienced contracting team that specializes in aging in place design can walk you through the process step by step until your dream home is complete.
Do You Have More Questions?
At L. Evans Design Group, we have been remodeling homes in the Portland area for more than 25 years, and we are CAPS certified (Certified-Aging-in-Place Specialist). Whatever your needs are, and whatever your dream home looks like, we would love to help you transform your space into a place that’s comfortable, safe, and completely customized to fit your lifestyle and personality.
Call us at (971) 404-1241 or send us a message to ask us your questions about aging in place remodeling or to schedule a consultation.
