These affordable upgrades can make an existing home more functional without sacrificing style
Aging in place may be the last thing on your mind when you’re renovating a home, especially if you’re under 50. But not considering design upgrades now could be a costly mistake in years to come.
We’re not talking about wheelchair ramps or shower grab bars, but “universal design” elements—eye-pleasing choices that make your house more livable for anyone at any age.
By using universal design, homeowners are better able to remain in their homes as they age. These design elements can also make a big difference if you lose mobility—after all, more than 35 percent of people age 65 and older in the U.S. are disabled.
Remodeling Projects that use universal design often result in a higher sale price for the house. “People are used to seeing these livable features in upscale resort bathrooms spas, and other public spaces, so they read as desirable, and valuable.
The upgrades can be too expensive on their own, but as part of a broad renovation, the additional cost can be minimal.
Here are some universal design elements that are on practically every renovator’s wish list anyway:
Curb-less Showers
A bathroom floor that continues straight into a walk-in shower without anything to step over is de rigueur at upscale hotels.
If possible, make the shower space at least 3×5 feet, so a bench can be added later as needed. And include a handheld shower faucet. For no added cost, you can opt for slip-resistant textured floor tiles, or smallish mosaics, which yield numerous grout lines, to avoid a floor that gets slippery when wet. Use flat tiles, not those with rounded edges, for a smoother walking surface.
Upstairs Laundry
Don’t even think of remodeling the master bathroom without bringing the laundry up from the basement, if it’s down there. And if you intend to use a closet for the appliances, make sure the door is wide enough to provide access.
Widened Doorways
Most shared living-space renovations include removing walls between rooms to open up the floor plan. But even when the walls can’t come down, widening doorways to at least 32 inches—preferably 36—can increase flow and livability.
Kitchen Flexibility
If you’re re modelling kitchen, expand the pathways around the island to at least 48 inches wide instead of the standard 36, which is enough to accommodate party guests, as well as someone using a walker or wheelchair. Where space is limited, this can be best accomplished with a peninsula instead of an island, Ponce says.
Include varied-height work surfaces in addition to the standard 36-inch counter height. Bar-height (42 inches) is ergonomic for standing while working, and table-height (30 inches) is better for sitting while working.
Doors and Lighting
Lever-style doorknobs are easier to use in old age. And by setting new electrical outlets 24 inches off the floor instead of the usual 12 to 18, you eliminate the stooping usually required to plug in a vacuum.
Brighten up your home by adding recessed ceiling fixtures. Put them on rocker-style switches, which are easier to use; with a dimmer capacity, you can adjust lighting for different tasks.
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