Renovation Tips from an Expert
Threshold ramps help seniors transition through a doorway threshold or small steps on foot, wheelchairs, scooters, canes, etc. Typically, they are easy to install by simply placing them down. Some are foldable or have an adjustable height. Ultimately, the best threshold ramps for aging in place are lightweight, non-skid, stable, and sturdy. Below is a … Read more
As we get older, protecting ourselves becomes even more important. Even the slightest slips and falls can be quite dangerous to our health. With that in mind, it is important to limit the risk of falls and slips by installing non slip runner rugs, particularly in areas with heavy foot traffic. Doing so can ensure … Read more
Grab bars are essential for safety-proofing a home for aging in place. There are different types and styles available on the market to choose from. One of the key decisions you need to make is going for traditional or suction grab bars. This article aims to make it easy for you to determine whether suction … Read more
Crystal cabinet knobs are another great option for revamping your home for aging in place. Like glass cabinet knobs, crystal cabinet knobs come in various shapes, sizes, styles and colors. The crystal accents bring vintage vibes into your home or bright sparkle elegance into modern and contemporary interior designs. You can use a crystal knob … Read more
Do you have beautiful hardwood floors in your home that guests tend to fawn over? Installing these floors can be expensive, and the best thing you can do is to preserve your investment. Preserving your investment in this sense means purchasing the best non slip furniture pads for hardwood floors. Non slip furniture pads provide … Read more
Toilet grab bars should be installed at the right height and in the most accessible and convenient location for the primary user. There are several factors to consider when deciding on the right placement for grab bars around the toilet. First, the size of the room and how far away the walls are from the … Read more
Gold hardware trends are ever-changing. They go in and out of fashion over the years, but there are ways you can incorporate them into your home to remain relevant. Gold knobs are most commonly incorporated in kitchen and bathroom decor. They add a touch of luxury to your home and can be paired with different … Read more
Although glass cabinet knobs are not as popular as they were in the 1950s, they can be a great option for sprucing up your kitchen or bathroom cabinetry for aging in place. You can use them to add beauty to your kitchen cabinets, bathroom cabinets, or built-in cabinetry. Glass cabinet knobs and other door accessories … Read more
Brass hardware can be incorporated in various ways in your home, whether as kitchen cabinet hardware, an appliance pull, drawer pull, bathroom shelves, or doorknobs. Brass knobs fit most home decor styles, including vintage, Victorian, mid-century modern, grand millennial, Scandinavian, and modern aesthetics. They are not limited to only a particular interior style. Therefore, if … Read more
French doors are an excellent choice for seniors as these doors serve more than aesthetic purposes; they are wheelchair accessible and allow more natural light into your home. Plus, they are generally easy to install, all of which makes them great for an aging-in-place home renovation. However, before you embark on this project you’ll want … Read more
Most people associate arthritis with hands, but knees, backs, and legs can all suffer from arthritis, as well. An area of the home that is particularly hard on aching joints is a staircase. Most homes include a set of stairs in one room or another. Most homes are multi-level living, and even ranch homes tend … Read more
Creating a home where your parents can safely age in place is an amazing gift to give them. I promise you that doing the work yourself will result in an incredible feeling of achievement. But, that doesn’t mean you won’t make some mistakes along the way…probably a lot of them. And, that’s okay. That’s why … Read more
As you work your way through each room of your aging-in-place home renovation, you’ll collect vast amounts of knowledge along the way. Every project you do will benefit from the lessons you learn in the previous ones. Home renovation is one big learning experience. Most DIYers forget this, though, and worry too much about making … Read more
The goal of every one of my aging-in-place renovations is to create a home that older adults can live in safely and independently for years to come. Traditionally, aging-in-place design has focused almost exclusively on physical safety. Lately, though, many of my clients have mentioned the improvements some aging-in-place projects have made to their parent’s … Read more
Imagine if your parents’ home had the intelligence to take care of them (almost) as well as you do. For the first time in history, we can control our homes with just the tap of a screen or the sound of our voice. Today, adults with mobility issues can see who’s at the door without … Read more
Recessed lighting is a relatively cost-effective way to add a beautiful finishing touch to any room in the home. And yet this kind of lighting often gets placed in the home improvement box labeled ‘luxury’ and ignored by budget-conscious DIYers. The truth is that recessed lights are as economical and practical as they are stylish, … Read more
One of the most common questions I hear from aging-in-place DIYers is ‘where do I start?’. If you have the luxury of time and can afford to slowly make upgrades to an aging-in-place home, there’s no right or wrong answer. If, however, your parent is already in need of serious safety upgrades, my advice is … Read more
As people begin to age in their homes, there comes a time when either they or their family members start questioning whether staying home is the safest option, and rightfully so. Traditional homes offer many obstacles such as stairs, slippery floors, high cabinets, less-than-ideal lighting for aging eyes, and numerous other challenges for older adults. … Read more
Removing the need to bend down low or reach up high is one of the pillars of smart aging-in-place design. Take a look around your home right now. Count the number of electrical outlets along the floor that you need to bend down to reach. Now, count the number of outlets at waist level. As … Read more
Our eyes go through a lot of changes as we age. Yes, older adults are known for turning the font size on their phones way up and holding books at arm’s length. The real challenges that aged eyes face, though, is in seeing small details, color contrast and the distinction between light and dark. Our … Read more
Today’s paint trends have most of us painting white walls in white kitchens with pops of grays and blues spread throughout the rest of the house. If you’re planning to paint an aging-in-place home, however, steer clear of soft colors that blend from one room to another. Instead, look for a mix of high-contrast paint … Read more
Unlike most home renovation projects, an aging-in-place project aims to make a home more safe and age-friendly. That may mean maintaining the look, feel, and style of the home even though substantial changes are made to the property. For condominiums, this can be particularly challenging due to two main factors: the rules and regulations of … Read more
Adapting Your Home Lighting for Aging in Place Those of us who are of retirement age, may not realize it at first, but one of the most important aspects to a home renovation is lighting. The eyes of a 30-year-old and the eyes of a 60-year-old see the world very differently, both metaphorically and literally. … Read more
FLOORING ISSUES TO CONSIDER WHEN AGING IN PLACE When the time comes to plan the remodeling of your home in anticipation of retirement and beyond, the choice of flooring options should be at the very top of your list. Choosing a flooring material doesn’t need to be intimidating or complicated. It also doesn’t need to … Read more