Making Your Home Accessible, Still Beautiful

Introduction

You don’t have to give up style or comfort to make your home more accessible. If you’re aging in place, then some changes might be a good idea. If you want to stay in your home as long as possible and remain independent, then it’s worth taking the time to think about how you can make it easy for yourself and others to move around without worrying about tripping over things or falling down. The good news is that there are many ways you can do this without making major renovations—and here’s how:

Use the right flooring

The flooring you choose for your home should be durable, easy to clean and comfortable for everyone who walks on it. If you have small children or pets in the house, consider using vinyl floors instead of carpeting. This type of flooring is often easier on their little feet as well as yours!

If you have elderly family members who will be visiting regularly (or if you’re just looking for an affordable option), consider installing laminate wood planks as opposed to solid hardwood floors. While these types of materials can be expensive upfront, they tend to last longer than other options because they don’t require much maintenance–just a quick sweep every week or so should keep them looking great!

Choose a bathroom that works for you

When you’re choosing a bathroom, think about the overall size and shape of it. You might want to make sure that there’s space for a walk-in shower or tub, depending on your mobility needs. If you have trouble bending over or sitting down on the floor, look for higher toilets with seats built in (they’re often called “comfort height”).

There are many different types of grab bars and handrails available if you need them–they come in all shapes, sizes and materials like metal, wood or plastic; some even have suction cups so they can stick securely to tiles without drilling holes into them! They’ll help keep you steady as well as give others something solid to hold onto when assisting with tasks such as bathing or dressing yourself after getting out of bed each morning.*

Use low-impact paint

• Use low-VOC paint. Low-VOC paints contain fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals that can be released into the air when you’re painting your home.
• Use water-based paint instead of oil-based. Water-based paints use water as their main ingredient, while oil-based ones use petroleum distillates or synthetic resins in their formulas–and they have a strong smell!
• Make sure your roller cover has a nap length that matches the surface you’re painting, like smooth walls and ceilings versus rough surfaces like brick or stone pavers outside your windowsills.
• Put down newspaper on top of drop cloths when using brushes or rollers so that any drips don’t get onto hardwood floors or carpeting underneath them; once dried completely, remove these layers before proceeding with other projects around those areas where paint may still be visible (such as window trimming).

Take advantage of open floor plans

Open floor plans are great for accessibility. They allow you to make the most of your space, and they also make it easier to get around.

For example, if you have an open concept kitchen and living room, then you can easily bring a wheelchair into either area without having to go through another room or down a hallway. You’ll find that many of today’s homes are designed this way–and for good reason!

Create ramps and widen doorways

Ramps are a great way to make your home more accessible. They can be made from many materials and built in a variety of ways, so they’re perfect for any home or situation. You can even build them on the spot if you need them right away!

• Materials: Ramps can be made from materials like wood or bricks. If you have an old wooden deck that’s not being used anymore, consider repurposing it as a ramp leading up to your front door instead of tearing down all that hard work. You could also build one out of bricks if that fits better with the style of your house–and don’t forget about concrete! It might sound expensive at first glance but trust us when we say this material makes even steep inclines feel like flat ground once completed (and looks pretty cool too).
• Size & Shape: The size and shape depend entirely on what kind works best for where you live; however generally speaking wider is better so long as there aren’t any obstructions nearby (like trees) preventing easy access into/out-of doorways due to size restrictions imposed by local building codes .

There are many ways to make your home more accessible without making it feel like a hospital.

There are many ways to make your home more accessible without making it feel like a hospital.

Reduce clutter by storing items that don’t have a place elsewhere, or have too much stuff. This will help you see what you have, which in turn makes it easier for those who need to access those items. Use bright colors and mirrors so that there is no confusion about where things are located in the room. Use lighting to create a sense of space by using indirect lighting instead of overhead lights (or both), as well as natural light coming through windows or skylights if possible. Large open rooms are also easier for everyone because they allow more room for movement around furniture without bumping into anything along the way!

Conclusion

We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of ways to make your home more accessible without losing its beauty. If you have any questions, or if there’s anything we didn’t cover that you’d like to know more about, please feel free to contact us! We’re always happy to help our readers with their questions about making their homes safer for everyone.