5 Things to Think About When Planning to Stay in Your Home Forever
Is Your Home Forever-Ready?
Your home—it’s your sanctuary. Maybe it’s the first home you’ve bought, a home you want to renovate, or a plan for a new build. One of the biggest decisions you might make is to live in this home forever. Thinking about your current and future needs is a big piece of this puzzle—can your current or planned new build be your forever home?
We’ve had this very discussion at Residential Designed Solutions with some of our clients. Our designers can discuss what needs to happen for you to be able to age in place. It might involve renovations or if it is a new build, it will require a plan for your future needs.
5 Things to Think About if You Want to Stay in Your Home Forever (Or Age in Place)
Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik
Current and Future Needs
How are you living now and how do you anticipate this to change over time?
If you have small children with their own bedrooms and play area, how can these be reimagined in the future?
Where is your primary bedroom? If it is on the second floor, is there room for it to be on the first floor in the future?
Aging in place usually requires wider doorways for wheelchairs.
Will your parents move into your home? Can it accommodate their needs?
Layout and Available Space
Especially with a new build, designing a forever home with a seamless layout and available space is an important part of the design plan. If remodeling, having a designer create a better layout and finding space is vital to staying in the home.
Do you want or need separate spaces or an open floor plan? Thinking about this now can help you anticipate how you want to move around your home in the future.
Available space can be as simple as creating storage in “dead zones” of an older or smaller home. Can a room be reconfigured for storage, a home office, or first floor laundry?
Main Floor Living
Ranch home with finished lower level built in Columbus, OH by Jimenez Haid Custom Builders
A two-story home is a great way to have more square footage and works well when you are raising a family. A primary bedroom is upstairs near the kids’ rooms, the bedrooms are not visible to most people, and the upstairs loft is a perfect playroom. But as you age and stairs become an issue, what can you do?
Design a new home with all the main amenities (bedroom, laundry, kitchen, living room, and bathroom) on the main level. A main level bedroom can be a guest suite or bonus room while you are younger.
If you renovate, can a dining room or another space become a primary bedroom? Is there a place for laundry and a bathroom? This sometimes becomes the biggest reason you can’t stay in your home, if it can’t be reconfigured to accommodate your needs.
Is there a way to add a stair lift or elevator?
Bathroom Accessibility
Let’s be real—the bathroom that is accessible and safe really matters as we age. This is one of the main reasons people remodel their bathrooms as they get older.
A raised toilet seat or comfort height toilet makes it easier to stand and sit.
A walk-in shower eliminates tripping or falling. A handheld shower sprayer and a seat are important if you have mobility issues.
Installing grab bars in the future allows for stability in the shower and by the toilet.
A narrow toilet room could be a problem if someone is using a wheelchair, mobility scooter, or a walker. Eliminate a separate toilet room in the design and create space around the toilet.
Smart Home Technology
Integrating smart home features adds to the comfort and convenience of your home. But beyond that, think how smart it is to invest in systems that are easily controlled and automated, such as:
Thermostats
Smart lighting
Security systems
Television and music systems
Smart appliances
At the touch of your phone or a voice command you have control over many aspects in your home.
What Can a Home Designer Do For you?
We help you create your forever home to meet your needs now and for the future.
A custom floor plan that is tailored to your lifestyle.
Universal design features and aging in place modifications such as wider doorways and hallways, walk-in showers, and accessibility features.
Spaces that are multifunctional and change as your needs change.
Built-in storage that saves space and keeps you organized.
Potential future changes are an important design element in a new build that you might not have thought of. Renovating your current home to allow you to live there is usually a design our home designers can make work. We love a good challenge! Read this blog about a home we made more accessible for our client. By prioritizing accessibility, addressing the layout, creating first floor living, providing an accessible bathroom, and adding smart technology, our home designers at Residential Designed Solutions will create a home that meets your needs today and evolves with you for a lifetime of living. Contact us to get started today! Call 614.430.0027 or fill out our contact form here.