Historical home with black shutters and large trees

Design Notes

3 Things To Include In Your Forever Home

You are excited about the upcoming renovation. You have so many good ideas, and you can’t wait to have a space that is finally functional. As much as we enjoy the now, it’s also essential to consider the future, especially if you plan to make this your forever home. Many aspects of the design will work for a long time, but as you age in place, some things may become a problem. By adding a few elements to the design, you can ensure that you will enjoy your beautiful, functional home for years to come. This will also save you money since you will need to make a few adjustments later. Let’s talk about five things you should consider having in your design.

Your Forever Home: Flooring

It’s how we get from room to room, which connects and ties the home together. It could be argued that it is also the most used part of the home and has the most potential to become a hazard over time. When designing for flooring, try to make as few smooth transitions as possible; this will reduce the risk of tripping later. If you have hardwood flooring, it is tempting to include multiple area rugs, but be careful, as these also can cause you to take an unintended tumble. Consider ones that are slip-resistant, such as Vintage vinyl. They have multiple patterns and sizes that give you peace of mind.

glass cabinets with walnut shelves

Your Forever Home: Cabinets

No matter our age, we tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and it is the one place that we will never outgrow, though our accommodations may need to be adjusted. Here are a few things to remember when designing your forever home.

  • Drawers: While people think a kitchen must have a mix of cabinets and drawers, more and more are opting for extra drawers and fewer cabinets in the lower area of the kitchen. It gets harder to bend down to find what you need over time, but having everything stored in a drawer where it is easily accessible makes aging in place so much smoother. See one of our kitchen projects that features multiple drawers.
  • Lower counters: Lowering the countertop a little will make it easier if you or another family member wants to help and is in a wheelchair. This means there is still a sense of freedom. It is possible to lower only one area and not the whole layout—just be sure to ask for this in your design.
  • Pull-out drawers: This will make finding items in your space much more accessible. Instead of pulling everything out, you can pull the drawer out and have everything easily accessible.

Little things included in the design now can yield significant benefits later in the kitchen design, so be sure to talk with your designer about your space and your needs.

Your Forever Home: Bathroom

The bathroom is another area of the home used daily, and by including a few simple design elements, you can ensure that it stays safe for years to come.

  • Walk-in shower: While many enjoy a tub, it is a brilliant idea to also include a walk-in shower, which makes getting in and out simple.
  • Flooring: Before choosing your flooring, make sure to check if it has a slip-resistant coating. This area can become more dangerous due to humidity and small puddles.
  • Lighting: good lighting ensures that you can easily see where you are going and find whatever you are looking for without a problem.

Your designer will also have additional ideas and suggestions to make this space perfect.

bathroom with a glass walk in shower

Last Little Details For Your Forever Home

Here are a few other small things to include in your design that will ensure you can stay in your forever home forever.

  • Doors: opt for doors that are a little wider and wheelchair accessible, plus, picking handles over doorknobs makes it much easier to open a door instead of trying to grab a knob.
  • One level: As much as we like multi-level homes, a single-level home is more practical for the long term and is just as functional when laid out correctly.
  • Think simple: It’s easy to purchase a piece of furniture here and another there, but this can make a space cluttered and hinder pathways. Try to keep the main areas free and clear to avoid trip hazards and sharp corners.
  • Read here to find a few more tips.

Final Thoughts!

A home is a place of refuge. It is where we spend time with those we love and make the most memories. It is a place where we should have the freedom to age gracefully, and by including these design elements, you can rest assured that you have all you need to do it.

/onJuly 21, 2020/updatedJanuary 28, 2026/inDesign Notes
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