When decorating your home, one of the most important things to keep in mind are the people that will be living there. If you have someone living in your home that has special needs, be it children, the elderly, or someone with another kind of mobility issue, it’s vital that you decorate your home in such a way as to make every space safe for them.
While you don’t have to decorate as if you were in a nursery or a residential community meant for the elderly, you should keep some basic things in mind when it comes to design and decor. To show you just what these things are, here are three tips for decorating a home when a person living there has special mobility needs.
Be Thoughtful When It Comes To Flooring
For someone who has a hard time getting around within a home, you’ll want to be sure that there’s nothing regarding the flooring of your home that will make it even harder for them to get around.
With this in mind, ResidenceStyle.com recommends you take care when choosing both a hard flooring or a carpeting. While hard flooring will make it easy for your loved one to get around, it can also be hard if they were to fall. And although carpeting would cushion their fall if they were to fall on the floor, it can also be harder to get around on with a wheelchair or walker. And while the happy medium might seem to use rugs on the hard floors, this could cause a tripping hazard. So before you pick what you want to use for or on your floors, make sure you think through your loved one’s needs.
Bring Things Down Lower
Another thing you’ll want to consider when decorating your home with someone with mobility issues is just how easily they’ll be able to reach things that might seem within reach to you.
According to Rachel Brougham of the Family Handyman, you’ll likely want to bring some things lower to help accommodate those with mobility issues. Some items you should consider lowering could include closet rods, certain storage items, and other things that will be frequently used.
Keep Spaces Clean And Organized
When someone isn’t as mobile as most, keeping things clean and organized can make a huge difference for them.
With regards to decorating your home, Ruben Castaneda, a contributor to U.S. News and World Report, shares that you should prioritize decor that allows you to keep things organized and in convenient places for your loved one. This could mean using a lot of boxes, shelves, or other decorative storage solutions.
If you’re wanting to decorate the home you share with someone who needs help being mobile, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you find the right designs, layout, and decor to go with.
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