Hi Friends,
Summer is here! The sunshine invites us outdoors – to tend our gardens, fire up the grill, and savor long evenings on the patio. But even as we enjoy the season, many of us find ourselves thinking about ways to make our homes more comfortable and functional, both for today and for the years ahead.
When considering updates – especially in high-impact spaces like kitchens and bathrooms – it’s easy to focus on what’s trendy or immediately necessary. But as an interior designer who specializes in helping clients “rightsize” with elegance and ease, I encourage you to take your vision one step further – thoughtfully plan for your future needs while the walls are already open and the dust is flying.
Here are a few smart, forward-thinking enhancements to consider during your next remodel:
Widen the doorways
Ensure doorways are wide enough to accommodate a walker or wheelchair. It’s a simple change that allows you to stay in your home comfortably for years to come.
Rethink door swings
In bathrooms especially, opt for doors that swing outward. If a fall occurs, this makes it easier for someone to reach you quickly.
Install blocking for future grab bars
Even if you don’t need them now, adding blocking behind walls makes installing grab bars later far easier and sturdier.
Add an outlet near the toilet
A small detail with big benefits. This makes it easy to add a heated or bidet toilet seat down the line.
Add a hand-shower
This will provide flexibility for those hard to reach areas and make cleaning much easier.
Layer your lighting
Our eyes need more light as we age. Combine general, ambient, and task lighting. Consider strip lighting along stairways or hallways for safer nighttime navigation.
Keep the chill away
Heated floors or ceiling-mounted heat lamps can make a cold bathroom feel cozy – especially welcome in Minnesota winters!
Prioritize drawers over doors
Deep drawers in base cabinets offer easy access with a single pull – no more bending and digging in dark cabinets.
Switch to lever-style handles
Lever handles are easier to use than knobs, especially for arthritic hands or limited mobility.
These thoughtful additions are surprisingly easy to incorporate during a renovation and they’ll serve you well in the long run. Whether you’re planning a project this summer or dreaming about one for the future, I’d love to help you make your home more beautiful, functional, and supportive of the life you want to live.
Give me a call at 952.210.0685 to schedule a discovery call, or visit terrygustafsoninteriordesign.com to learn more.
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