Building your own, customized home, really is the only way to get absolutely everything you want from a home that you can live in for the rest of your life. Hire the best general contractor you can afford, and your dream home could become a reality in under a year (and a lot less depending on the size and design of your home), and that’s including two storey homes.
While some homeowners like the idea of all rooms being on one floor, building upwards can give you a lot more space for your money, and it’s the most popular choice for those with a family. However, if this is going to be the home you grow old in, you’ll need to think carefully about the different ways that you can future-proof it, to prevent you from having to move out as you enter retirement.
To help you, here are 5 ways to do exactly that:
- Have a main bedroom on the ground floor
As the years go by, you may begin to struggle with the stairs, but by having a large, comfortable bedroom on the ground floor (along with a bathroom, the kitchen and living spaces), you can remain in the home you love, for as long as you wish.
2. Design your bathroom with senior living in mind
It’s actually pretty easy to design a bathroom that everyone will be able to use, no matter their disability or physical constraints. Simply make it spacious so that a wheelchair can fit in if necessary, avoid steps and curbs, and buy a shower with an adjustable head to accommodate someone sitting while showering. Grab bars can always be added later, but non-slip flooring is best added right from the get-go.
3. Make your kitchen accessible for all
As with the majority of homes, kitchens are on the ground floor anyway, and making them accessible for everyone in the household as they age, is just as simple as it is with a bathroom. Avoid narrow spaces so that a wheelchair can access every area if needed, and try to keep your sink, oven, counters, cabinets and so on, at a lower level so that they can easily be reached by everyone. Deep drawers on lower level storage items are helpful, and a side-by-side fridge/freezer will be better.
4. Think doorways and hallways
It’s easy to forget about passages and doorways, but if wheelchairs are ever going to be used efficiently in the home, hallways and doorways must be at least 32 inches wide. Wherever possible, go open plan to avoid making getting from a to b difficult for seniors.
5. Don’t forget about your entrance!
It’s no good making your home open plan and easily accessible for someone in a wheelchair or walking with a frame, if they can’t get inside your home in the first instance! Ideally, there should be no steps leading up to your entrance, and the area would be best covered to provide some protection from the elements. For many homes, access via the garage is the most convenient, especially for someone driving.
You don’t have to make your new home into a one-storey property to accommodate you as you age, and in fact, keeping it as a two-storey often makes it easier when you have guests to stay, or if anyone providing assisted living needs to be in your home.