First-floor living is a popular choice for seniors aging in place. It’s convenient. It’s safe. It’s…just easier. Come on, who wants to carry full laundry baskets up and down steps for the rest of their life?
But, alas. With convenience, there usually comes a price – and, the price of first-floor living? Oftentimes, it’s lost space.
Well, we’re here to tell you that that doesn’t always have to be the case! Whether your house is ranch-style, manufactured, or any other type of slab-on-grade home, here are some tips to help you maximize space!
Fill your home with natural lighting.
For an instantly bigger feel around your first-floor home, keep your curtains open! Natural light makes even the smallest spaces feel larger. Not to mention, it’s good for your health (vitamin D, anyone?). Pro tip: decorate with mirrors to reflect natural light and help brighten up a room!
Install wall shelves.
Instead of free-standing, bulky bookshelves, use your wall space! Floating shelves are a great option if you’re going for a more modern look!
Keep your furniture large, but few.
You may think that small furniture is the way to go for first-floor homes, but it might actually be the opposite! The problem with small furniture is that you need more of it. Consider this: bigger furniture that combines two or three smaller pieces. Think pull-out sofabeds and sectionals!
Give your walls a light, solid color.
Remember how bright, natural light can visually increase the size of a room? You can get the same benefit from walls painted in light, or even bold shades. Bright colors like yellow or grassy green can draw light to your room just as well as warm neutrals.
Organize your things.
You don’t need a bigger home even if you have a lot of stuff. You just need to give everything its own place. Some simple organizing can be just the ticket to a clutter-free, stress-free living space! Feel like that’s just too much work? Then enlist some help from a home care professional! Many services will help you clean, organize, and even purge if necessary!
Need more help with aging in place?
What is aging in place? Find out here! Then, check out our CAPS directory and browse our senior living articles.
Need help with retirement planning? Then visit Bob Carlson’s Retirement Watch!
