When you move into a new apartment or home, the newness of it can feel exciting. A new space is a chance to start all over again. If you have limited mobility, this is the perfect time to alter the design and decor of the home to better suit your needs. A living space that you create with mobility in mind can enhance your life in many ways. Consider these tips for optimizing your home to help you thrive.
Assess the Lighting of the Home
Every area of your home should be well-lit. If the room doesn't naturally have enough overhead light, add lamps that you will easily be able to reach. When possible, choose high-wattage light bulbs to help brighten each room, too.
Another simple adjustment that can make life much easier is changing your light switches. Make sure that the on and off switches for each room are easily within your reach. You may choose to get a system where you can simply clap your hands to turn lights on or off. Alternately, you may look at whether adding a bit of smart home technology can make your life easier.
Place Handrails Where You Need Them
Handrails along the bathtub and by the toilet can make life easier and safer if you have limited mobility. Assess your home to see if they are needed elsewhere, too. If you only have limited mobility for a short time, you can even get bars that are temporarily installed with suction cups.
Place Extra Tables Where You May Need Them
If you are in a wheelchair or need to sit down most of the time, make sure that you have counter space and tables that are convenient to reach in every room. For example, you may not be able to lower counter space in the kitchen if you are renting a home, but you can place a long table in the kitchen that's at just the right height for you to easily prepare food.
As another example, if you plan to snack or do an activity like knitting while watching TV, putting a small side table in the room can make life much easier than trying to reach a low coffee table. Go through every room of your new home to determine which activities you will most often be doing in the room, then make sure that you get enough tables for each room to match your plans.
Secure All Rugs
If you like to use area rugs in your home, make sure they are secured to the ground. You may use non-slip grips to keep them in place. Also, make sure that all your carpeting is leveled out and even. If the flooring has bumps or areas where you could trip on installed carpet, ask your landlord about replacing the carpet or fixing the problematic spot.
Consider the Placement of All Furniture
One simple, often overlooked way that life can be made easier is arranging your furniture for practical reasons. Go from room to room looking at each piece of furniture. Consider whether each piece serves a practical purpose in the room and also whether it could better serve you elsewhere.
You may also want to consider how items are placed on the furniture. For example, if you have a bookshelf but cannot reach the top shelves easily, place all the books you want to use on the lower shelves. You can then use the higher shelves to store things that you don't often use or to display decorations for aesthetic purposes.
Add Lower Closet Bars
Adding lower closet bars is one simple modification that you can do without altering the apartment home in any way. Removable closet bars are available from many home stores, and they only take seconds to install in your closet. If you can’t reach the high bar in your closet, this addition can make your space more functional.
Finally, contact the Robert Cottingham Companytoday to discuss your housing needs. Ourcompany is locally owned and operated, and our caring team can help you find the right affordable living situation to fit your needs and the comfortable lifestyle you want to have.
