Revamping your house after your retirement

Making your home more retirement-friendly doesn't have to mean l forgetting what looks good. You needn’t go and buy a load of teak furniture and lacey dollies, window PVC to make your home fit for your retirement plans. We’re most certainly not talking about grab-bars in the shower or the ramp by your front door either!

You should be thinking of ways to make it the best home you’ve always dreamed of. It’s your chance to take on a new project, making your home the home of your dreams. We’re just here to give you a few tips along the way.

Universal design is the way forward

The notion of universal design is that good design is people-centred and works for pretty much every age and body type.

Desirable home features make your house more valuable on the market too – like spacious bathrooms, kitchen islands, and freezer-on-the-bottom refrigerators are all illustrations of common design that adds value.

Some solid oak furniture also adds class to your living room and hallway, and House Beautiful Magazine, often use some beautiful oak wood ranges in their interior design articles.

To add a lovely touch to your home after retirement, it’s important that you cater for all ages. Think about investing in this Elmsworth oak bench for a reception area, or some vintage-style or modern chairs or dining tables: all pieces of furniture are safe, comfortable and well-suited to your requirements in terms of style.

Open floorplans are popular for creating the illusion of space

knocking walls between the living and dining rooms, kitchen, lounge room, makes a house feel larger, more contemporary, and more relaxed—and makes the space easier to negotiate in old age.

Also keeping minimal furniture in open spaces, but choosing ones that add a characteristic mark, is a must – oak furniture gives a timeless feel, and you can always paint the wood in colours of your choice.

Opt for subtle changes that will make retirement a happy time

It’s an exciting project, for you to delve into, and you’ll find yourself getting carried away at times. But you don’t want to spend your nest egg savings all in one go. So, opt for subtle but noticeable changes that make your living as comfortable as you can. Subtle changes like a flat shower surface, or recliner sofas are all great. Flip through a glossy design magazine and you’ll notice that every shower has glass doors that go all the way to the floor, with no lip to step over. Aside from being a sleek and sophisticated look, this eradicates a main tripping hazard.

Downsizing your home and your clutter for a happy retirement

An important step to surroundings that inspire a more contented way of life is to lessen your household clutter by downsizing your belongings – and sometimes people even consider downsizing their actual house when they retire.

Not only does selling or donating excess possessions pave the way for more precious items to take centre-stage in your home, it ensures you keep only what is significant, meaningful, and useful.

By de-cluttering to showcase preferred furniture, freshening up rooms, picking explosions of colour, lighting your home appropriately, and creating a low-maintenance yet satisfying outdoor space, you’ll effectively yoke the control of your surroundings as you beautify your house for a happy retirement.