Learn how to design a custom home with retirement in mind.
If you plan to stay in your custom home for the foreseeable future, it’s important to design with retirement in mind. Aging in place is a very popular trend today, as more people are choosing to design their home with all the comforts they’ll need as they age. Continue reading for a few tips on how to design your custom home for retirement.
Flexible Design
If you have children, be sure to plan your custom home with a flexible design, as they will likely move out but may return with families of their own! Expandable home design will allow you to easily manage your everyday life while accommodating your visiting kids and grandchildren. For example, a study or home office that can be used as a guest room and a basement with plenty of room for grandkids to play and watch TV. Many of our customers also design for a future elevator shaft with removable floors. That way they can have closet space now, and install an elevator down the line.
First Floor Living
Many people who design with retirement in mind build a main level master suite, fully equipped with a curbless walk-in shower, to avoid walking up and down stairs as they age. In fact, more than 40 percent of new homes have master suites on the first floor for this very reason. The aging in place trend is growing in popularity, as more and more people are concerned with building a home that will remain functional throughout retirement and senior years.
Open Floor Plans
Open floor plans are also crucial when designing a custom home for retirement, as narrow hallways and doorways are difficult for the elderly, especially when canes or walkers are involved. At T&G Builders, we like to design wide hallways with 3’ wide doors for future wheelchair accessibility. Design an open kitchen space that flows into the dining room, family room, and common entryway to create smooth transitions throughout the first floor. If you design for the future by including open and accessible living spaces, your custom home will always be functional.
Simple Considerations
In addition to major design decisions, there are also many simple considerations to keep in mind when building your custom home. For example, choose lighting appliances that can be easily adjusted with dimmer switches and illumination controls, as well as motion-activated lighting along the hallways. Most accidents in the home happen in the bathroom, so be sure to include shower seats and grab bars to make getting in and out of the shower easier. In the kitchen, include pull-out cabinets for accessibility, and think about countertop and sink height to avoid bending over. Lastly, put latches on all doors and cabinets to help arthritic hands open and close doors with ease.
Build Your Dream Custom Home With T&G Builders
T&G Builders, located in Berlin, MD, has been a premier waterfront custom home builder and home improvement contractor serving Worcester and Sussex Counties for over 25 years. We are a locally owned and operated business known for our uncompromising commitment to quality, our passion for using innovative technology and premium materials to complete projects, and our exceptional attention to detail. In addition to building custom homes, we also specialize in remodeling your current house into your dream home! Our skilled team can assess your needs, determine the right design for your addition or improvement, and complete the entire construction process.
To see what your dream home could look like and receive a free home design, contact us today! Don’t forget to follow T&G Builders on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Houzz.