What you need and want from your home can change depending on the stage of life you’re in. You may have once had a house filled with kids, but now you’re an empty-nester. Or, maybe your style has just changed and you want to follow a new design trend.
Whatever the case, your home should always be a reflection of who you are and what you need. It should be a safe haven and a place of comfort.
When it comes to your home, consider what’s most important to you in this stage of life. When you decide what your current needs are, you can start to make positive changes that will benefit you now and in the future.
With that in mind, let’s look at a few things you can upgrade or change in your home to fit your current needs.
Upgrade Your Flooring
If the years of little kids running around your floors are gone, it could be time to make a change. If you have hardwood floors, years of activity can make them dull, dinged, scratched, and dirty. Carpets don’t often fare much better in busy households. It can become stained and dingy over the years. Plus, it traps allergens and dirt. If you have any respiratory issues, that might make things worse.
There are plenty of flooring options to choose from when you’re considering an upgrade:
- Hardwood
- Vinyl
- Linoleum
- Different types of carpet
- Tile
The important thing is to determine which type of flooring is best for your current needs on a room-by-room basis. For example, you might want to go with tile or vinyl in the kitchen for easy cleanup, hardwood in the living room for a classic look, and carpet in the bedroom for a cozy feel.
It’s also a good idea to consider resale value. If you’re considering selling your home in the future, hardwood can provide the best return on investment.
Brighten Your Lighting
How you light your home can make a big difference in how it feels – and how it makes you feel. Changing the lighting in a room can make it appear bigger or cozier, depending on what you use. It can completely flip the personality of a room and impact your mood. The lighting in your bedroom, for instance, should be calm and warm to help you feel relaxed. It should fit your overall bedroom design so it’s a personal sanctuary where you feel safe and content. The lights in the kitchen, on the other hand, can be bright and inviting to bring you joy and energy. They should make you inspired whenever you walk in and provide others with a sense of comfort when they do the same.
The lighting you choose is really about personal preference. But, you should consider making the switch to LED lighting wherever possible. Some of the advantages of LEDs include:
- More energy efficiency
- Increased safety
- Physically smaller
- Better color rendering
- Design flexibility
LED lights also use very little voltage to illuminate a room. So, not only are they better for the environment, but they’re better for your wallet, too. If you’re on a retirement budget or trying to save money, something as simple as switching out your lights can make a big difference in your utility bill.
Make Major Changes
Many seniors from the baby boomer generation want houses that are “easy” to live in. That typically includes single-level properties without stairs. It also includes homes without a lot of twists and turns – especially if you have mobility issues.
The easier solution might be to buy a new house with a layout that better fits your needs. But, if you are attached to your home, consider doing some major renovations. Knocking down a wall or two can give you more of an open floor plan. That makes it easier to get around from room to room. If you have a small house, opening up the floor plan can also make it seem larger.
You can change the bedrooms, too, to fit your current needs. If your kids have moved out of the house, consider turning their rooms into an office, a home gym, zen space, or craft studio depending on your hobbies. Upgrading a room is easier than you might think, and it’s a great place to start when you’re tackling larger home improvement projects.
Don’t limit yourself to just indoor spaces either. Backyard upgrades such as ramps, paved pathways, and seating areas will not only add value to your home, but will also help with any future mobility issues. Making your home more functional to fit your needs and wants will also make you more motivated to keep tackling home improvement projects.
Conclusion
Whether you make small changes or you want to upgrade larger areas of your home, make sure you’re putting your needs first. It’s okay if the things you require to feel comfortable at home have changed. Whether you want to eventually sell or stay in your home forever, making these changes will provide multiple benefits, so you can feel confident in taking the plunge and redesigning a few things.
