Design Tips from A Certified Living in Place Professional to Support Healthy Living at Home

Photo: Getty images

After spending the better part of a year carrying out our entire lives at home, it only makes sense to want those homes to function better. Now that we’re getting used to this new normal and looking ahead at a new year, it’s time to adapt our homes to accommodate new tasks.  But it’s important to take into consideration how your home can serve you now as well as in the long term.

You’ve probably heard of “aging in place” and may be thinking I’m not ready for aging! But “living in place” is designed for everyone. Living in place means creating a home that supports your lifestyle goals and makes it easy for you to pursue your passions. Design for living in place will allow you to work more productively and live at home more comfortably for longer.

What Is A Certified Living in Place Professional?

“These are the professionals who represent and guide the future of home design.” - Living in Place Institute

Living through a pandemic has given us the opportunity to rethink how we want to live at home. But not everyone can easily identify what’s not working and understand what will make it function better. A certified Living in Place Professional offers customized design recommendations to create a home that is safe, comfortable and accessible. The goal is to make your home easier to live in, more productive to work in, and healthier overall.

Why an Accessible Home is Important Now

Whether you’re thinking about updating, moving an elderly parent into the home or planning for retirement, now is the perfect time to make modifications that offer immediate and future benefits.

Changes that reduce clutter, incorporate technology and increase comfort will improve life for the entire family, not just seniors. Design for wellness and living in place takes the focus away from aging and offers ways for people of all ages and abilities to live their best lives.

Declutter Your Home to Make Space for What Matters

“Clutter is an overabundance of possessions that collectively create chaotic and disorderly living spaces.” -  Joseph Ferrari

While you might think more stuff will add to your life, clutter can actually be quite unhealthy.  Not only does clutter add to our daily stresses, it can also create safety hazards in the home. Items on the floor can lead to trips and falls, and rooms with too much furniture can be difficult to navigate.  Even surfaces with too many objects can pose a hazard if you can’t get to important things like medication or the phone.

Not to mention the fact that the more clutter you have, the more time you’ll spend cleaning and tidying. But by removing the excess items from our life, we can make room for more time to do things that really matters.  

Minimal + clutter-free. Photo: Kuoo Architects

Embrace Technology to Make Life Easier

We all know technology can make life easier. Think of the time we save using a microwave or how quickly we can communicate with a cell phone. Technology can also help us live more comfortably and extend the time people can stay in their home.

Home automation features can make homes safer and more comfortable for the young and old alike. Consider incorporating technology such as motion sensors, voice activation, and smartphone monitoring apps into your home. These updates don’t require costly renovations and will improve your quality of life now.

Comfort and Convenience are Life’s Simple Pleasures

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety believes there is a strong connection between the health and well-being of people and their work environments. And as we shift to working and learning from home full-time, we’re quickly learning the importance of office ergonomics. The wrong set up can leave you sore and tired and decrease productivity. But incorporating ergonomics into your home office can help prevent unnecessary strain and repetitive motion injuries.

Having everything you need at hand will also make you more productive and reduce stresses. If you’re working at home full time or have children learning at home, consider new storage options, functional layouts and an ergonomic set-up to make office spaces easier and healthier to work in.

Face office desks with views outdoors to enhance productivity and creativity. Photo: Stephan Karg

Wellness design with a focus on living in place can give you a safe, comfortable and stylish home that will meet your needs now and for years to come. Connect with me to complete a Healthy Home Questionnaire and learn more about healthy living at home.