Why Living in Place Interior Design Isn’t Just for the Elderly
Feb 21, 2023

Why Living in Place Interior Design Isn’t Just for the Elderly

Depending on your stage of life, you might not think that living in place interior design is relevant to you and your home, or perhaps you’ve just recently heard the term and are curious about what it really means.

While the assumption about living in place design is often that it’s simply interior design for elderly people, there are so many other ways in which working with a certified Living In Place Professional can improve the comfort and functionality of your home.

So much more than senior living interior design…

This area of functional home design is about helping people of different ages and abilities navigate and utilize their homes by creating a comfortable and safe space for everyone.

It’s important to talk about living in place design so that people are aware of the potential for improving their lives by thoughtfully modifying their homes. It’s also empowering for homeowners to realize they are not alone when life presents the need for change.

Indeed, living in place design is massively beneficial to senior living interior design and assisting elderly people in making the most of their homes. However, it also improves experiences in the home for everyone by helping you prepare for lifestyle changes that may come your way.

Let’s look at some of the other reasons you may require incorporating living in place design into your bedroom or living room design, and how it can revolutionize your life and your home for the better.

1. Interior design for elderly relatives to have a comfortable stay

It’s not uncommon for children to assume the duties of taking care of their aging parents.This can be quite an emotionally challenging experience, but minimizing the logistical obstacles can ease the transition.

Whether your elderly relative is coming to live with you full time or just visiting for a period, you want them to be as comfortable as possible in your home, while also removing any obstacles or hazards that may get in the way of their safety.

Typical homes are not equipped for people recovering from surgeries, having mobility issues, or adapting to assisted living in the same way that hospitals are. A certified designer can help make your life infinitely easier by optimizing your home for the unique circumstances of the people you care for with senior living interior design.

2. Functional home design for your family through life’s ups and downs

Life is unpredictable. It can throw things your way that change how you or a loved one functions, and suddenly your home no longer makes sense for your lifestyle and needs. If you or a family member suffers an accident, your home can become a hindrance and a barrier to long term recovery.

While no two situations are the same, you can deal with whatever comes your way when you proactively respond to your needs as they change. When things happen to you that you didn’t plan for, functional home design can help make everything less stressful and more manageable.

3. Thoughtful design for unique needs and disabilities

If your child has unique needs or disabilities, designing your home around them can vastly improve their quality of life. For a child with a physical disability, wheelchair accessibility is essential to making them feel comfortable and independent.

When it comes to a child with sensory issues or hyperactivity, the solution might not be as clear. Sometimes the more subtle elements you can introduce into your living room design will have the biggest impact for your child. 

Why Living in Place Interior Design Isn’t Just for the Elderly

Consider choosing interior design colors to create a relaxing and calming environment for your child, so they don’t feel overstimulated at home. Soothing materials and textures can also improve a child’s comfort in their home.

4. Increase the resale value of your home

If you’re concerned about investing in living in place design, it’s important to note the considerable impact incorporating such features into your home will have on its resale value. Everyone will eventually need a downstairs bedroom, a wheelchair accessible shower, or an open floor plan for optimal access and practicality.

It might seem like a massive undertaking, but sometimes a little thought can go a long way. A living in place certified designer can transform the functionality of your home while still making it look amazing. Often the adjustments and additions can be quickly completed by a tradesperson saving you money and stress while increasing the value of your home.

5. Avoid expensive remodels in the future with practical design and timeless styles

Your house will inevitably need to evolve with you as your lifestyle requirements change. If you’re designing a new home or looking for a little refresh with interior design living room updates, why not incorporate living in place design elements into your plans?

When you factor long-term comfort and functionality into designing your forever home, you’ll save time and money on remodels down the line. Accessibility and future-proofed functionality can still be fun with open floor plans, modern decor, and a classic interior design style that won’t go out of fashion.

Need help making your home more comfortable without compromising your classic decorating style?

Everyone’s design journey is deeply personal, and so is their home, interior design living room style, and needs. But the need for everyone to feel safe and comfortable in their home is universal.

If your home no longer makes sense, our founder, Kim, is a Certified Living In Place Professional with vast expertise in creating functional spaces for all kinds of unique situations. She can help you take care of the people you love, while adding some fun and personality with classic home decorating and interior design.

Schedule your discovery call now so we can create a timeless house you’ll be proud to call home for years to come.

Testimonials

See what clients are saying about us

"I had a wonderful experience working with Design Lifestyles, and I love how they have transformed my home! Kim and Lauren are extremely talented and really good at discerning and respecting a client’s likes, dislikes and personal style.

I love how they presented me with options.   I could choose furnishings and materials, without being overwhelmed with too many choices.  It was fun, and it felt good to participate in the process of creating a pretty, cozy home for my family. Their attention to detail is amazing.  Every color, fabric, pattern and accessory is coordinated and intentional, without being too “matchy,” if that makes sense. I also have to say, Kim has a calm, reassuring demeanor that really helps in the midst of a remodel.

Kim and Lauren are kind, talented ladies, and they are a joy to work with.  Stephanie and Kelly are lovely to work with as well! Thank you, Design Lifestyles team! I hope I get to work with you again on future projects!"

Luisa A.

"We had the opportunity to work with Design Lifestyles earlier this year to remodel our kitchen and fireplace wall.  I had been following these very talented women on Instagram for nearly two years so I was familiar with their design aesthetic and could not wait to finally have the chance to see them in action. Starting with a very comprehensive in home meeting we discussed what we loved and what we wanted to change in addition to our budget.  Based on this meeting and our Pinterest boards, they created two very thoughtful and gorgeous design renderings for our home. This is truly where the magic happened and we were blown away with their ideas from materials, fabric, and reworking the functionality of our kitchen. They provided us with a detailed budget and a work schedule that stayed on track.  We have never had a project that went as smooth as this.  The attention to detail from small gadgets to proper tile placement, was 100% handled by Kim, Lauren, and Kelly.  Let's talk about the contractors they hired for our project, every single one of them who bid and completed a job was truly a professional.  Not one person didn't show up or came late and we would happily work with anyone of these trades again.  There is so much value in hiring this talented team, we look forward to doing it again when we re-do our master bath. Thank you ladies for bringing the love of what you do to our home. We have enjoyed the new space immensely."

Susan Holdrich

"We absolutely LOVE Design Lifestyles!! Shortly after moving into our brand-new house, we had some an idea of how we wanted it to look inside.  However, we soon found ourselves extremely overwhelmed by all the options at our local furniture stores, along with the thousand of ideas from social media sites. To add to our challenge, we have 3 young children that keep us very busy throughout the week. We really needed some professional help, so we contacted Design Lifestyles. After our initial meeting with Kim, we knew we wanted to work with her.  Throughout the entire process, Kim really listened to our desires and took detailed notes of our vision.  She also challenged us to think through the process since we had never hired a design firm before. Kim brought a tremendous amount of creativity and suggested amazing ideas/layouts/colors that we never thought of or imagined we would love. She and her team were very professional, kind, upfront with expectations and on top every single detail of our project. On our reveal day, we were blown away by how Kim had turned our house into a beautiful warm and inviting HOME.  There is no way we could have ever done this without Kim’s expertise, hard work and commitment to her clients.  Our words of gratitude do not adequately express the joy we feel each day living in our new home.

We highly recommend Design Lifestyles to help anyone looking for assistance with your interior design needs. She is amazingly talented at what she does and is truly a treasure to work with.  Looking forward to working with her again in the future!"

Jason H.

"We’ve hired Design Lifestyles for two rooms in our house now, and are very happy with both results. In each case, they were very receptive and responsive to our inputs and worked to be sure we got the design just right and to a place where we were comfortable with it. They also manage the procurement and install of furniture for one of our rooms and did an excellent job making that process easy and fun for us."

John Sturdivant

"We enlisted KBI's help for our project- remodeling 6 different rooms in our house: Formal living room/entry, family room, kitchen/laundry, dining room, hall bath, and office. We came into a house that needed a lot of help and now have a beautiful home that we're proud to call our own. They are have been extremely thoughtful, accommodating, and professional. They are definitely your advocates throughout the process and make themselves available if you ever have questions.

This was our first remodel project and they were very patient with us. We couldn't have asked for nicer people to work with. Their ENTIRE team has been great and you can trust they

Highly recommend Design Lifestyles if you're looking for a partner in designing a home that will suit YOUR style."

Crecia Magee
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