More Rooms
Renovating
How to Futureproof Your Bedroom
See how to design a stylish bedroom that’s fit for now, but also for the future
If you’re designing a room you hope to stay in for many years, chances are you’ve already thought about the need to make it fit for later life. Or perhaps you want to create a sleep space or guest room that older relatives will feel comfortable in.
But maybe thinking is as far as you’ve got, wondering if creating a space that suits older, perhaps frailer bodies will jar with your aesthetics or count out design ideas you love. This is why it can help to call in a professional who can get the balance just right. Here, three experts share their thoughts on how best to futureproof a stylish bedroom.
Professional advice from: Josephine Lecoufle-Vinet of JLV Design; Corrie Jones of Corrie Jones Architecture; Eva Byrne of houseology
More in this series: How to Futureproof Your Bathroom l How to Futureproof Your Living Room l How to Futureproof Your Kitchen
But maybe thinking is as far as you’ve got, wondering if creating a space that suits older, perhaps frailer bodies will jar with your aesthetics or count out design ideas you love. This is why it can help to call in a professional who can get the balance just right. Here, three experts share their thoughts on how best to futureproof a stylish bedroom.
Professional advice from: Josephine Lecoufle-Vinet of JLV Design; Corrie Jones of Corrie Jones Architecture; Eva Byrne of houseology
More in this series: How to Futureproof Your Bathroom l How to Futureproof Your Living Room l How to Futureproof Your Kitchen
Reserve a seat
While, as discussed, it’s important to create as much clear floor space as possible, seating can be useful. “Having a chair or bench in the bedroom is essential for those who may need [help with] balance and find themselves too far from the bed to rest,” Josephine says. “It can also offer support when getting dressed or help keep clothes off the floor, reducing the risk of tripping.”
Find and hire a local interior designer or architect through Houzz.
While, as discussed, it’s important to create as much clear floor space as possible, seating can be useful. “Having a chair or bench in the bedroom is essential for those who may need [help with] balance and find themselves too far from the bed to rest,” Josephine says. “It can also offer support when getting dressed or help keep clothes off the floor, reducing the risk of tripping.”
Find and hire a local interior designer or architect through Houzz.
Embrace entry level
Eva Byrne and Corrie agree that, if it’s at all feasible, a ground floor bedroom is ideal. Right now, this might just be about identifying a room currently used for something else and designing it with a view to a future change of use in mind.
“Explore where you might be able to put a bed downstairs in the future,” Eva advises. “If the only option is the living room, make sure to remove all trip hazards, such as a raised hearth, and think through where you might be able to put clothes storage. Allow for a 90cm-wide doorway if you feel a wheelchair may be required in the future.”
Eva Byrne and Corrie agree that, if it’s at all feasible, a ground floor bedroom is ideal. Right now, this might just be about identifying a room currently used for something else and designing it with a view to a future change of use in mind.
“Explore where you might be able to put a bed downstairs in the future,” Eva advises. “If the only option is the living room, make sure to remove all trip hazards, such as a raised hearth, and think through where you might be able to put clothes storage. Allow for a 90cm-wide doorway if you feel a wheelchair may be required in the future.”
Open wide
Closed clothes storage can be cumbersome, our experts agree. “Plan ahead for reduced arm and shoulder mobility in terms of your wardrobe,” Eva says.
“Rather than dressers with drawers that, when full, can be heavy and burdensome to open, consider more open shelving, at low levels – chest-height and below,” Corrie suggests. “This is much easier to access, particularly for those with arthritis or other dexterity issues.”
Eva adds that it can also be helpful for those with reduced movement, or anyone at risk of falling, to include some half-height hanging rails, “say 120cm above the base, as clothes on standard, full-height rails could be hard or even painful to reach”.
Closed clothes storage can be cumbersome, our experts agree. “Plan ahead for reduced arm and shoulder mobility in terms of your wardrobe,” Eva says.
“Rather than dressers with drawers that, when full, can be heavy and burdensome to open, consider more open shelving, at low levels – chest-height and below,” Corrie suggests. “This is much easier to access, particularly for those with arthritis or other dexterity issues.”
Eva adds that it can also be helpful for those with reduced movement, or anyone at risk of falling, to include some half-height hanging rails, “say 120cm above the base, as clothes on standard, full-height rails could be hard or even painful to reach”.
Consider flooring carefully
Rugs can add texture, interest and warmth to a bedroom – but can be treacherous underfoot, especially for anyone unsteady of body or visually compromised.
“It’s important to note that rugs can be hazardous for the elderly,” Josephine emphasises. “If someone doesn’t lift their feet as much, they may stumble over rugs and fall. Choosing bare wooden floors or wall-to-wall carpeting can offer a safer alternative.”
Corrie suggests that hard surfaces, particularly timber, can be ideal if mobility aides are used. “For those using a wheelchair or walker, carpet or rugs can be difficult to navigate, and carpets can create too much resistance for a wheelchair.”
Linoleum and cork will also provide a warm, soft, insulated floor that’s easier to navigate on wheels, but get expert advice and ensure your chosen flooring has been tried and tested for your particular situation.
Rugs can add texture, interest and warmth to a bedroom – but can be treacherous underfoot, especially for anyone unsteady of body or visually compromised.
“It’s important to note that rugs can be hazardous for the elderly,” Josephine emphasises. “If someone doesn’t lift their feet as much, they may stumble over rugs and fall. Choosing bare wooden floors or wall-to-wall carpeting can offer a safer alternative.”
Corrie suggests that hard surfaces, particularly timber, can be ideal if mobility aides are used. “For those using a wheelchair or walker, carpet or rugs can be difficult to navigate, and carpets can create too much resistance for a wheelchair.”
Linoleum and cork will also provide a warm, soft, insulated floor that’s easier to navigate on wheels, but get expert advice and ensure your chosen flooring has been tried and tested for your particular situation.
Add an en suite
Again, this requires the necessary space, but designers are adept at coming up with ideas we might not have thought of.
“Add an en suite if possible to reduce the distance needed to access the toilet at night,” Eva says. “An en suite will also leave the main bathroom free for a live-in carer, if one is needed.”
“An en suite with a walk-in shower is ideal,” Corrie adds.
Again, this requires the necessary space, but designers are adept at coming up with ideas we might not have thought of.
“Add an en suite if possible to reduce the distance needed to access the toilet at night,” Eva says. “An en suite will also leave the main bathroom free for a live-in carer, if one is needed.”
“An en suite with a walk-in shower is ideal,” Corrie adds.
Slot in a nook
A discrete area of the bedroom that’s designed for reading a newspaper, browsing the internet, or listening to the radio or a podcast – like this window seat – is a detail that can be particularly helpful in a multigenerational or shared home, where it can underline one’s independence and provide privacy.
A word of warning from Corrie, though: “While small seating areas to read a book or watch a show are great, I would advise against kitchenettes. Too much of this discourages movement and sometimes encourages others in the house to keep the elderly housed off in the bedroom. Any given member of the household needs to be as much a part of its life as anybody else living there.”
A discrete area of the bedroom that’s designed for reading a newspaper, browsing the internet, or listening to the radio or a podcast – like this window seat – is a detail that can be particularly helpful in a multigenerational or shared home, where it can underline one’s independence and provide privacy.
A word of warning from Corrie, though: “While small seating areas to read a book or watch a show are great, I would advise against kitchenettes. Too much of this discourages movement and sometimes encourages others in the house to keep the elderly housed off in the bedroom. Any given member of the household needs to be as much a part of its life as anybody else living there.”
Up the illumination
Thoughtful lighting can make a huge difference to how comfortable a room is for anyone, but particularly for those with poor eyesight.
“Good lighting is important to prevent people from tripping or bumping into furniture,” Josephine says. Having options for different levels of lighting is also nice if a bedroom is being used for more than just sleeping – perhaps, as already noted, for reading, listening to something or watching television.
This room has soft bedside lamps, stronger directional reading lights controlled from the bedside, and good overhead lighting. If possible, have all the lights on dimmers.
If you’re designing a new bedroom from scratch, professional help in planning your lighting will be invaluable.
More: What Happens When you Hire a Lighting Designer?
Thoughtful lighting can make a huge difference to how comfortable a room is for anyone, but particularly for those with poor eyesight.
“Good lighting is important to prevent people from tripping or bumping into furniture,” Josephine says. Having options for different levels of lighting is also nice if a bedroom is being used for more than just sleeping – perhaps, as already noted, for reading, listening to something or watching television.
This room has soft bedside lamps, stronger directional reading lights controlled from the bedside, and good overhead lighting. If possible, have all the lights on dimmers.
If you’re designing a new bedroom from scratch, professional help in planning your lighting will be invaluable.
More: What Happens When you Hire a Lighting Designer?
Rethink bedside storage
Rather than having a tiny shelf or little table, consider boosting the storage space next to the bed. “Plan for a locker or table that can safely accommodate all the bedside essentials,” Eva says.
The thought of yourself or a loved one being bed-bound may not have crossed your mind, but it’s a wise consideration when futureproofing. Even for those able to move around more, it makes sense to have as many things as possible within reach of the bed.
Rather than having a tiny shelf or little table, consider boosting the storage space next to the bed. “Plan for a locker or table that can safely accommodate all the bedside essentials,” Eva says.
The thought of yourself or a loved one being bed-bound may not have crossed your mind, but it’s a wise consideration when futureproofing. Even for those able to move around more, it makes sense to have as many things as possible within reach of the bed.
Take advantage of tech
To help reduce the need to get up unnecessarily, consider smart controls. “Wherever possible, these bedrooms should have intelligent technologies to control the lights, temperature, television, even music – preferably voice-activated with simple commands,” Corrie says.
It’s possible to get set-ups that can control anything from window dressings to lighting to TV and entertainment – you can even get remote control bioethanol fireplaces. A lot of features, such as smart lightbulbs for example, may be retrofittable. Talk to an expert to see what your options are.
To help reduce the need to get up unnecessarily, consider smart controls. “Wherever possible, these bedrooms should have intelligent technologies to control the lights, temperature, television, even music – preferably voice-activated with simple commands,” Corrie says.
It’s possible to get set-ups that can control anything from window dressings to lighting to TV and entertainment – you can even get remote control bioethanol fireplaces. A lot of features, such as smart lightbulbs for example, may be retrofittable. Talk to an expert to see what your options are.
Make low a no-go
Finally, to the bed itself: anything too low may be difficult to get up from, while something too high could be tricky to get into. “A standard bed height is probably best,” Eva says. “Typically, the mattress will be 45cm off the ground.”
Tell us…
Which of these ideas would you consider for your own home? Let us know in the Comments.
Finally, to the bed itself: anything too low may be difficult to get up from, while something too high could be tricky to get into. “A standard bed height is probably best,” Eva says. “Typically, the mattress will be 45cm off the ground.”
Tell us…
Which of these ideas would you consider for your own home? Let us know in the Comments.
How easy is it to move around your bedroom right now? Is there more furniture in it that might be necessary? In other words, does the room have good flow?
“As people age, it’s important to declutter living spaces to ensure easy movement, whether using a wheelchair or not,” Josephine Lecoufle-Vinet says. “Every piece of furniture can become an obstacle in daily life.”
Corrie Jones agrees, advising “wider corridors” of space wherever possible.
Bespoke and built-in are key words in achieving this, where it’s possible. This airy, midcentury-style bungalow bedroom, for instance, has a nicely accessible walk-in wardrobe – a smart way to free up floor space in the vicinity of the bed. Professional spatial planning by an interior designer or architect can often help to magic up extra space that wasn’t immediately obvious. Judicious use of alcoves with something that fits perfectly can make sense, too.
If you worry about losing character, remember you can add it with artwork, interesting lighting and nice bedding. And wall-hung shelves can be a better display surface than a surplus dressing table top.