The bedroom is one of the most essential spaces in a home. It should be a sanctuary where you come to rest and relax. This is why it’s so important to intentionally arrange and decorate your bedroom to create a space where you want to retreat and a place that offers you both safety and security. For senior adults, a functional bedroom means a space that’s easy to access and maneuver. As physical abilities change, the bedroom should be able to accommodate them and still allow for restful sleep. Keep reading for tips for arranging and furnishing a bedroom, particularly for aging adults or those with disabilities.
Focus on how it will be used throughout the day.
When you begin to redesign a bedroom space for anyone, the best way to begin is with a conversation about how the space is really being used throughout the day. Sure, a bedroom is mainly where we come to rest each night, but there are also times throughout the day where it plays an important role. Learn from your client or loved one how they currently use their bedroom space as well as how they would use it if it were fully functional for them. There may be current limitations preventing them from using the space how they desire, so you will want to uncover this information as well. What area of the room do they use to get dressed? Do they use the room for an afternoon nap or reading? How do they feel about the function and flow of their current bedroom layout? All of these answers will give you great guidance toward creating the perfect bedroom.
Create clear pathways.
Once you know how the room is being used, you want to map out clear pathways that allow for these activities to take place safely and easily. This means ensuring it’s an easy walk, clear of clutter, to get to and from the bed as well as the dresser, bathroom, or anywhere else in the room that’s used frequently. A smart idea is to create “zones” within a room that serve specific functions. There can be a sleeping zone, dressing zone, reading zone, and maybe an area for hobbies. Again, it all comes back to understanding how the person residing in the bedroom hopes to use it on a regular basis.
Make it easy to keep clean and organized.
As you create pathways and zones within a bedroom space, you’ll find it’s very important to have solutions in place that help to keep the room clean and organized. The bed should be simple, but comfortable. Limit the number or decorative pillows and blankets and focus on the items that are truly being used for sleeping. Clothing should be easily accessible so it’s not a daunting task to get dressed or place clothes in the laundry. And if there’s an area where you or your loved one rest and read throughout the day, make sure this space also has storage for books, blankets, and hobby items. The goal is to create a seamless process for taking care of the room, so it remains tidy and free of clutter. This creates a peaceful and safe space.
Personalize the space.
And finally, in an effort to create a bedroom that is free of clutter and easy to use, you don’t want to make it feel too sterile or void of items that make it feel like home. Think of who will be using the space. What is their favorite color? Is there a print or pattern they love or that reminds them of a good memory? Use these ideas to inspire the space. Hang photos on the wall rather than placing them on dressers to limit clutter, but still allow for décor that personalizes the space. The use of colors, prints, and photos are excellent ways to customize a space while keeping it simple and functional.
If you’re helping an aging loved one age gracefully in their home, it’s important to focus on creating spaces that accommodate their changing physical needs. The bedroom is one of the best places to start. We hope you found this advice useful!
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