Thinking of Retirement? Make the Most of It with Universal Design

Published: October 19, 2011
By: Christina Hoffmann
1Comment

When planning for retirement, remember your home is your castle. Make it work for you with universal design.

Universal design is all about features that make sense, no matter how old you are. Image: Korn Interior Design / Liliana Korn Custy, ASID, CAPS

The latest “Best Places” list from U.S. News and World Report, “The 10 Best Places to Retire in 2012,” is out and it lists some unexpected cities. Ithaca, New York?

But it also brought to mind another topic: universal design. Here at HouseLogic, we often refer to it as ageless design, a moniker we crowdsourced with you, our readers.

The term refers to common sense features you can include in your home — smooth floors with no uneven spots, walk-in showers, contrasting colors, and lots of light — that are helpful no matter what age you are.

Even better, universal design adds beauty and function. Take a spin through our new slideshow to see if you can spot the universal design features. We bet you’ll be surprised that the features aren’t nursing home-like. Let us know how you do on our picture challenge!

So if the list of Best Places to Retire has you planning a new retirement home — or if you’re thinking of staying put in your current home — we heartily suggest becoming more familiar with ageless design.

What do you think of universal design? Do the features appeal to you?

Christina Hoffmann

has been an editor in the real estate and housing field for two decades—most recently as content manager for HouseLogic. She’s given her 100-year-old frame home the attention it deserves: new kitchen, siding, HVAC, and windows and doors. She’s betting the roof is next.

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Hello Christina- I was very excited to see your article about Universal Design! I am an Occupational Therapist, Real Estate Salesperson (for Audrey Edelman/Realty USA.com), and contractor in Ithaca, NY. I returned to Ithaca because it is such a great area for aging and retirement. My company Empowerment by Design, www.ebd-ot.com, specializes in aging in place and universal design. The demand for our services is growing but I wish more folks would take advantage of the time they to plan a head to make changes in their home. Hopefully people will see, that when done correctly, a universally designed home can not only be accessible to all but also be aesthetically pleasing and a great way to improve the value of their home! I'd be happy to talk more with you about this topic if you have time! Thanks for the great article.
Posted by Scott on October 20, 2011

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