6 Aging-in-Place Renovations That Are Actually Worth It, According to Pros

Home Decor Freelance Writer

Marisa is a freelance interior design writer and a long-time lover of interior design. She's written for publications like Chairish, Better Homes & Garden, and Elle Decor.

Published on 05/21/24

This story is a part of our Family Home Issue, where we dive into what the family home looks like today, plus how to make any living space work for you. To learn more about multigenerational living, preparing for a new arrival or buying a home with friends, check out our full issue here.

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Many of us have aspirations to stay in our homes as we age. One way to make that more feasible is to invest in aging-in-place renovations before they’re needed.

The term “aging-in-place” refers to renovations or upgrades that allow you to live in your home safely as you age. These upgrades range from expensive, large-scale remodeling projects to relatively low-cost quick fixes.

By gradually installing these upgrades before they're necessary, you can reduce costs and better prepare yourself to accommodate unexpected circumstances.

To help you decide where to start, we asked a panel of aging-in-place design specialists to share their top upgrades. From flooring swaps to fixture switch-outs, these are the renovations they recommend most to clients, allowing them to remain happy and safe in their homes well into their golden years.

Meet the Expert

Natalia Pierce, CMKBD, WELL AP, CLIPP, is the owner of Detail by Design.
Kyla MacGinnis, RN, BScN, MN, is the co-founder of BuildABLE Accessible Design & Renovations.
Sean MacGinnis is the co-founder and president of BuildABLE Accessible Design & Renovations.

Invest in a Curbless Shower

Aging in place white marble shower with accessibility seating

Instead of a tub, Kyla MacGinnis, an RN and co-founder of the design firm, BuildABLE Accessible Design & Renovations, is a fan of the curbless shower—or a shower with no barrier, which allows someone with limited mobility to get in and out easily.

"As we age, getting our legs up and over high tub walls while trying to balance on wet, slippy surfaces is where most falls happen," Kyla MacGinnis says. "By removing the tub altogether we can reduce that risk."

Sleek and modern-looking, curbless showers don’t scream “aging-in-place,” which makes them a great feature to factor into a bathroom renovation at any age.

It's worth noting that curbless showers require a sloped floor for proper draining. While a sloped floor is relatively easy to execute in a new build, renovating an existing structure can require more work, making it wise to plan and budget accordingly.

Pump Up Your Lighting

Bright white and navy kitchen with accessible island pendant lighting

When it comes to lighting, there is no such thing as too much, Natalia Pierce, designer and owner of the firm Detail by Design, says.

"Believe it or not, once we're over age 50, we require 50% more lighting," Pierce says.

While you can afford to be fairly lax with your lighting picks in your younger years, you’ll want to be more discerning when prepping for aging-in-place.

"While flat recessed pot lights are popular and inexpensive, they often don’t deliver the proper amount of light to a surface," Pierce explains. "They can lose 50% to 70% of their output by the time their light reaches a counter or tabletop.”

Alternatively, invest in LED bulbs or Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs. A 15-watt CFL or a 10-watt LED will give you the same light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb.

Fall-Proof Your Floors

Stair Landing with Rattan Bench and Non-Slip Flooring

Sean MacGinnis, president and co-founder of BuildABLE, explains how installing slip-resistant tile can make a major difference in preventing falls beyond the bathroom when they cover the entire house.

Engineered wood, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), cork, rubber, and linoleum are all smart options for aging-in-place flooring. Cork and rubber also have the added benefit of being soft, should a fall happen.

Sean MacGinnis, himself, is particularly fond of luxury vinyl.

"It performs well wet or dry and feels great on the feet," he says, noting that it performs especially well outside of a shower area.

Create High Color Contrast

Dining room with high contrast door trim

As you age, changes to your vision can make distinguishing different surfaces in your home difficult. Pierce recommends building high contrast between your different surfaces — walls, trim, floors—with paint.

To do this, locate a paint color’s Light Reflectance Value (or LRV) on the back of its paint chip, or find it online.

"You want the ideal amount of contrast between walls and the trim around doors and openings,” Pierce says. “Door trim should be 30-40 LRV points different than the surrounding wall color. Also, darker is better as it can be seen easier.”

Pierce recommends using a difference of 30-40 LRV points when building contrast between flooring colors and wall colors as well.

Overhaul Your Handles

Lever Style Chrome Faucet with Concrete Tile Backsplash

No matter what age you are, you’ve likely noticed that lever handles are easier to operate than knobs, requiring less effort and strength.

"If there are any mobility changes to your hands as you age, the twisting motion can be difficult," Sean MacGinnis says. "Whereas a lever is a simple push up or down motion."

In addition to lever faucets, touchless faucets are also an easy-to-use option. Sean MacGinnis also suggests adding an anti-scald lock to shower faucets.

"If water runs too hot, those with dexterity issues may find it difficult to operate a faucet handle quickly to cool it," he says. "Anti-scald locks prevent this."

Install Grab Bars

Aging in place bathroom with gab bars and standalone tub

Kyla MacGinnis encourages homeowners to opt for grab bars because they're the gold standard for added aging-in-place safety.

"Best of all, they now come in designer options," she says.

Look for designs in stylish brass finishes, oil-rubbed bronze, and more. You can also hunt down bars that look less like obviously like grab bars, Many brands now sell arced or wave-style bars that don't visually present as a safety aid, making them easier to incorporate into proactive aging-in-place renovations.

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