If you or a loved one have suddenly found themselves having difficulty moving about the house, it may be necessary to reexamine your household furniture to create larger walkways and more open space. Whether you are moving more slowly, using a cane, using a walker, or using a wheelchair, having enough space to move around freely is important.
The bedroom is often the best place to start. Here are some tips for choosing the right bedroom furnitures for your home.
Choose the right bed
Large and stately beds can make a master bedroom feel luxurious, but they aren’t really practical when you need to have more open space. Going with a modern minimalist design that gives you the same comfort while taking up less space overall is a good idea. These beds have frames with a slim line, and they often don’t have a headboard.
If you or your family member will be spending a lot of time in bed, an upholstered headboard can be tempting. You can find beds that lie somewhere in the middle, taking up little space but still having a comfortable place to rest your head.
You also want to make sure that the bed is of an appropriate height. Too high and it will be difficult to get into the bed. Too low and it will be difficult to rise. You should be able to plant your feet on the ground in a seated position with your hips in line with your knees.
Chest of drawers instead of a dresser
Most bed sets traditionally come with a dresser, with or without a mirror. But you don’t have to get the traditional pieces when you put together these bedroom furniture sets. A chest of drawers could be better for a small bedroom. The difference is that a dresser is squat and wide, while a chest of drawers is tall and narrow.
Nightstands
Bedroom sets usually come with a nightstand, and not all of them will meet your needs. If you use health tech like a CPAP machine or similar, you will need a nightstand that can accommodate these machines while still giving you space for the little things you keep by your bed. Getting a nightstand with multiple shelves, open space beneath a drawer, or a pull out drink tray can be very useful.
Add a bedroom bench
Although not part of the traditional bedroom set, a bedroom bench is a versatile piece of bedroom furniture that can usually be purchased to match your other bedroom furniture. Storage bedroom benches give you a place to store items out of the way to free up additional floor space.
Most importantly, someone with mobility issues isn’t likely to be able to dress themselves easily from the bed. If you are not able to stand to dress, a bedroom bench gives you a supportive place to sit comfortably. These benches are already designed to be the most comfortable height for both posture and rising.
It might take some browsing, but you can find bedroom sets that meet all of these needs. Shop the biggest furniture stores online for more ideas and solutions for the mobility challenged.
