“Interior design for older residents should be inspirational enough to create aspirational living spaces” – Julie Ockerby
Julie says that downsizing is the perfect opportunity to design your ‘forever home’ exactly the way you want it. She offers these simple rules for downsizing perfection that can last a lifetime.
Only Keep The Things You Love
Downsizing provides the perfect opportunity to rid yourself of anything in your home that doesn’t fill your heart with joy. It may well be that you’ll need to buy smaller furniture pieces anyway, so consider this as an opportunity to sell of tired old pieces and replace with the pieces of furniture you’ve always wanted, especially now you don’t have to worry about pleasing anyone but yourself!
Don’t Be Afraid To Be Bold
When picking fabrics for any new furniture, throws, bedspreads, drapes or cushions, don’t be afraid to go bold with colours and textures, as this can help bring smaller spaces to life. To really future-proof your new abode, pick fabrics that are stain-resistant and with waterproof backing.
Height Matters
Make sure that any new furniture is at a height that suits you – your bed not too low or too high, while sofas and armchairs shout not be too low, for ease of access as you get a little older.
Give Yourself Space
To create a home you can live in for as long as possible, space is essential. This may seem counterintuitive when downsizing, but even though you’re probably losing two or even three bedrooms, make sure your rooms are not too small to allow good access around your bed, dining table, chairs and sofas. You’ll be especially thankful of this if you or your friends end up needing a walking stick.
Deck The Wall
One area you might need to edit a bit but don’t need to cull dramatically is your artwork. Create a dramatic feature wall by covering one wall with favourite pieces that combine art from several rooms.
Avoid Clutter
Clutter is the enemy of good interior design and easy living. Cluttered tables and shelves are harder to keep clean, easier to mess up or knock over, and can actually be confusing on the eye and thus the mind. You’ll appreciate and enjoy having just your favourite trinkets on display – even if you have to rotate them every now and again.
Don’t Slip Up
Use non-slip tiles wherever possible. Definitely in the bathroom, but also consider the kitchen and laundry, where spills can quickly become just as much of a hazard as a wet bathroom floor.
Light Up Your Life
Good lighting, especially in the often neglected areas like in the shower and dressing spaces in front of your wardrobes, can make a huge difference to the functionality, aesthetics and safety of these essential areas that are used daily.
Say No To Sharp Corners
This applies to all ages, so it’s an especially handy tip for when visiting grandchildren are toddling around.
Spoil Yourself
Finally, and this is my personal favourite, splash out a bit of the financial equity you free up when downsizing on an interior feature you’ve always dreamed of but could never quite afford – perhaps it’s a top-of-the-line steam oven, his and hers vanities or a stunning statement piece of art.
That last tip brings us to my personal crusade (as well as banning beige forever) – while I’m encouraging you to create your own dream interior, the more you cater for your family, the more they’ll come to visit. Have a games cupboard, put delicate objects up on shelves out of toddlers’ reach, use wipe-clean paint and make sure your WiFi is fast enough not to send visiting teens running for the hills (or nearest Hotspot). If you only have space for one screen, make sure you have headphones so kids can watch or play video games, whilst still allowing you conversation.