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How to Create a Bedroom for Aging in Place
See how to design a stylish bedroom that will serve your needs now and in the future
If you’re designing a room you hope to stay in for many years, chances are you’ve thought about the need to make it work for later life. Or perhaps you want to create a sleep space or guest room that older relatives will feel comfortable in. But maybe thinking is as far as you’ve got, wondering if creating a space that suits older, perhaps frailer bodies will jar with your aesthetics or count out design ideas you love. This is why it can help to call in a professional who can get the balance just right. Here, three experts share 10 ways to design a stylish bedroom for aging in place.
2. Include Seating
While it’s important to create as much clear floor space as possible, seating can be useful. “Having a chair or bench in the bedroom is essential for those who may need [help with] balance and find themselves too far from the bed to rest,” Lecoufle-Vinet says. “It can also offer support when getting dressed or help keep clothes off the floor, reducing the risk of tripping.”
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While it’s important to create as much clear floor space as possible, seating can be useful. “Having a chair or bench in the bedroom is essential for those who may need [help with] balance and find themselves too far from the bed to rest,” Lecoufle-Vinet says. “It can also offer support when getting dressed or help keep clothes off the floor, reducing the risk of tripping.”
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3. Set Up a First-Floor Suite
Eva Byrne of Houseology and Jones agree that, if it’s at all feasible, a first-floor bedroom is ideal. Right now, this might just be about identifying a room currently used for something else and designing it with a view to a future change of use in mind.
“Explore where you might be able to put a bed downstairs in the future,” Byrne advises. “If the only option is the living room, make sure to remove all trip hazards, such as a raised hearth, and think through where you might be able to put clothes storage. Allow for a [36-inch]-wide doorway if you feel a wheelchair may be required in the future.”
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Eva Byrne of Houseology and Jones agree that, if it’s at all feasible, a first-floor bedroom is ideal. Right now, this might just be about identifying a room currently used for something else and designing it with a view to a future change of use in mind.
“Explore where you might be able to put a bed downstairs in the future,” Byrne advises. “If the only option is the living room, make sure to remove all trip hazards, such as a raised hearth, and think through where you might be able to put clothes storage. Allow for a [36-inch]-wide doorway if you feel a wheelchair may be required in the future.”
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
4. Open Up Your Closet
Closed clothes storage can be cumbersome, our experts agree. “Plan ahead for reduced arm and shoulder mobility in terms of your wardrobe,” Byrne says.
“Rather than dressers with drawers that, when full, can be heavy and burdensome to open, consider more open shelving, at low levels — chest-height and below,” Jones suggests. “This is much easier to access, particularly for those with arthritis or other dexterity issues.”
Byrne adds that it can also be helpful for those with reduced movement, or anyone at risk of falling, to include some half-height hanging rails as clothes on standard, full-height rails could be hard or even painful to reach.”
How to Organize Your Closet on Nearly Any Budget
Closed clothes storage can be cumbersome, our experts agree. “Plan ahead for reduced arm and shoulder mobility in terms of your wardrobe,” Byrne says.
“Rather than dressers with drawers that, when full, can be heavy and burdensome to open, consider more open shelving, at low levels — chest-height and below,” Jones suggests. “This is much easier to access, particularly for those with arthritis or other dexterity issues.”
Byrne adds that it can also be helpful for those with reduced movement, or anyone at risk of falling, to include some half-height hanging rails as clothes on standard, full-height rails could be hard or even painful to reach.”
How to Organize Your Closet on Nearly Any Budget
5. Consider Flooring Carefully
Rugs can add texture, interest and warmth to a bedroom, but they can be treacherous underfoot, especially for anyone unsteady of body or visually compromised.
“It’s important to note that rugs can be hazardous for the elderly,” Lecoufle-Vinet says. “If someone doesn’t lift their feet as much, they may stumble over rugs and fall. Choosing bare wooden floors or wall-to-wall carpeting can offer a safer alternative.”
Jones suggests that hard surfaces, particularly wood, can be ideal if mobility aides are used. “For those using a wheelchair or walker, carpet or rugs can be difficult to navigate, and carpets can create too much resistance for a wheelchair.”
Linoleum and cork will also provide a warm, soft, insulated floor that’s easier to navigate on wheels, but get expert advice and make sure your chosen flooring is suitable for your situation.
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Rugs can add texture, interest and warmth to a bedroom, but they can be treacherous underfoot, especially for anyone unsteady of body or visually compromised.
“It’s important to note that rugs can be hazardous for the elderly,” Lecoufle-Vinet says. “If someone doesn’t lift their feet as much, they may stumble over rugs and fall. Choosing bare wooden floors or wall-to-wall carpeting can offer a safer alternative.”
Jones suggests that hard surfaces, particularly wood, can be ideal if mobility aides are used. “For those using a wheelchair or walker, carpet or rugs can be difficult to navigate, and carpets can create too much resistance for a wheelchair.”
Linoleum and cork will also provide a warm, soft, insulated floor that’s easier to navigate on wheels, but get expert advice and make sure your chosen flooring is suitable for your situation.
Find a general contractor
6. Add an En Suite Bathroom
Installing a bathroom off the bedroom requires the necessary space, but designers are adept at coming up with ideas we might not have thought of.
“Add an en suite if possible to reduce the distance needed to access the toilet at night,” Byrne says. “An en suite will also leave the main bathroom free for a live-in carer, if one is needed.”
“An en suite with a walk-in shower is ideal,” Jones says.
The 10 Most Popular New Bedrooms So Far in 2025
Installing a bathroom off the bedroom requires the necessary space, but designers are adept at coming up with ideas we might not have thought of.
“Add an en suite if possible to reduce the distance needed to access the toilet at night,” Byrne says. “An en suite will also leave the main bathroom free for a live-in carer, if one is needed.”
“An en suite with a walk-in shower is ideal,” Jones says.
The 10 Most Popular New Bedrooms So Far in 2025
7. Create a Seating Nook
A discrete area of the bedroom designed for reading, browsing the internet or listening to a podcast is a detail that can be particularly helpful in a multigenerational or shared home, where it can underline one’s independence and provide privacy.
A caution from Jones: “While small seating areas to read a book or watch a show are great, I would advise against kitchenettes. Too much of this discourages movement and sometimes encourages others in the house to keep the elderly housed off in the bedroom. Any given member of the household needs to be as much a part of its life as anybody else living there.”
How to Create a Kitchen for Aging in Place
A discrete area of the bedroom designed for reading, browsing the internet or listening to a podcast is a detail that can be particularly helpful in a multigenerational or shared home, where it can underline one’s independence and provide privacy.
A caution from Jones: “While small seating areas to read a book or watch a show are great, I would advise against kitchenettes. Too much of this discourages movement and sometimes encourages others in the house to keep the elderly housed off in the bedroom. Any given member of the household needs to be as much a part of its life as anybody else living there.”
How to Create a Kitchen for Aging in Place
8. Pay Attention to Lighting
Thoughtful lighting can make a huge difference in how comfortable a room is for anyone, but particularly for those with poor eyesight.
“Good lighting is important to prevent people from tripping or bumping into furniture,” Lecoufle-Vinet says. Having options for different levels of lighting is also nice if a bedroom is being used for more than sleeping — perhaps, as already noted, for reading, listening to something or watching television.
Consider soft bedside lamps, stronger directional reading lights controlled from the bedside and good overhead lighting. If possible, have all the lights on dimmers. If you’re designing a new bedroom from scratch, professional help in planning your lighting will be invaluable.
How to Light Your Bedroom Right
Thoughtful lighting can make a huge difference in how comfortable a room is for anyone, but particularly for those with poor eyesight.
“Good lighting is important to prevent people from tripping or bumping into furniture,” Lecoufle-Vinet says. Having options for different levels of lighting is also nice if a bedroom is being used for more than sleeping — perhaps, as already noted, for reading, listening to something or watching television.
Consider soft bedside lamps, stronger directional reading lights controlled from the bedside and good overhead lighting. If possible, have all the lights on dimmers. If you’re designing a new bedroom from scratch, professional help in planning your lighting will be invaluable.
How to Light Your Bedroom Right
9. Go Big With Bedside Storage
Rather than having a tiny shelf or little table, consider boosting the storage space next to the bed. “Plan for a locker or table that can safely accommodate all the bedside essentials,” Byrne says.
The thought of yourself or a loved one being bed-bound may not have crossed your mind, but it’s a wise consideration when planning for the future. Even for those able to move around more, it makes sense to have as many things as possible within reach of the bed.
10 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Bedroom
Rather than having a tiny shelf or little table, consider boosting the storage space next to the bed. “Plan for a locker or table that can safely accommodate all the bedside essentials,” Byrne says.
The thought of yourself or a loved one being bed-bound may not have crossed your mind, but it’s a wise consideration when planning for the future. Even for those able to move around more, it makes sense to have as many things as possible within reach of the bed.
10 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Bedroom
10. Take Advantage of Tech
To help reduce the need to get up unnecessarily, consider smart controls. “Wherever possible, these bedrooms should have intelligent technologies to control the lights, temperature, television, even music — preferably voice-activated with simple commands,” Jones says.
It’s possible to get setups that can control anything from window coverings to lighting, music, TV and fireplaces. A lot of features, such as smart lightbulbs, may be retrofittable. Talk to an expert to see what your options are.
How to Create a Living Room for Aging in Place
To help reduce the need to get up unnecessarily, consider smart controls. “Wherever possible, these bedrooms should have intelligent technologies to control the lights, temperature, television, even music — preferably voice-activated with simple commands,” Jones says.
It’s possible to get setups that can control anything from window coverings to lighting, music, TV and fireplaces. A lot of features, such as smart lightbulbs, may be retrofittable. Talk to an expert to see what your options are.
How to Create a Living Room for Aging in Place
11. Choose a Bed Height That’s Comfortable
Finally, to the bed itself: Anything too low may be difficult to get up from, while something too high could be tricky to get into. “A standard bed height is probably best,” Byrne says, adding that typically, the mattress will be 18 inches off the ground.
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Finally, to the bed itself: Anything too low may be difficult to get up from, while something too high could be tricky to get into. “A standard bed height is probably best,” Byrne says, adding that typically, the mattress will be 18 inches off the ground.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about bedroom design
Browse bedroom photos
Find a pro near you
Shop for bedroom products
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How easy is it to move around in your bedroom right now? Is there more furniture in it than is needed? In other words, does the room have good flow?
“As people age, it’s important to declutter living spaces to ensure easy movement, whether using a wheelchair or not,” says Josephine Lecoufle-Vinet of JLV Design says. “Every piece of furniture can become an obstacle in daily life.”
Corrie Jones of Corrie Jones Architecture agrees, recommending there be “wider corridors” of space wherever possible.
Custom and built-in are key words in achieving this, where it’s possible. Professional spatial planning by an interior designer or architect can often help to magic up extra space that wasn’t immediately obvious. Judicious use of alcoves with something that fits perfectly can make sense, too.
If you worry about losing character, remember you can add it with artwork, interesting lighting and nice bedding. And wall-hung shelves can be a better display surface than a surplus dressing table top.
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