Decorating Guides
Remodeling Guides
How to Create a Living Room for Aging in Place
Discover 8 ways to ensure your home will continue working for you in years to come
- Creating your dream living room means finding a balance between aesthetics and practicality, especially if you want to get the design right for both now and later life. But that doesn’t mean you need to compromise with overly sensible choices that don’t match your vision.
“Low furniture, sharp corners, poor lighting, trip hazards, poorly considered circulation, high storage and complex layouts can make living rooms difficult and unsuited to older people,” says architect and designer Thomas Mullally of Mullally Architecture and Design. But creating or updating a living room for different stages in life, or to accommodate older members of the household, can be done subtly, he says. See what Mullally and other pros on Houzz advise for a living room suited for aging in place that doesn’t sacrifice style.
2. Aim for Higher Seating
Seating is the heart of any living room and is an area to really focus on. “Higher and firmer seats and armrests really make a difference,” Mullally says.
Becky Storey of Storey Interiors highlights the importance of seating that’s easy to get in and out of, especially for those with mobility difficulties. Seating that’s too low can be problematic, she says. “Or seating that slopes down at the back, because it requires a lot more upper body strength to pull yourself up. The same goes for sofas that have really soft cushions or where the seat is very deep.”
For a lesser change than buying new chairs and sofas, Eva Byrne of houseology suggests that a standard seat height of 18 inches should accommodate yourself and all visitors, and “a raised cushion at your favorite spot will improve accessibility here if needed.”
Vatzeva also highlights the importance of good support for the back to keep it straight, along, potentially, with support for the feet to be lifted. But she also has a word of caution about electric recliners. “Personally, I don’t think they are in our favor,” she says. “They promote less movement and less activity … which can have a negative impact on body, mind and general health.”
It’s not all about sofas and armchairs — consider custom solutions too. Vatzeva suggests that a great spot for adding new seating is within a bay window or alcove. “These are good places to install seating at a suitable height,” she says. “They can be standalone pieces or built-in, and offer a wonderful way of combining the practical with the beautiful while being bespoke for one’s own needs.”
34 Home Design Trends That Will Define 2025
Seating is the heart of any living room and is an area to really focus on. “Higher and firmer seats and armrests really make a difference,” Mullally says.
Becky Storey of Storey Interiors highlights the importance of seating that’s easy to get in and out of, especially for those with mobility difficulties. Seating that’s too low can be problematic, she says. “Or seating that slopes down at the back, because it requires a lot more upper body strength to pull yourself up. The same goes for sofas that have really soft cushions or where the seat is very deep.”
For a lesser change than buying new chairs and sofas, Eva Byrne of houseology suggests that a standard seat height of 18 inches should accommodate yourself and all visitors, and “a raised cushion at your favorite spot will improve accessibility here if needed.”
Vatzeva also highlights the importance of good support for the back to keep it straight, along, potentially, with support for the feet to be lifted. But she also has a word of caution about electric recliners. “Personally, I don’t think they are in our favor,” she says. “They promote less movement and less activity … which can have a negative impact on body, mind and general health.”
It’s not all about sofas and armchairs — consider custom solutions too. Vatzeva suggests that a great spot for adding new seating is within a bay window or alcove. “These are good places to install seating at a suitable height,” she says. “They can be standalone pieces or built-in, and offer a wonderful way of combining the practical with the beautiful while being bespoke for one’s own needs.”
34 Home Design Trends That Will Define 2025
3. Cover With Texture
It’s not just about the height of your seating. “The material choice should be durable and easy to clean,” Mullally says.
Too-smooth surfaces may pose problems for older people. “Leather can be quite slippery for a person with lower core stability, because there’s not enough resistance on the fabric,” Storey says. Instead, look for textured fabrics that are still easy to clean.
Shop for living room furniture
It’s not just about the height of your seating. “The material choice should be durable and easy to clean,” Mullally says.
Too-smooth surfaces may pose problems for older people. “Leather can be quite slippery for a person with lower core stability, because there’s not enough resistance on the fabric,” Storey says. Instead, look for textured fabrics that are still easy to clean.
Shop for living room furniture
4. Have All You Need Close By
A table for glasses, a drink or book, or even a digital room thermostat or automated control station for windows and curtains — think about the things you like to have within reach and design around them. “Reduce the amount of times [you] have to get up to turn on a light or get the remote by having everything within reach,” Storey says.
Vatzeva suggests side tables are good alternative to potentially hard-to-reach coffee tables. “They leave plenty of space for circulation and provide somewhere to put your book and drink.”
This may be about more than furniture too. “You will need strong lighting for reading, so make sure you have sufficient sockets by your favorite seating areas,” Byrne says.
Mullally says, “Raising socket heights to reduce bending and placing them strategically to avoid trailing cables is essential for accessibility and safety.”
Existing outlets can be rewired and moved to sit higher on the wall, if it’s a renovation,” Vatzeva adds. “Or if homeowners are planning ahead, sockets can be installed at a higher level straight away, to make them easily accessible.”
8 Steps to Finding Your Design Style Using Ideabooks
A table for glasses, a drink or book, or even a digital room thermostat or automated control station for windows and curtains — think about the things you like to have within reach and design around them. “Reduce the amount of times [you] have to get up to turn on a light or get the remote by having everything within reach,” Storey says.
Vatzeva suggests side tables are good alternative to potentially hard-to-reach coffee tables. “They leave plenty of space for circulation and provide somewhere to put your book and drink.”
This may be about more than furniture too. “You will need strong lighting for reading, so make sure you have sufficient sockets by your favorite seating areas,” Byrne says.
Mullally says, “Raising socket heights to reduce bending and placing them strategically to avoid trailing cables is essential for accessibility and safety.”
Existing outlets can be rewired and moved to sit higher on the wall, if it’s a renovation,” Vatzeva adds. “Or if homeowners are planning ahead, sockets can be installed at a higher level straight away, to make them easily accessible.”
8 Steps to Finding Your Design Style Using Ideabooks
5. Position Rugs Carefully
“Uneven floors, changes in floor finishes, transition profiles, rugs and carpet are common trip hazards in living spaces,” Vatzeva says. “Again, my best advice would be to plan ahead. If you’re doing renovation works for a property where you’re planning to stay when you get older, ask your architect to provide leveled floor finishes throughout.”
She notes that some of the common transition profiles she sees being used between two different floor finishes — say carpet and wood — are one of the biggest trip issues she sees in dwellings. As such, she advises using recessed profiles.
“These are flush with the finishes on both sides and can be applied between any two different finishes, but you need to inform your architect and builder ahead of time, so they can plan for this,” she says.
Eva suggests a sensible precaution for rugs is to add non-slip underlay. It also makes sense to position them judiciously, so edges are out of the way.
10 Living Room Features Pros Always Recommend
“Uneven floors, changes in floor finishes, transition profiles, rugs and carpet are common trip hazards in living spaces,” Vatzeva says. “Again, my best advice would be to plan ahead. If you’re doing renovation works for a property where you’re planning to stay when you get older, ask your architect to provide leveled floor finishes throughout.”
She notes that some of the common transition profiles she sees being used between two different floor finishes — say carpet and wood — are one of the biggest trip issues she sees in dwellings. As such, she advises using recessed profiles.
“These are flush with the finishes on both sides and can be applied between any two different finishes, but you need to inform your architect and builder ahead of time, so they can plan for this,” she says.
Eva suggests a sensible precaution for rugs is to add non-slip underlay. It also makes sense to position them judiciously, so edges are out of the way.
10 Living Room Features Pros Always Recommend
6. Flatten Your Hearth
As a follow-on to rug safety, do also take hearths into account. “A raised hearth at a fireplace is a trip hazard, so remove this and fit one that’s flush with the floor,” Byrne suggests.
This doesn’t mean tiling needs to be removed, only that it should be buried deep enough to create a seamless transition to the floor.
How to Make Your Home More Comfortable and Inclusive
As a follow-on to rug safety, do also take hearths into account. “A raised hearth at a fireplace is a trip hazard, so remove this and fit one that’s flush with the floor,” Byrne suggests.
This doesn’t mean tiling needs to be removed, only that it should be buried deep enough to create a seamless transition to the floor.
How to Make Your Home More Comfortable and Inclusive
7. Widen Doorways
Even if wheelchairs and walking frames are not in the picture, a wider doorway will generally make for a more comfortable route in and out of your living room, our experts agree. So if you’re renovating extensively, consider resizing your doorways.
“If you decide to change their width later, that might require structural alterations, such as installing new lintels above the openings,” Vatzeva says. “I’ve worked with clients who requested to have wheelchair-suitable doorways from the very beginning. Both of them are enjoying excellent health in their 70s, but when we were designing their new-build home, they wanted to be prepared for any possible future.”
Where you’re unable to do this, Mullally suggests looking at alternatives, such as sliding pocket doors and threshold-free entries, both of which can improve accessibility without major structural changes. “It’s always best to check your designs against local building regulations, so you can tie both together,” he says.
8 Tips for Designing a Kitchen for Aging in Place
Even if wheelchairs and walking frames are not in the picture, a wider doorway will generally make for a more comfortable route in and out of your living room, our experts agree. So if you’re renovating extensively, consider resizing your doorways.
“If you decide to change their width later, that might require structural alterations, such as installing new lintels above the openings,” Vatzeva says. “I’ve worked with clients who requested to have wheelchair-suitable doorways from the very beginning. Both of them are enjoying excellent health in their 70s, but when we were designing their new-build home, they wanted to be prepared for any possible future.”
Where you’re unable to do this, Mullally suggests looking at alternatives, such as sliding pocket doors and threshold-free entries, both of which can improve accessibility without major structural changes. “It’s always best to check your designs against local building regulations, so you can tie both together,” he says.
8 Tips for Designing a Kitchen for Aging in Place
8. Enjoy It
Keep reminding yourself not to compromise on the style you love. A home should nurture. “Future-proofing living rooms for later life is important, but it doesn’t have to be off-the-shelf or standardized,” Mullally says. “By using the right designers and contractors for the task, you can create something to reflect both the needs and personalities of the end users.”
Tell us: Which aging-in-place ideas would you incorporate into your living room design? Let us know in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more decorating guides
Browse inspirational photos
Find a professional
Shop for your home
Keep reminding yourself not to compromise on the style you love. A home should nurture. “Future-proofing living rooms for later life is important, but it doesn’t have to be off-the-shelf or standardized,” Mullally says. “By using the right designers and contractors for the task, you can create something to reflect both the needs and personalities of the end users.”
Tell us: Which aging-in-place ideas would you incorporate into your living room design? Let us know in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more decorating guides
Browse inspirational photos
Find a professional
Shop for your home
Being able to circulate freely around your room is key for both safety and comfort, our experts agree. Circulation in architecture is the way we move through buildings. “Good circulation means wide, clear paths and logical flow between key areas, allowing easy movement,” Mullally says.
“With increasing age, mobility becomes more of an issue for most of us,” says Evelina Vatzeva of Carta Nova: Architecture & Beyond, who adds that a cluttered floor can be problematic. “As the living room is a space to relax in, it’s important to keep routes short and clutter-free with no furniture in the way.
“Access to windows and furniture such as bookshelves and the TV should be free of loose furniture,” she says. This isn’t to suggest you need a bigger living room in later life though. “One way of rethinking the design would be to [leave] more space [free],” Vatzeva says. “Space-saving furniture and fewer loose pieces, such as stools, small coffee tables and newspaper holders, would help to keep the floor area free of clutter and therefore avoid tripping and stumbling.”
Find an interior designer near you