Many homeowners shy away from accessibility upgrades, citing budgetary fears and the time it takes to complete a single project. While some accessibility upgrades can be costly and time-intensive, many others are affordable and can be completed within a short time of starting. Whether you’re looking for accessibility upgrades you can DIY or quick fixes your contractor can work on to improve your space, we have it all here for you. Below are the most important budget-friendly accessibility upgrades you must consider to make your home friendly for all.
Grab Bars and Railings
Installing grab bars and railings in strategic positions, in and around your home, can offer required support and stability as people walk around. If you have a staircase in front of your main door, add grab bars or railings on either side of the staircase to improve support and safety.
You can complete a DIY installation or have a contractor do it for you, depending on your preferences. Grab bars and railings are often available at affordable prices in local home improvement stores, so ensure you shop around for the best deal.
Bathroom Modifications
Bathrooms are among the most visited rooms in a home, and making them more accessible can make your home more friendly for every visitor you receive. While some bathroom modifications require homeowners to follow some laid accessibility standards, depending on the state and county where one resides, some are simple, quick fixes.
For instance, a bathroom modification in Denver, CO, requires homeowners to meet various accessibility standards, such as adjusting seat heights to accommodate seated users. However, you may not need to follow some laid-down standards for quicker modifications like adding non-slip mats or a shower chair. Most of these modifications are budget-friendly and can be completed within short notice, depending on how close your contractors are to your home.
Better Lighting
Sometimes, the solution to improving accessibility in your home lies in the lighting you have in and around your home. Well-designed lighting can boost accessibility by minimizing glare, improving visibility, and reducing accidents. Better lighting can also mean upgrading to energy-saving bulbs like LED lights that reduce energy bills while improving the quality of light around your space.
To improve light performance in your space, add motion sensor lights in key areas like bathrooms, hallways, and bedrooms. This will ensure better navigation around these areas at night.
Relocate Outlets and Switches
More often, lighting outlets are located low to the floor, and light switches much higher on the wall, making it a challenge to access from a wheelchair. Relocating these outlets and switches to accessible heights can help make them reachable for everyone in your home. In kitchens where outlets are often installed on the other side of countertops, you can have them relocated to the sides of your kitchen cabinets.
Let your switches and outlets be placed within reach of the bed in the bedroom. This can help supplement smart home technologies when there’s a problem with the lighting, temperature or curtain control apps.
Final Thoughts
Improving your home for accessibility doesn’t have to be a daunting, expensive endeavor. With the simple upgrades above, you can transform your home into an accessible haven quickly and at an affordable price. Ensure you’re consulting the right teams along your renovation journeys for the successful completion of each project you undertake.
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