Designers Say You Should Skip These Design Choices If You’re Over 40 (And What To Do Instead)
I was looking around my living room recently and realized something funny. In my twenties I bought furniture strictly because it looked cool or it was what I could afford. Now that I am in my forties, my priorities have completely shifted. We work hard and our bodies absolutely deserve a soft place to land at the end of the day. Designers agree that hitting this milestone is the perfect time to upgrade our homes to actually support our new lifestyles. Here are a few design choices to skip, and what to do instead.
A Low Sofa
We all love the look of those deep minimalist sofas that sit way down low on the floor. But let’s be honest about how it feels to actually stand up from one. Hauling yourself out of a sinkhole after a long day of work is just unnecessary strain on your back and knees. Instead, look for a sofa with a slightly higher seat and firmer cushions. You will get the same cozy feeling with actual back and joint support.
Layered Rugs
Layering multiple small vintage rugs over each other looks beautifully bohemian in photos. But in reality, it creates a bumpy floor surface that is very easy to trip over when you are walking around in the dark. Plus they constantly slide out of place and drive you crazy. You are much better off investing in one large high quality area rug. Anchor it with a thick rug pad to give your feet a perfectly soft and safe surface to walk across.
Dim And Moody Decorative Lighting
Those trendy little table lamps that barely give off a soft amber glow are great for setting a mood. But as we get a bit older our eyes need better light to read a book or chop vegetables safely. You do not have to live in a bright sterile hospital room though. The trick is adding multiple layers of warm light. Mix good overhead fixtures with bright task lamps and put everything on easy to use dimmer switches.
Invisible Glass Coffee Tables
A sleek glass coffee table makes a small room feel very open. However they are basically just invisible bruise magnets for your shins. They also require constant wiping to remove every single fingerprint and water ring that ends up on them. Trading that glass for a soft upholstered ottoman or a beautifully rounded wooden table makes life so much easier. You can comfortably kick your feet up and never have to worry about shattering the glass with a heavy mug.
Stiff And Trendy Dining Chairs
We have all sat in those rigid metal or clear plastic dining chairs at a trendy restaurant. They look incredibly modern but they make your back ache after twenty minutes. Your dining room should be a place where friends want to linger over dessert and good conversation. Swap those hard seats for dining chairs with upholstered backs and supportive cushions. When your guests are actually comfortable, the dinner parties will happily last for hours.
Open Shelving Covering Every Single Wall
Open kitchen shelves are beautiful when they are perfectly styled. But maintaining that perfect look requires constant dusting and reorganizing. As we get busier we really do not need to add more stressful maintenance to our weekend chores. It is so much more relaxing to hide the mismatched coffee mugs and plastic containers behind solid cabinet doors. You can keep just one small open shelf for your absolute favorite pieces without displaying all your everyday clutter.
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Letting go of things that no longer serve us is actually a wonderful part of getting older. Our homes are meant to be our private sanctuaries away from the busy world. Designing a space around comfort and ease does not mean giving up on style at all. It just means choosing pieces that respect your time and your physical comfort. With a few easy swaps, your home will continue supporting you through your next stage of life.
Bliss Donahue-Power
