Fall Prevention Tips for Interiors

Falls can happen at any age and for any number of reasons. Loss of balance can occur from trip hazards, unexpected changes in elevation and compromised depth perception. I happen to come from a long line of “fallers” that can (and will!) fall without warning or provocation. So in honor of Fall Prevention Month we are sharing designer tips to minimize the fall risks in your interiors.

ORGANIZATION

Keep yourself organized. We live an extremely fast-paced life. Many times we are running in the house only to turn around a few minutes later and head right back out. This does not leave a lot of time to make sure everything you just brought in the house with you finds its way to the appropriate place. Take the time to get yourself organized and make the commitment to stay organized.

family entry lockers home organization

TIP: Keep entryways and walkways clear of clutter. Create built-in storage opportunities to keep items off the floor and ensure everything has its place.

LIGHTING

A thoughtfully considered lighting plan is key to any well-designed interior.  With our constant connection to technology our eyes are working harder than ever! Layer the levels of lighting (ambient, task and accent) within your space to create the ideal ambiance throughout the day and night.  Check out our blog post A Well Lit Interior for more on layering your lighting and inspiring applications.

led lighting on stairs

TIP: Keep hallways and stairways well lit.  The use of indirect lighting provides an all over glow that helps reduce glare and shadows that can affect your depth perception.

FLOORING

Consistency in material and/or material thickness will be the most beneficial considerations for this selection. Every flooring type has its pros and cons. It really is about using the materials you prefer and working with your designer and installer to determine the best product and application for your situation.

wood to tile threshold types

A raised and a flush transition.

TIP: The use of a single flooring materials throughout an entire residence is not necessarily realistic making transitions necessary to bridge the gap between the different materials thicknesses. Flush transitions are definitely preferred to a raised transition and tend to be more easily achievable in new construction than in a remodel.

TIP: When selecting a carpet the pile should be under 1/2 inch and a firm pad should be specified. Area rugs should always be secured to the floor tightly around the entire perimeter.

TIP: No tile can be entirely slip-proof there are industry tests and standards that determine the slip resistance of tiles. Next time you are in the market for tile consider a slip-resistant tile.

FALL FACTS – FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

  • Falls are the second leading cause of accidental or unintentional injury deaths worldwide.
  • Each year an estimated 646,000 individuals die from falls globally.
  • Adults older than 65 years of age suffer the greatest number of fatal falls.
  • 37.3 million falls that are severe enough to require medical attention occur each year.

2017 Home Organization Projects

One of my big goals for this year is to have a place for everything and everything in its place! That means a lot of decluttering has been happening in my home. Organization is something everyone can benefit from whether your house is large or small! I’m focusing on a few key areas to help my home function better.

MUDROOM

My husband and I recently updated our laundry/mudroom by adding cabinetry above and between the washer and dryer. We also removed a small shallow closet to install high cabinets, hooks and shoe storage.

Though the space isn’t big, it functions so much better for us. We’ve been working on organizing the cabinet interiors that house cleaning supplies and bulk household items.

Take advantage of the storage opportunities on the insides of cabinet doors. Mountable baskets are perfect for storing items you need to quickly access. I grabbed a couple of these to store cleaning supplies and vacuum attachments.

Bins and baskets make it easy to grab scarfs, hats and gloves before heading out the door.

If space is at a minimum, this option is great hanging coats and bags and even has a few small bins and a shelf!

STORAGE ROOM

Our storage room has become one of those spaces where boxes get tossed in without even looking. It’s difficult to find things and hard to walk through!

We are busy going through our belongings and making toss/keep/donate piles. Once we know what we are keeping THEN we will buy the appropriate storage containers. I’m thinking we will do some clear bins so we can see what will be stored.

A label maker will come in handy for labeling bins and can help you organize the rest of house, too!

GARAGE

While it’s not the most glamorous of spaces, organizing our garage is the project I’m looking forward to the most. The plan is to install a large pegboard wall to store all of our tools and project supplies.

Storage walls take full advantage of the vertical space available. Everything is easily visible, accessible, and CLEAN.

Magnetic knife racks are great for holding drill bits, screw drivers and even paint brushes.

I’ve got my work cut out for me! What projects are you working on this year?

Get It Together!

It’s already August, which means “back to school” is right around the corner! Getting in a new routine and organizing our daily lives can be a struggle. Here are a few tips that can help simplify the day-to-day.

Productivity Apps

apps copy

Wunderlist is an app that stores all types of to-do lists. I love that it allows you to share your lists and work collaboratively with friends and family (i.e. my husband and I share a grocery list, when he buys an item and checks it off the list, I am notified). It has also been a great way to help us organize our kitchen renovation project. I love hearing the satisfying chime as I check off a task.

Google Calendars is a great way to stay organized. Because I enjoy hand writing everything I used to keep a physical planner. However, I recently converted to Google Calendars and I will never look back. In addition to notifying you of upcoming events and estimating the drive time based on current traffic conditions, it also allows you to invite and send the event to others.

Cozi is an app geared toward organization for the whole family, including chores, groceries, upcoming events, etc. Its features allow multiple family members to manage appointments and schedules with one account, as well as organize and update shopping and to-do lists.

Create a Drop Zone

Whether you enter your house through a mudroom, laundry room, back entry, foyer or straight into the kitchen, it’s imperative to have a “drop zone” to corral the clutter. A designated place for shoes, coats, backpacks, mail and keys will keep your belongings organized and looking good.

Control Paper Piles

Establish a system to deal with mail and the piles of paper your kids will surely come home with on a daily basis! I really liked how Young House Love handles their paperwork. They keep a basket in their office and put the papers from their child’s backpack into it daily.  Every two-weeks, or once it is full, they go through the papers and decide what to file, what to display on their bulletin board, and what to toss.

iHeart Organizing is another great source for ANYTHING & EVERYTHING dealing with organization. To organize her children’s school work, she keeps a file box for each kid with folders for K-12.  She attaches their school pictures to the front of each folder and is very selective about what she saves. Read more here!

Do you have any tips for staying organized?  Any apps that you have found successful?  We would love to hear your ideas!