Strategies for Entryways That Accommodate Older Homeowners

Despite often being the first thing owners experience when they come through the door, either into a foyer, landing, or a drop zone, entryways are too often neglected when it comes to accommodating aging occupants. While kitchens and bathrooms are popular areas for making things easier to reach and navigate, entries and hallways are equally important. By incorporating age-friendly features during a new build or renovation, homeowners can have entryways that support them throughout their lives.

According to home design and remodeling platform Houzz, some effective aging-in-place design strategies for drop-zones, front doors and landings, and hallways include using non-slip flooring, placing a full bathroom on the main floor off the entry, ensuring hallways are wide enough for easy movement, providing accessible and well-organized storage, and installing plenty of lighting, among other ideas.

“Hallways and landings are vital circulation spaces that ensure safe and comfortable movement throughout the home,” architect Thomas Mullally says. “As architects, we keep all of this in mind with our design process. As mobility may decrease with age, these areas need to be designed to minimize obstacles and hazards, promoting ease of use in daily life.”