Designing your forever home means thinking beyond immediate needs and ensuring it remains functional as your lifestyle changes. One feature that can enhance all of these aspects is an elevator. Elevators are not just for older adults or people with mobility challenges—they provide practical benefits for homeowners of all ages and situations.
At AV Architects + Builders, we have over 23 years of experience designing homes that combine aesthetic elegance with functionality. We specialize in including custom features like elevators to custom homes, ensuring accessibility and convenience while maintaining timeless design.
In this article, we'll share five reasons why incorporating an elevator into your forever home is a smart choice. From making everyday tasks easier to future-proofing your home, you’ll discover how an elevator adds long-term comfort, convenience, and accessibility.
Here are five reasons why you should consider incorporating an elevator into your forever home design:
1. Access All Levels As You Age
As you grow older, living primarily on the main level becomes more appealing to minimize trips up and down the stairs. However, you may still want to access your upper or lower levels for various reasons, such as using a home office, enjoying a second-story view, or accessing storage. An elevator makes this possible, allowing you to move effortlessly between floors without the physical strain of stairs. This future-proofs your home, enabling you to live independently and comfortably for years to come.
2. Make Your Home Accessible to Aging Parents
If you have aging parents or relatives visiting, an elevator can ensure they can access every part of your home without difficulty. Whether the guest room is upstairs or downstairs, having an elevator makes your home more welcoming and accommodating for visitors with mobility challenges. This is especially important as family members age, as stairs can become increasingly difficult for them to navigate.
3. Support Family Members or Guests with Disabilities
Even if no one in your household currently has mobility issues, having an elevator can make your home accessible to friends or family members with disabilities, chronic pain, or other mobility challenges. An elevator ensures that everyone can move around your home with ease, making your space more inclusive and convenient for guests of all abilities. It’s a thoughtful addition that can also enhance your home’s overall value.
4. Move Heavy Items More Easily
Elevators aren’t just for people—they’re incredibly useful for moving items as well. If you travel often and find yourself hauling heavy luggage up and down stairs, an elevator can save you from the hassle. Similarly, you can use the elevator to transport laundry, cleaning supplies, or any other bulky items between floors without physical strain. It’s a practical solution that makes day-to-day life easier, especially in multi-level homes.
5. Temporary Mobility Limitations
Life is unpredictable, and injuries or surgeries can temporarily affect your mobility. If you or a family member experience an injury or illness that limits your ability to use stairs, an elevator can be a lifesaver. It allows you to maintain your routine and move comfortably within your home while recovering. Having an elevator ensures that temporary mobility challenges won’t hinder your ability to enjoy your home to the fullest.
How to Masterplan for an Elevator, Even If You Don’t Need It Today
While you may not need an elevator right now, it’s smart to plan for one while building your forever home. Retrofitting an elevator into an existing home can be costly and disruptive because it requires significant structural changes. By designing your home with an elevator in mind from the start, you can avoid these challenges down the road.
During the planning stages of your home, you can incorporate space for an elevator shaft in the design, even if you don’t install the elevator right away. This ensures that your home is structurally ready for an elevator in the future, saving you from major construction work later. Installing the elevator can be delayed until you are ready to use it regularly, but the shaft will be ready and waiting.
In fact, it’s advisable to wait on installing the elevator if you don’t anticipate frequent use right away, as elevators—like all technology—function best when used regularly. However, by masterplanning for the elevator now, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your home is ready for whatever the future may bring.
Planning your forever home is about more than just immediate needs—it’s about ensuring that your home adapts to your evolving lifestyle. Whether it’s making everyday tasks easier or preparing for future mobility changes, an elevator can be a valuable addition that adds comfort, convenience, and accessibility to your home.
Ready to find out how you can achieve your custom home design goals? Schedule a Discovery Call with us at AV Architects + Builders to discuss your project and find the best options for your lifestyle.
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