What’s the most popular, most used room in your home? The kitchen. And while we all want a kitchen that is well put together and beautiful at the same time, more important is that it meets safety requirements for every member of the family.
As baby boomers age, remodeling no longer means modernizing the décor; in many cases it means upgrading rooms so that they can age in place, staying in their homes for as long as possible.
If you are upgrading your home’s kitchen, and want modern design along with lifelong functionality, the best place to start is at the bottom: your flooring.
As people age, their bodies begin to lose muscle tone, bone mass, and things like inflammation of the joints may occur. Balance can be thrown off even by ordinary tasks. Add in reduced vision or eyesight problems, and even the most subtle things that never impacted us before can turn into monumental problems.
One of the most popular flooring choices has always been tile. Ceramic tiles are beautiful and functional. Yet they are also made of clay and baked until they are very hard. The problem with hard flooring is it has no give, no absorption. This creates fatigue and discomfort for people with joint problems as they stand and prepare even the simplest of meals. And when fatigue sets in, risk sets in. All of a sudden there is higher risk for falls, and if you go down on a hard floor, risk of injury skyrockets as well.
A better option is something softer with more give and flexibility. And luckily there are many beautiful alternatives in every style and price range.
- Cork flooring
- Bamboo flooring
- Laminates
- Vinyls
These floorings all have some give or bounce, and will help alleviate some of the discomfort from prolonged standing or activities.
Another thing to keep in mind is the slip factor. Ceramic tiles can have potential slip hazards when liquid is spilled on the floor. By choosing other flooring products that have a bit of a texture to them, you can still have traction even if you miss or overlook the spill.
If you want to be friendly to the environment as well in your upgrade, cork, laminates and engineered flooring all have a green factor, as well as low maintenance requirements. If you’ve always used tiling because it was the “in” thing to do, stop by today and consider the main options you have with your kitchen flooring. In the long run, you’ll be happy with your choice, and feel good about it too.
For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.
Speak Your Mind