Create a timeless staircase for your home through these few interior design considerations. First of all, the best aging-in-place home option is one where everything is located on the main floor. While this is not always possible, there are some stair design options that can be incorporated into the home that will create a safer and more timeless staircase for everyone in the home.
I was blown away during the latest round of newly built home tours I attended last fall. I did not see a set of stairs that would qualify as an eternal set of stairs. From my observations, this is a contractor/builder cost savings or some weird trend where it’s fashionable to have a railing on only one side of the stairs. I also saw that the railing was often directly connected to the wall without any gap between them. My 72 year old mother was unable to go down the stairs in some of the houses on the house tours because they were not safe for her. She has an arthritic hip that limits her ability to go up and down stairs very quickly. She also had a hard time grasping some of the very western style handrails which were basically square pieces of finished wood attached directly to the wall. She had no way of holding on to the handrail. She also had to wait while other people went up and down because she needed to hold on to the only handrail. (Oh, did I mention that I am amazed and disappointed at how little respect our society has for our elders?) When considering the design of the handrail for placement in an eternal home, first and foremost, the stair must have a sturdy structure. resistant. handrails on both sides of the stairs. If possible, handrails should extend beyond the top and bottom of the stairs and be rounded at the ends. The handrail must be mounted between 34″ and 38″ above the steps.
As a person ages, balance can be affected and stair railings that have an inch and a half of space between the stair railing and the wall allow for an easier grip. Another consideration is to leave a clear space along the railing so that the person going up or down the stairs can hold on without having to dodge posts or anything. The steps should be uniform in height and length (climbing and running) so that the traveler does not miscalculate and fall. Recommended tread depth is 11″ and recommended riser height is 7″ from tread to tread. Stairs must have rounded or sloped edges that do not protrude more than an inch and a half from the step. A person with impaired balance and flexibility could trip on the ladder if it is extended further. Stair risers should not be open, as this creates a tripping problem.
Stairs should not have anything loose by way of finishing treatment. Stability and balance are better on harder surfaces, so consider hardwood or laminate flooring. Just don’t specify a high gloss finish because that could create a slip hazard.
One last consideration is that of lighting. The stairwell should have plenty of light and the ability to turn the light on and off from the top and bottom of the stairs.
Common sense and basic design guidelines can be combined to create a timeless staircase. More detailed design guidelines are available at: ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG). If you have any questions or comments, please let me know. Take care of yourself.
