Home design trends

7 top home renovation ideas for retiring Houstonians to 'age in place'

Houston still has a youthful population in 2025, but none of us are getting younger. Older Houstonians who are nearing their retirement years may be contemplating making changes to help ease into the next phase of life. And Houston homeowners who are concerned about getting older in their current homes – but don't want to get caught up in the city's fluctuating real estate market – are finding solutions through home renovations that specifically accommodate for the future.

Interior design experts Houzz revealed that more than half of all homeowners undertook some type of home renovation in 2024, and the most sought-after upgrades centered around "aging in place," meaning renovations that addressed the future needs of owners as they live in their homes for as long as possible. Renovating could even serve as a financially preferable option for homeowners rather than downsizing or relocating to a retirement community.

For Houston homeowners who need inspiration to help plan their own home upgrades, Houzz has seven ideas for the best aging in place strategies.

Widening walkways and doorways
Having the necessary space to move around comfortably should be a top priority as a person ages. Open concept layouts have spacious features already incorporated into the home's design, but those who have differing home layouts will have a unique challenge to face.

Houzz recommends spacing out all furniture and fixtures to have wide clearances around them, and suggests widening all walkways and doorways in the house.

"Pros on Houzz recommend 36-inch doorway openings to provide easier access for mobility aids like walkers and wheelchairs," said senior editor Mitchell Parker. "In the kitchen, designers recommend at least 48 inches of clearance between countertops and an island to ensure a safe and accessible work zone."

Installing continuous and nonslip flooring
Tripping hazards are a major concern no matter how old someone is, and having a consistent flooring throughout the home drastically reduces any risk to both homeowners and visitors.

Installing non-slip flooring is crucial for bathrooms and kitchens where there is a heightened likelihood for slipping on wet surfaces. Choosing a classic pebble tile or a matte finish mosaic tile with multiple grout lines are key options for homeowners to improve bathroom floor traction, Houzz says.

For homes with steps leading up to the entrances, Houzz recommends installing a gently sloped ramp that allows for a smooth transition from outdoors to indoors.

Having the primary suite on the ground floor
Single-story homeowners need not fret about this tip, but Houstonians who own two-story houses should consider relocating the primary suite to be on the ground floor for ease of accessibility.

"It’s important to allow ample room to move comfortably around the bed and furnishings — and to accommodate medical equipment if needed," Parker said. "Pros on Houzz suggest thinking about how to provide fantastic views should one become bedridden, the ability for individuals to move themselves and the ability for others to be able to move them."

Installing curbless showers
Curbless showers are a great solution to avoid trip hazards, and it adds to the previous tip about continuous flooring. Those with limited mobility benefit significantly from having a "barrier-free" entry into the shower area, Houzz says.

Additionally, Houzz's 2024 bathroom trends report found that nearly 40 percent of all renovated bathrooms featured curbless showers, proving that it's a popular upgrade among homeowners.

Houzz aging in place report, bathroom Curbless showers and shower tile with multiple grout lines improve safety in the bathroom.Photo courtesy of Architecture By George/Avery Nicole Photography

Various bathroom upgrades
Houzz recommends several upgrades for improving safety in the bathroom, but specifically highlights installing grab bars, benches, and handheld sprayers in the shower area.

"Paired with a nearby handheld sprayer, [a bench] allows users to shower while seated with ease and independence," the report said. "It also provides greater functionality for caregivers assisting with bathing. For added convenience and safety, choose models mounted on a slide bar that doubles as a grab bar."

Grab bars would also be useful near the toilet, but the report warns that making these upgrades will require thorough planning to avoid any possible issues such as the bar ripping off the wall.

"Structural backing must be installed behind the wall to ensure the bar can safely support weight and pressure during use," the report said.

Having well-lit spaces and multiple lighting options
According to the report, having poor lighting in the house combined with diminished eyesight can increase the risk of accidents. Homeowners can help reduce their risk with solutions such as installing recessed ceiling lighting and pendant fixtures, as well as adding under-cabinet lights.

"Low-level lighting, such as LED strips installed in toekicks, is also a great addition — it softly lights pathways and helps prevent trips and falls during the night," Parker said.

Photo courtesy of Susan Clouse Interior Solutions/Michael Vaca, The3DPros

Having abundant lighting in the kitchen can prevent accidents, the report said.

Installing easy-grip levers and handles
As one ages, dexterity and grip strength may weaken, so Houzz suggests exchanging the small cabinet knobs commonly found in kitchens and bathrooms for something sturdier like cabinet pulls. Likewise, traditional faucet knobs should be replaced with faucets with lever handles.

home design houzz home design trends

party down

Design-focused Houston rentals company adds boutique hotel flair to events

Courtesy of Helm House

Furniture upholstery is fully customizable.

The season for end-of-summer parties is approaching. As Houstonians prepare to pack away their swimwear, white linens, and tiki torches, end of summer fêtes are ramping up. Trusted event planning company Planned With has recently launched its sister company — the custom event rentals outfit named Helm House — just in time to make a splash.

Unlike traditional event rental companies, Helm House focuses on design-forward pieces that are fully customizable — down to the upholstery. Each piece in their finely-curated collections can be reupholstered on-the-fly, should a client require something a little more jazzy. Browse fabric collections from Nuage Designs, trimmings from luxury design house Samuel & Sons, and fun options from Chasing Paper to get a truly one-of-a-kind look.

In order to offer truly unique designs, the team at Helm House regularly shops the antiques fair at Round Top for accessories and lighting. Fixtures and other pieces are available from artists like Ken Bizzell of KB Design. His handcrafted works made of recycled tire rubber and other materials are a constant standout in the Excess tents during the fall and spring shows.

“We don’t want to do it cookie-cutter,” says co-founder and director of design Hannah Goetz. “We want it to be very niche, special, and unique. Really one-of-a-kind pieces that you can’t find anywhere else.”

Helm House will paint, paper, or vinyl wrap just about anything in its inventory, even offering custom vinyl designs for tabletops. The design team, led by Goetz, has taken the guess work out of the selections process by finely-tuning preset collections, should clients want a one-and-done experience. Helm House is certainly the first events company in the Houston and Austin market to allow clients to shop by vibes.

“We have collections. So, on the website there are ten collections, and for each of them there is a lounge set up, bar set up, and a dining set up,” explains Goetz. “You can just go on the website and it’s configured and designed and can be added to a wishlist. It’s just easy premade items if you want something pre-designed or even just to get some ideas. But each collection has those three spaces that people can just shop for. If a client really wants to customize fabrics or any pieces for the bars or tables, pillows, or anything like that, then we can provide that for them.”

One of the things that clients appreciate is the ability to work with an in-house interior designer. That being said, there are no pieces in the collections that aren’t design-forward, but with the ability to fully-customize any aspect of the project, it’s easy to get a little lost along the way.

“It depends on the client, but we are a full design house, so we offer those services to clients,” says Goetz. “If they need help with the actual design of the event, then we will present the full design space and say exactly where things are supposed to go. Then we will actually help implement all of the furniture on-site at the event.”

All of this flexibility comes at a price, of course. Helm House typically has a $5,000 minimum per project. As seen in the photo above, a table for six rents for $350. Customers can add a custom vinyl topper for $100 and place settings from $40-60 per seat, meaning place settings for a table of six run from $240-360 per day.

While clients are more than welcome to use their own event planners, the Helm House team’s experience with their sister company gives them a leg-up on other event rentals companies. Traditionally, the rental company will send items to the venue with a single delivery driver with no knowledge of the project. However, Helm House insists on being on-site for the delivery and to have the ability to make any necessary minor adjustments.

“We’ve found that people aren’t usually on-site who are actually part of the rental company, and we want to make sure that everything is placed where it should be, but also just that we are taking that off of our client’s hands,” explains Goetz.

Founder and CEO Emily Rudelson (Full disclosure: Rudelson once worked for CultureMap) wants to provide a rental experience that allows clients to feel that their space offers something different — better sight lines, frames, fabrics, and place settings and linens that feel anything but temporary.

"We started Helm House because we felt there was a void in the market. We were constantly inspired by the incredible design in restaurants, hotels, and boutique spaces, but that same level of thoughtful furniture simply wasn't available for events,” explains Rudelson. “Helm House was built to change that: bringing hospitality-inspired design to the event industry through elevated, design-forward rentals that can also be customized. From fabrics and finishes to one-of-a-kind details, we want every client to have the opportunity to truly make it theirs.

“As the founder of Planned With, I also love that I now get to furnish our own events with pieces we truly believe in, while Helm House operates as its own independent rental company serving planners, designers, brands, venues, and clients across Texas. We believe rentals shouldn't feel rented; they should feel like they were designed specifically for your event.”

Courtesy of Helm House

Furniture upholstery is fully customizable.

home-design parties business