Banisters that curve at either end provide a tactile clue to the stairways end, and a second banister on the opposite wall adds safety. Carpeted stairs are quieter and softer underfoot, and they help cushion a fall, but carpeting reduces the size of the steps, and this increases the likelihood of accidents. Also, textured or patterned carpets make it harder to distinguish between treads and risers. Safety experts recommend uncarpeted stairs with treads and risers finished in contrasting colors. Living Rooms and Bedrooms Most living rooms and bedrooms are stuck in a time warp.
People tend to buy furniture, arrange it, and then live with it forever.
But the needs of a family are hardly static. Adapting living rooms and bedrooms can be as simple as rearranging the furniture to provide a clear path through and around the room, and tacking down area rugs so they don t skid. Contrasting paint colors or finishes on doorjams, window frames, and baseboards provides a stylish way to make entrances, exits, and room perimeters more easily visible. Lighting should be generous and flexible, because as we age we need more light to accomplish the same job. This can be done simply by increasing or changing the types of light fixtures.