Whether we are having difficulties walking about, if we are presently maneuvering in a wheelchair, or if we know it will soon become a reality, our bedroom should be easy to access. Bedrooms are essential, they have a soul of their own and have a tremendous impact on our wellbeing. We spend about 30% of our time in there, so why not make it easier to get to ? Literally and figuratively, the pathway to the bedroom should be clear and safe.

Doorway to Dreamland.

The bedroom door should be easy to go through. It is one of the main areas to start from when it comes to accessibility. Free of clutter. Clear of hazards. The opening of the doorway should be at least 30 inches wide. The door frame preferably a contrasting color to enhance vision. Sliding doors are a great convenience. They are tremendous space savers and are a breeze to operate. They can be pocket doors, tucked inside the wall itself, the best option. Or the barn door type. A great alternative when a larger scale renovation is not an option. Good viable options are now available on the market right here in Nova Scotia. Over the counter kits with rails and wheels to mount your existing doors or new ones you just picked.

A sliding door not only is much more navigable when passing through, but it is also a great addition when we go through periods of unsteadiness —and who would not feel unsteady when waking up in the middle of the night for a quick trip to the bathroom… Indeed, sliding doors do not force the body to perform that backward motion in order to leave the way for the actual door to swing by in a circular shift. And they do not become a hazard when the last person to go through forgot to actually pull it behind them… Did you ever have the painful experience of biting into the revolving door when going out of the room in the middle of the night ? Ouch.

Keeping a Clear Path.

By opening a way to the bedroom, from the door to the bed, we make our routine more manageable. No matter our condition. The area revolving around the bed should be open as well, needless to say. It is much preferable to not have any rugs or free carpeting around as to avoid any tripping hazard may the corner of the culprit gets curled up. This applies just as well for anyone using a wheelchair or a cane. Or simply when we tend to drag our feet for a better sense of grounding when we need to get our balance in check.

The path between the door and the bed greatly benefits from integrated accent flooring. We can inlay some design element inside a hardwood floor. Depending on our floor finishes, this is where a trusty can of paint becomes super handy. When playing with the colors of a hard surface like tiles, cement floors or whatever your house might have is not only fun but greatly adds to the functionality.

Carpeting is not particularly recommended in the bedroom, especially for wheelchair accessibility. But if we have been experiencing frequent falls at a certain point in our life, it does have the positive aspect to soften impacts and it should not be overlooked. There are many more options on the markets nowadays though, cork flooring, for one, being a great choice for shock absorbency and ease of maintenance.

Cozy Corner.

Where possible, having a bed actually cornered by two wall is a wonderful option, especially accessorized with grab bars on the laying side to facilitate the operation of getting in and out of bed. Safety first ! And comfort too. And the feel of being tucked by the wall gives a great sense of coziness and reinsurance, especially if we are prone to dizzy spells or fear from falling in our sleep during the night. Kind of in the same spirit as the bunk beds our sailors use for short hours of rest. A safe place to tuck in when the elements around are out of our control.

Our bedroom should feel like a nest to us. A place to enjoy and be soothed from the world around. A place to restore our body and soul.