Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

Multi-level homes are more efficient when it comes to heating/cooling and conservation of building materials, but stairs aren’t friendly for those with mobility issues. If someone in your house has knee or hip pain, or plain can’t navigate stairs, then something like a residential elevator or a chair lift can be a necessity.

These tools, while pricey to install, allow you to stay in your home as long as you want (instead of being forced to move to a one-story house or an assisted living facility, just because your body doesn’t work as well as it used to). A chair lift usually doesn’t require as big of a renovation as an elevator, so it can be a smart choice.

The Easy Climber chair lift shown here can be installed on an existing staircase. Simply take a seat, press a button, and you’ll be transported up or down the stairs. This model features an aircraft-grade cable drive, so you shouldn’t need to worry about being dumped mid-trip.

Make sure to check out our remodeling articles section for more on accessible home improvements and universal design.