Why should you refurnish your home during retirement?
Collaborative Post
Often a place where ywe’ve raised a family and created many fond memories over the years, our family homes are sacred. From the bricks and mortar to the furniture within it, we’re often very fond of our humble abodes.
However, once you’ve reached retirement age, what was once a modern family home may now be looking a little dated after years of use. This is precisely why retirement is the best time to get a clean start and refurnish your home to give it a new lease of life.
Retirement also allows you the time to visit furniture shops and really spend time on finding what you like, whereas while you were working there wasn’t necessarily always the time for it.
If you’re wondering where to start on the refurbs, we’ve put together our top list of things to renew during your golden years
Sofas
Often a place to kick back and relax with the family, sofas are the cornerstone of our living rooms. But did you know that if your sofas haven’t been changed for over a couple of decades, they should have been? So it’s definitely time to get a new one.
As a general rule of thumb, sofas should be changed every 7-15 years. If you’re not sure whether yours is nearing the end of its lifespan, some signs you could do with a new couch include telltale cracking noises, flat cushions and lumbar support, an itchy fabric or it just the fact that it now looks tattered and scruffy.
Mattresses
Did you know that mattresses can hold even more bacteria than your toilet seat? With humans shedding 15 million skin cells every night, this provides the perfect breeding ground for potentially harmful bacteria.
To stop bacteria in their tracks, mattresses should be changed every 5-10 years to keep nasties at bay. And if that wasn’t enough, newer mattresses tend to be much more comfortable too!
Cabinetry
Cabinets don’t get strenuously used every day like a sofa or mattress and for this reason they can last decades. However, this doesn’t mean that they should! An old wardrobe or cabinet can outdate the home and get in the way.
Instead, look at replacing old wooden cabinets in the dining room with new fitted dining room furniture to store and display your finest crockery and china. It will not only look better but also be a much more practical use of space.
Carpets
Although brown patterned carpets may have been all the range 20 years ago – nowadays not so much.
Not only do carpets age over time, but they also become threadbare and unclean. That’s why you should replace your carpets every 5-15 years depending on use and whether the carpeted area is in a high-traffic part of the home.
Give the walls a lick of paint
If you haven’t picked up your paintbrush in a while, it may be time to do so.
The paint on your walls that once looked fresh as a daisy can begin to look grubby and faded over time. And the same goes for wallpaper.
If you can, make the most of the extra time on your hands and repaint your walls with a fresh new colour or wallpaper design.
Although it can be tempting to sit back and relax when you reach retirement age, it’s the perfect time to renovate your home. Whilst it may seem time-consuming, luckily there are some small things that can make a big difference. Whether that’s giving the walls a fresh lick of paint or replacing soft furnishings and old cabinets – you’ll have that new-home feeling in no time.
Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash
