Having already tackled the question of home improvements that millennials love, it’s time to take a look at your second-largest prospective-homebuyer cohort: baby boomers. Baby boomers are the largest age group to ever retire… there’s an estimated 74 million of them in the United States. There’s no denying that they have changed the face of real estate with their tastes and preferences. If you live in a neighborhood that trends towards retirees instead of young families, you should know these tips for home design that will make boomers swoon. In general, retiring Americans want a life that feels luxurious and comfortable, and want their new home to be an upgrade from where they were living previously. The following are some items on their wish list.
Open up the floor plan.
Obviously you can’t just go knocking down walls all pell-mell. But, keeping in mind that boomers love an open floor plan, you can take baby steps to make your space look more expansive. This is a generation that loves to entertain friends and neighbors and have plenty of space for the grandkids to run around. Creative use of “flex space” like an extra bedroom or a formal dining room might just be your answer. If you are willing and able to open up some walled-off space, creating a “great room” that combines a kitchen and living space is ideal.
Turn the bathroom into a haven of tranquility.
Boomers want luxury, or at least the feeling of it. This is seen keenly in their preference for bathroom fixtures - rain-pan shower heads, steam rooms, heated flooring and towel racks, toilets with built-in bidets, and other high-end bells and whistles. A big bathroom is ideal for safety reasons, which is a big concern with today’s seniors, but you can make the most of a small lavatory with some smart makeover elements. A tonier shower head, an investment faucet, and better lighting are all great choices for classing up your bathroom in the way boomers love.
Outdoor living space is a must.
Boomers really love bringing the great outdoors into their home. They go crazy for covered porches, screened patios, lanais, and landscaped courtyards. For seniors, these spaces are places to enjoy the fabulous Northern Virginian weather with friends and family, to eat outside on balmy evenings, and to enjoy the view of their gardens. Outdoor kitchens and fire pits are making a major shot up the list of wants as well. If you don’t have existing outdoor living space, start small with a paver patio and a small but pretty flower-box garden as the perimeter. Buy some comfy-looking outdoor furniture and cushions - or scout gently-used secondhand gems on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist - and really show off your yard’s potential.
