The largest generation to retire are baby boomers, standing at 74 million. It is safe to say they have altered just about everything on their way there. These changes are especially prominent in the Real Estate and design sectors.
The members of the boomer generation have a pretty good idea of what amenities and upgrades they want to see in their forever homes by now. What seems to be trending in relation to baby boomer improvements are modern conveniences focusing on luxury and comfort.
Open floor plans
This is a trend that is favorable across all generations, but baby boomers most certainly reap all the benefits of an open floor plan. There are endless possibilities to opening up your livable spaces such as entertaining to letting the grandkids run wild.
By connecting the living room and the kitchen, it creates a central hub for the home and allows for versatility and accessibility. Boomers can now move from one main living area to the next with ease.
Updated kitchens
Many baby boomers spend a lot of time in their kitchens hosting family and friends. Functionality becomes a huge factor when navigating the kitchen layout and cooking for a crowd.
The preferences that design experts have been noticing within this generation are open layouts, large windows, and countertops made of natural stone or quartz.
Flexibility in the kitchen amenities is also of great importance to the baby boomer lifestyle. This would include features such as lowered cabinets, hands-free faucets, and pull out pantry storage.
Spa-like bathrooms
As you reach a certain point in your life, your time spent in the bathroom becomes less of a chore and more so a time to relax and unwind.
Features that baby boomers prefer in their bathrooms are:
- free-standing tubs
- bidets
- enlarged showers with seating
- showerheads with rain pan and steam settings
As you can see in our Vincent project, we installed a walk-in shower in the master bathroom. This design is great for baby boomers because there is no step, ledge, glass, or door that would make it difficult to enter or exit.
Additionally, wet baths are gaining popularity due to the ease in which one can perform their daily hygiene routine.
The concept of a wet bath is that the tub, shower, toilet, and sink all share the same tiled space so all surfaces are able to be wet or damp. This is also a great option for those who have limited bathroom space to work with.
Smart house features
As people age, so do the upgrades and accessibility of our modern technology. Smart amenities provide a huge convenience factor for baby boomers when going about their everyday routines. Many smart features can even help to eliminate the need for in-home care in the future.
Some of these features include remote options to fill the bathroom tub and adjust temperature, security systems, automatic heating and air-conditioning, motion sensory lights and faucets, and even built-in pet feeding systems.
One of the most popular smart systems amongst baby boomers is a smart security system such as Nest.
Outdoor rooms
When you reach retirement age, it is very likely you will be drawn to the great outdoors to avoid being cooped up in the house all day. Outdoor spaces that are popular with baby boomers are patios, decks, lanais, courtyards, and porches.
The goal for these outdoor spaces is to expand the overall living area so the room may function like an interior space.
Additions that help to achieve this feel include outdoor kitchens, comfortable seating, and low maintenance landscaping. Features such as fire-pits and pools also help baby boomers to entertain and connect with their families.
Check out our project, The Grace, where we built an incredible outdoor oasis fitted with an outdoor kitchen and pool.