Home setup
Rearranging a room for a walker or wheelchair: paths, rugs and furniture
You don't need a new house. You need 36 inches of clear floor, no loose rugs, and a chair you can get out of.
By David Ellison
Senior mobility editor · Updated
The numbers that matter
Aim for a clear path of 36 inches wide through every room you use daily — 32 inches is the bare minimum for most walkers and chairs. A wheelchair needs a circle about 60 inches across to turn around, so leave one open spot like that in the living room and bedroom.
Rugs: lose them or tape them
Throw rugs catch walker legs and chair casters and account for a large share of falls at home. Remove them where you can. If a rug is staying, choose low-pile, tape every edge with double-sided rug tape, and never put one at the top or bottom of steps.
Walk the route test
- Walk from bed to bathroom at night with only nightlights on. Fix whatever you bump.
- Walk from the front door to your favorite chair carrying a bag on the walker.
- Check every cord crossing a path; reroute it along the wall.
- Look for low furniture corners at shin height — coffee tables are the usual culprit.
Chairs you can get out of
A good seat for someone with limited mobility is firm, with armrests that extend to the front edge, and a seat height where your knees are level with or slightly below your hips. Deep, soft sofas are where people get stuck. Furniture risers can lift a favorite chair or bed three to five inches.
Light and reach
Add lamps you can switch on from the doorway, or smart plugs you can control by voice. Keep the phone, remote, glasses and water on a single side table within arm's reach of your chair so you aren't getting up for small things.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor, physical therapist or occupational therapist about what's right for you.