A design for living

You don’t become a homeware giant like B&Q by resting on your laurels and last week, I saw what the store has planned for its elderly customers in its Easy Living range. And although what they offer is not revolutionary – nor cheap – it does show how major retailers are taking the issues of an ageing population seriously.

From a walk-in bath to a moveable cupboard, B&Q have thought of everything that you could want in the bathroom, lounge and kitchen and adapted it specifically for the elderly or disabled.

For a mainstream trader, it’s a risky move, not least because the floorspace in the showroom could be taken up with another equally-expensive, modern installation, targeted at the affluent 40-somethings building a luxurious family home.

However, it should be commended, simply because it highlights the need for specialist equipment for an increasing part of the population – and the fact that a trained fitter can do the installation for you takes away the burden of self-assembly.

Whether they sell or not is another matter, but it may lead other retailers to follow suit – and that can only be a good thing.