Stair Lifts and Holiday Decorations: Is It a Good Idea?

Do you have a stairlift? During the holidays, use care to keep decorations and trims away from certain parts of your lift. There are some basic and fundamental practices recommended for the safest operation of your stairlift; keep these in mind when preparing and decorating for the season. Here is what you should know!  

With Christmas fast approaching, many may want to deck the halls and decorate their home. If you have a stairlift, this should not deter or hinder your plans but do keep some basic safety strategies in mind to maintain and protect mobility aids.  

When it comes to stairlifts and holiday decorations, is it a good idea? Here is what you need to know:  

Leave Lifts Be 

Instead of focusing on decorating a stairlift to make it congruent with your design scheme, keep it clear and undecorated. Stairlifts meld well with most interiors- decorating them is counterproductive and could actually prove hazardous to the user. The best rule of thumb is to leave stairlifts be.  

Choose Color 

Instead of decorative items, consider a holiday-themed color scheme instead. Choose colors that either make the lift almost disappear from sight- or consider pops of color that will distract and lead the eye around your space. Lifts are often white or beige- consider using bold blues, vibrant greens, and shimmering metallic shades throughout the room to decorate the space without clutter or hazards. The result can be a stylish room where guests don’t necessarily see the stairlift first.  

Distract with Décor  

If you are concerned that an unadorned stairlift during the holiday season is an eye-sore, try visually distracting guests and visitors with a busy design scheme that takes the attention away. For instance, try decorating the stairway wall leading up and down with photos, pictures, or décor that take the eye away from the lift itself. Another idea is to decorate the platform at the bottom or top with festive floral pieces that are aesthetically appealing, making sure they are not in the way of using or exiting the lift.  

Should You Decorate? 

So, the real question is: should you decorate at all? Naturally, you may want to put up some festive décor to welcome in the season. The best advice is to keep it simple and don’t worry too much about making the stairlift fit a seasonal theme. Instead focus on integrating the stairlift into your seasonal scheme with color, accents, or lighting- not so much on decorating the lift in and of itself.  

Stay safe and protect your investment with some prudent and practical suggestions for stairlifts during the holiday season. Some tips for the safe operation of your stairlift include these suggestions: 

• During the holidays and all year round, deter children from playing on or around your stairlift. Always supervise children when they are near to ensure safety. Remember that the stairlift is not a toy, but an important piece of mobility equipment. Ask your retail professional about lifts that come with a child-proof, child-safe feature.  
• Try to keep the seat folded in when not in use. This will curb crowding and reduce the risk of bumping into those using the stairs or steps where the lift is installed. It also provides more room on the stairs during festivities for those who use them, without interfering with your mobility equipment.  
• Are you familiar with your stairlift’s obstruction sensors? New lifts have censors installed that will stop the operation of the lift when they detect an obstacle or object in the way, like a toy or your pets. This can also alert you of any decorative holiday items that could be in the way of safe stairlift operation. 
• Speaking of pets, make sure that pets are well out of the way before operating your stairlift.  
• Make it a rule that you do not carry or drink liquids on or near the stairlift. A nasty liquid spill can be a recipe for disaster when it comes to your stairlift. If you are transporting liquids, use covered containers and take great care when doing so.  
• Avoid long, flowing clothing or oversized, loose-fitting apparel when using a stairlift. This opens the possibility of your garment becoming caught under the mechanics of your lift.  
• Do not use the lift for moving or transporting heavy pieces of furniture or objects. 
• A stairlift is designed to transport only one person at a time, so do not carry others- even small ones- when using the lift to ascend or descend the stairs. Be cognizant of the weight restrictions for your distinct lift and refer to the owner’s manual as needed.  

Got more questions related to a new stairlift? Talk to the team at Pacific Mobility today. We have been serving the needs of southern California for generations; come see us. Happy holidays!