Despite what people think, there are many disadvantages to being tall, most of which arise in a domestic setting. The good news is that good home design can eliminate many of the problems that tall people face. This is particularly easy to factor into a new build, but minor modifications to your existing house can make a dwelling so much more comfortable for tall people.
One hundred years ago, average height of an American male was 2 inches smaller than it is now. House builders build houses for average people and provided you are not too far from this average, the regular house is perfectly functional for you. However I’m 6 foot 5 inches and notice many things in the regular house that does not suit my posture , height and build. Any body taller will notice more problems and to a degree that’s more severe. What I consider a minor inconvenience, a taller person could consider a factor that makes a house uninhabitable. Lets look room by room…
Kitchen — Worktops, sinks, faucets etc need to be an inch or two higher to eliminate stooping down for food preparation. Air extractor fans need to be higher, as do all light fittings, to prevent bashing ones head. Positioning handles on drawers, cabinet and fridge/freezer a little higher also helps. Much of this is only possible at build time, but with the assistance of a good architect can be designed into your house.
Bathroom — probably the worst room in the house for a tall guy. The shower head needs to be tall enough to allow you stand straight and still have a generous water spray hit your head. Not having to bend too far down to the shower controls is a nice-to-have. Some vendors stock extra long baths, a must for the tall person who likes to immerse their whole body, knees included in the water. The final problem in the bathroom is a mirror positioned too low on the wall. There’s nothing worse than bending at the knees to get a view of your face when shaving.
Bedroom — the major issue here is the bed and it’s length. Also the sleigh bed designs, with the vertical board on the end is one to avoid. Another tip here is to increase the height of your wardrobe hanging rails a little to avoid having your shirts hitting the bottom floor of the wardrobe.
Simple modifications can make a house more comfortable for a tall person, be it you, your loved one or your 6 foot 4 inch fourteen year old son. For more on how to modify your house and lots more on the