While you may be thinking about installing a stairlift in your home as you read this, so you may be surprised to discover in reality they have been around for centuries.
King Henry VIII injured himself in an accident which resulted in the first crude stairlift. The stairlift was compiled with a pulley system and his staff would pull him up and down the stairs so that he still had the freedom to move around his castle.
In the 1930s the stairlift became something that the public had access to, and now millions of homes have them installed. This means that now you can have the freedom of moving around your home too just like people have been doing for centuries.
Of course, before you rush out to install or rent a stairlift it may be useful to understand a bit about how they work. There are several different types of stairlifts, but the most common are straight or curved stairlifts. As you might guess, straight stairlifts are designed for stairs that go straight up and down and do not have any bends in them. On the other hand, curved stairlifts can be used on staircases that have a bend or turn in them. They are oftentimes used for spiral staircases as well.
Those who have straight staircases will find that they are a bit easier to work with. Straight stairlifts tend to be a lot cheaper since they do not have to be custom designed and in some cases can even be rented if you have been injured and expect to recover. On the other hand, if you are simply growing older you may find that buying a stairlift is a better option since you will be using it for a long period of time and it will probably save you a lot more money.
Regardless of whether you need a curved or a straight chairlift however you should be happy to hear that they tend to be very space efficient. Contrary to what you probably think, they do not take up a lot of room in your home, or even on the staircase, so that others can still access your stairs without any problems.
For those who live in homes with their spouse or other family members this could have been a deal breaker, but all modern stairlifts are now designed to be space conscious. You can find out more on the Amazon Stairlifts website to discover which stairlift will be the best for you.
