It seems obvious that we’d all like the places we live to be beautiful as well as practical, but it often feels like it has to be one or the other.

That’s especially true when it comes to installing mobility equipment in the home – if you want your independence, then you’ll have to forget about how it looks.

But interior designer Ayisha Onuorah is aiming to change that. “Design should never be about choosing between form and function,” she said. “When we design mobility aids that people actually want to showcase rather than hide, we’re not just changing interiors, we’re changing lives and empowering people to age gracefully in the homes they love.”

It’s a mission that has led her to partner with occupational therapist Kate Sheehan and homelift specialists Uplifts to create fabric designs that transform homelifts from purely functional equipment into objects that enhance rather than detract from interior spaces (see picture).

Ayisha isn’t alone in this field. Performance car brand Porsche has launched a grab rail that echoes the sleek design of its cars, and brands like Trust Care, byACRE, and Rollz are producing stylish rollators that put an emphasis on looks as much as practicality.

Unlike traditional mobility aids, they’re the sort of kit you’d be inclined to show off, rather than hide.

“We’re creating spaces that work for real life,” Onuorah said. “And increasingly, real life means homes that can adapt as we age, without forcing us to choose between staying put and living in a space that feels like ours.”

Her collaborator Kate Sheehan added: “We’re challenging the outdated notion that accessibility means compromise. Mobility aids and adaptations are changing; they can be both functional and beautiful, fitting seamlessly into any home’s aesthetic. People shouldn’t have to exile themselves to the ground floor or hide their mobility aids in shame.”

It certainly seems like a positive way forward, and as more manufacturers appreciate the benefit of visually attractive mobility equipment, it should also become more affordable. It will be interesting to see this area of design develop further.

If you’re involved in art, design, or in health services, please check out Weltch Media to see how they could help.