05 of 06 — Leading cause: rugs, cords, and clutter

Living Room & Hallways

These are the rooms lived in every day — which is exactly why hazards here go unnoticed. A rug that's been in the same spot for a decade stops looking like a hazard and starts looking like furniture.

The hazard

Area or throw rugs, especially at doorways

Loose rugs appear on nearly every national fall-prevention checklist as a leading tripping hazard — particularly where they sit at a change in flooring, like a room threshold.

The fix

Non-Slip Rug Underlay or Grippers

If a rug can't be fully secured on all sides and edges, it's safer to remove it.

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The hazard

Cords crossing a walking path

A lamp or extension cord stretched across a room is invisible until the moment a foot catches it — and it's one of the easiest hazards to create without noticing.

The fix

Cord Covers or Cable Raceways

Route cords along the baseboard instead of across open floor.

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The hazard

Furniture narrowing the walking path

Furniture that's accumulated or shifted over the years can quietly narrow the route through a room — easy to navigate from memory, harder when attention or balance is off.

The fix

Furniture Sliders

Makes it realistic to actually reposition heavy pieces and open up a clear, wide path.

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The hazard

Dim hallways with no switch at either end

Hallways connect the rooms used most — bedroom to bathroom, living room to kitchen — and a dark one shares the same risk as a dark staircase.

The fix

Motion-Activated Hallway Light Plug-Ins

Placed at both ends of the hall, they light the path automatically.

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