Practical pieces for daily household tasks

Steps with and without handles

A single platform step molded from plastic adds height to a threshold or closet floor. The two tier molded stepping stool reaches the back of high cupboards rather than the front ledge. A tall steel stool includes a solid handrail at the top, which gives the second hand something firm to grasp while the first hand works overhead. The choice depends on how high the shelf sits and how many steps the task requires.

Trays and surfaces that move

A lap table provides a flat work surface where a desk or wooden table cannot go. The hard plastic top holds a notepad or a plate, with a ridged rim to catch small items and a built in cup holder. Beneath the top, a soft beanbag cushion covered in polyester settles across a lap on a couch or an armchair. It moves from room to room as the afternoon light shifts across the house.

Tools that stay in reach

The aluminum walking stick folds out into a three legged seat when a long line or an open lawn offers no place to sit, standing on rubber tips when closed. In the bathroom, a long handled brush washes feet and holds a lotion applicator on the opposite end. An address and password book lays entries out in large black type so names and numbers stay legible on a desk without squinting.