Best Ways to Design Accessible Kitchens and Bathrooms for New Homes

Accessibility is a factor in house design that is being given more weight in the modern world, especially in rooms like the kitchen and bathroom. The need for accessible kitchens and bathrooms is increasing as our population becomes older and there is a greater need for inclusive places. These spaces should be made accessible to people of all abilities because they are necessary for everyday activities and personal care.

Imagine having a kitchen with an efficient layout that runs smoothly. Imagine a home where every resident has an area that accommodates their varying heights and ages. Accessibility in action! That’s what “Live-able” kitchen and bathroom design is all about, as we like to say!

Must-Have Designs for Kitchens and Bathrooms

It all comes down to using design strategies and adding goods that make life simpler and more pleasurable for everyone in your household when designing an accessible (also known as universal) kitchen or bathroom. Keep these wonderful suggestions in mind whether you’re planning a future kitchen makeover, bathroom renovation, or new house construction.

Effective Kitchen and Bathroom Lighting

New growing communities’ vision is to be more environmentally friendly. Our “must-have” list for accessible and universal interior design places sufficient lighting at the top. Luckily smart homes in the newest locations such as the smart city in Islamabad are energy efficient. Hence your home’s lighting should be adequate to promote safety and a comfortable working environment. Even for a new home.

If you hire a licensed interior designer, they will incorporate task lighting into your universal kitchen and bathroom design, positioning lights and fixtures in strategic locations to illuminate areas for daily tasks like food preparation, grooming, and label reading. All users, regardless of age or visual impairment, can feel safe and comfortable in illuminated workspaces.

Stylish Grab Bars for Safety in Bathrooms

The presence of grab bars is one of the essential components of an accessible restroom. With the assistance of a skilled interior designer, the term “grab bars” need not conjure up visions of sterile, hospital-like fittings for your house.

You have a large selection of fashionable and ornamental grab bars to pick from, so you can easily incorporate rails and bars that improve the aesthetic appeal of your bathroom without sacrificing safety. These inexpensive tools offer stability and support, preventing falls and mishaps. Grab bars can be included in a design invisibly by a professional designer, who will make sure they complement the room’s aesthetics while being highly practical.

User-Friendly Home Appliances

Accessible home appliances are a lesser-known but incredibly useful aspect of a universal kitchen design.

These days, many appliances have already been created with universal principles in mind, making them incredibly user-friendly for everyone! However, if you want to design a kitchen that is usable by individuals of all shapes and sizes, there are a few unique characteristics and components you should surely take into account when choosing your appliances. 

Additional “Livable” Room in the Kitchen

The user experience can be drastically changed by adding more room to your kitchen layout. For people needing crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair, navigating the kitchen becomes much easier by adding a few extra inches between countertop edges and the kitchen island or around the refrigerator and oven when doors are opened.

Some of the ideas can include the following.

• To ensure smooth accessibility for wheelchair users and to promote easy movement throughout the property, widen doorways to 32 inches. 
• By including drawers, shelves, and organizers in unexpected places, you can increase the amount of storage space available inside lower cabinets. 
• Make sinks and counters no higher than 34 inches off the ground. 

Accessible and safe Bathrooms

The main goal of designing an accessible restroom is to provide a welcoming and secure environment for everyone. You can design a bathroom oasis for your house by carefully merging the ensuing components without sacrificing appeal, elegance, or safety.

Increase the width of doorways to at least 32 inches and include a 5-foot turning radius to provide wheelchair users with enough space to move around without difficulty.

In an accessible restroom, raise the toilet seat to a height of 17 inches off the ground to make it easier for people in wheelchairs to transition.

Choosing a zero-entry shower with a bench, a crucial feature that removes the need to step over a curb and makes showering safe and simple for those with mobility issues is a beautiful and practical option.