Universal Home Design for Accessibility and Practicality
Sure, we all think we’ll have great knees and hips 20 years from now… I know I don’t like to consider the alternatives! However, the smartest folks are planning now to make sure their homes accommodate the challenges of aging or even the occasional injury or setback.
Universal Design is becoming a hot topic as we Baby Boomers age, and it’s principles don’t just benefit the aging: If you are carrying a full laundry basket or have a small child with you, or if you break a leg surfing or skiing, UD makes getting around safer and easier. Here are just six Universal Design ideas you may want to consider in your next remodel, if you are building a new home, or if you are shopping for a new one:
- Barrier-Free or “No Step” Entries – We’ve all seen homes with 30-foot plywood entry ramps and noticed how impractical (and unattractive) they look. Whether you’re thinking about your teenaged son on crutches due to a football injury or your aging grandfather on his hover round, a carefully designed home can have a fully accessible entry that doesn’t detract from its architectural style.
- “Chair-Height” Toilets – Ever felt like you were going to fall into someone’s toilet because it was so low? Imagine getting up and down with a bum knee and you’ll see a reason to opt for that taller toilet when remodeling the bath.
- Lever Door Handles – I love shutting off rooms to hide the clutter, but when my arms are full of laundry and supplies, traditional handles pose a challenge. Levers make it easier for everyone to open doors – from toddlers to arthritis-sufferers.
- Pocket Doors – I think every door should be a pocket door. Rooms look so much less visually cluttered, and you gain an amazing amount of wall and floor space. Plus, pocket doors are much easier for people who walk with walkers or need a wheelchair.
- Wider Doorways –Not only do wider doorways benefit the wheelchair-bound as much as the laundry-basket-toting mom, but they give homes an open feeling and a lot more “flow.” Anyone who’s ever tried to move a sofa from one room to another will appreciate this one!
- Pull-down and Pull-out Cabinet Systems – In every home I’ve ever had, there were cabinets that were just too high (or too low) to be used. They either stayed empty, or became repositories for rarely used clutter. Cabinet pull-downs and pull-outs make everything in your kitchen and bath more accessible!
Have you seen – or installed – any Universal Design improvements? How are they working for you?
Universal Design to Universal Appeal!
Yes, universal design is working its way into our homes. In fact, I might assert that parts arrived without our even noticing. Take as an example the trend to more open rooms, say the one room kitchen-dining-living room, or the larger bathrooms. Phew! The bathroom is the room in the house of greatest physical exertion; why has it been designed as a place for you to practice a contortionist routine for the circus? Laundry machines have moved up - literally; front loaders are raised to ease loading and unloading. I have a friend who moved into a home that was accessible designed by the previous owner; she loves it! It’s the easiest house she ever lived in. So yes, universal design is not your home looking like a hospital but rather like a trendy high-end home that’s gonna have higher resale value over a comparable home. Here’s another reason to go universal design: socially responsible. It’s just like being green except that its humans we’re talking about, not the planet. Boomers want to age in their homes - and they better. They will remain independent, secure, comfortable and joyful. The alternative is obsolete homes, premature moves into assisted living and an economic burden upon others in their peak earning years (not very sustainable). My name is Konrad Kaletsch and I am a consumer advocate for universal design. I want you to know those two words, a bit about what they mean, and to be able to get the info you need when you need it. One of the free services I provide is a website with an abundance of resources, http://www.universaldesignresource.com/. I am author of a soon to be released universal design manual - a throw-away guide book for someone who wants to make changes in their home. PS: to Contractors & Builders: while the building boom has slowed, start training yourself in universal design; go to NAHB and look up CAPS certification.