A Guide to Universal Design Kitchen Essentials

The concept of universal design kitchen is more than half a decade old. 

And now, because of its inclusive nature, it has gained popularity and has taken over as a trending design concept. 

Universal design isn’t just limited to products or commodities. Even the areas of your house can be designed universally, provided you follow the concerned principles.

And in this article, we shall learn about those principles and what goes into making universal design kitchens.

However, if you’re looking for something specific, here’s a list of explored subject in the article:

1. Theory of Universal Design 
2. What’s a Universal Design Kitchen? 
3. Why Opt for Universal Design Kitchens? 
4. Essentials for Universal Design Kitchens 

Theory of Universal Design 

It has been more than half a decade since the term “universal design” was coined. Although coined by Ronald Mace, the concept was truly pioneered by the work of Selwyn Goldsmith. 

Since its conception, the theory of universal design has been working its magic in making life easier for people of all ages and abilities. 

When the principles of universal design are applied to something—be it a product or even a part of your house—it makes it possible to be used by the greatest number of people, regardless of their limitations. 

What’s a Universal Design Kitchen?

Universal design is a broad concept that encompasses a lot of major sectors of our lives. 

When narrowed down to the kitchen, it simply means increasing the range of its accessibility. 

In other words, the intent behind universal design kitchens is to simplify the experience of every member of the household regardless of their age or abilities. 

They are planned according to the needs of elderly or disabled people. And that works to add quality to their lives. 

Why Opt for Universal Design Kitchens?

You might be impressed by the concept of a universal design kitchen. 

But that’s not enough to convince you to remodel it, right? 

So, for the sake of persuasion, here are a bunch of facts and figures in favor of universal design kitchens:

• The future is unpredictable. Your perfect health situation might not be so perfect in the future. And that sort of makes universal design kitchens a long-term investment. 
• The overall design is aesthetically pleasing. 
• They can also increase the resell value of your house. 

To expand a bit briefly this universal design kitchen concept is very attractive for older homeowners who might have declining health or certain disabilities, but it is not limited there. A lot of young couples and homeowners alike have incorporated this universal concept because they are preparing for the future.

Some have no choice once an accident happens and the owner is in a wheelchair or crutches, the stairs of a house become a next to impossible task to accomplish. Ramps are a modern solution that are now trending and appealing to new home owners and to home remodels. The key is to make ramps available to the entrance of a home in the most discrete manner that the ramp seems more of a decoration than a visual representation of a special disability entrance.

Essentials for Universal Design Kitchens

A lot of considerations must be made when it comes to designing a perfect universal kitchen. 

Everything from the floor plan of the kitchen to the appliances being used should align with the principles of universal design. 

Without further ado, let’s cover all the major aspects of a universal design kitchen. 

Floor Plan

Before we even begin discussing the interior of a kitchen, we’ve to first reach there safely—and that includes having an open floor plan. 

Open floor plans have lots of benefits.

For starters, it allows people with a limited range of mobility to easily access the kitchen. 

Open floor plan transforms your kitchen from a small cubicle to a large space. And having a large space would ensure fewer obstacles. 

Large space will also guarantee the accommodation of wheelchairs. 

In case an open floor plan is not feasible, the alternative is to decongest the kitchen’s pathway. That means no unnecessary doorways or objects on the route. 

Accessibility of Appliances 

The installation of kitchen appliances at the correct level will make them usable to the greatest extent. 

Now, the correct level is situational. Depending on your household, you should place the appliances where they can be easily accessed by everyone, including the disabled or old family members. 

For example, you can place the wall ovens side-by-side instead of one atop the other. 

Also, raising the dishwasher would help people suffering from arthritis or other joint-related issues to easily do the dishes. 

Furthermore, it’s not just about the placement of appliances. The appliances being used are also a factor in universal design kitchens. 

Just to give an example, replace the top or bottom freezers with French door refrigerators. Their sideway doors offer easier accessibility. 

Adequate Lighting

The whole point of adequate lighting is to assist in navigation.

Natural light is ideal for visually impaired people. So, universal design kitchens must have an opening for proper illumination via sunlight. 

But comfort is also a top priority in such kitchens. That means the lighting, whether natural or artificial, shouldn’t be too bright. 

And speaking of comfort, layered lighting is the perfect choice for that. Layers of lighting make it possible to illuminate different areas of the kitchen with varying intensity. 

In one corner, you can have bright lighting to aid in your meticulous cooking tasks. While on the other side, you have people waiting to get served in dim, mood lighting. 

Last but certainly not least, you can also install motion-sensing night lights on the path to the kitchen and inside the kitchen as well. 

Colors

Contrasting colors aid in-depth perception. 

The use of contrasting colors makes the object stand out and makes it the focal point. And it’s because of that you can use them to highlight the important parts of your kitchen. 

In short, contrasting colors act as visual aids and are great for visually handicapped individuals. 

Faucet Selection

Before opting for any fancy type of faucet, you should consider the ease of use. 

There are many different types of faucets in the market that provide good solutions for universal design kitchens. Single lever and electronic faucets fall in that category. 

Each type has its own set of pros and cons. 

A single lever can be easily turned on by people suffering from arthritis. 

An electronic or touchless faucet may appear to be an attractive alternative because it doesn’t even involve touching the faucet. 

But there are some environmental concerns regarding it. Sometimes, the sensors malfunction. They detect a movement even if you pass by them from a distance—resulting in wastage of water. 

One criterion to test the usability of a faucet is by opening it using your fist. If it turns on easily, that’s your faucet!

Varying Countertops and Islands

Countertops and kitchen islands with varying heights are essential to accommodate all kinds of users. 

The surface of counters must be accessible to everyone, from a young kid to a handicapped individual. This allows everyone in the household to have a separate workspace. 

Height adjustable countertops are a good alternative to having separate countertops of different sizes. 

Seating

Since a universal design kitchen includes countertops of varying heights, it makes sense to have height-adjustable seats in your kitchen that can facilitate people of every size and stature. 

Storage

No universal design kitchen is complete without easy access to storage compartments. 

Now, let’s see how we can achieve that. 

Cabinets 

Cabinets are used for storage purposes. But a good set of cabinets is much more than that. 

They should add to the overall beauty of the place and must be high performance. 

In a universal design kitchen, the accessibility of cabinets is crucial. 

Most of the things required in the kitchen are hidden away behind the doors of cabinets. If that’s not easily accessible by everyone, then what’s the point of it all? 

So, how do you make the cabinets accessible? 

• First things first, the cabinets shouldn’t be mounted way up on the wall. 
• It’s advisable to install cabinets that come with D-shaped pulls as they are easier to grab. 
• Cabinets with glass doors should be preferred as the transparency makes it easier to locate the needed items. 
• If possible, lights can also be installed in the cabinets to easily view the content at night. 

Pull-Out Shelves

Pull-out storage shelves can be easily accessed by everyone, abled and disabled alike. 

Placing the dishes on an above-the-counter shelf will restrict access. That makes pull-out shelves in a lower cabinet a convenient option to store dishes. 

Drawers 

Drawers in the kitchen island or within the cabinets should also be equipped with D-shaped pulls.

Large D-shaped pulls aren’t only easier to grab, but they can also be easily located by visually impaired people. 

Organizing all the necessary kitchen tools in pull-out drawers also adds to the overall accessibility of your kitchen.

Plus, it saves you some time and trouble as you won’t have to look through all the cabinets for a particular tool. 

Take Away

In the end, let’s clear one of the most common misconceptions revolving around universal design kitchens. 

Just because it’s universal and supposed to be easily accessed by elderlies or handicapped doesn’t mean it has to be minimalistic. 

There’s no need to tone down on the aesthetics. 

There are plenty of designs available of all the essential items that make up a universal design kitchen. 

However, if you fail to find one that complements the overall look of your house, you can always get one customized. 

It is particularly true for wooden stuff, like cabinets. 

From design to installation, you can trust us to serve you in the best way possible. 

To get your cabinets done according to universal design principles, contact us now!