Universal Design

Discover how you can create a kitchen that's beautiful, accessible, and perfect for everyone in the family for years to come.

Anyone who has ever experienced back pain may find that a raised dishwasher minimizes bending for pain-free loading and unloading. And for a person who is less than 5 feet tall, a microwave placed at a lower height not only is easier to reach comfortably, but also is safer when heavy dishes are lifted in and out. For those who require seating - in a wheelchair or otherwise - a lowered countertop is ideal for everyday tasks, from chopping vegetables to baking cookies. These smart solutions and many others are applied through the principles of universal design.

Universal design is about products that are more comfortable to use and environments that make life easier for as many individuals as possible, regardless of age or ability. And it doesn't mean that you have to incorporate institutional-like add-ons. More and more products are being designed with integrated quality-of-life enhancements that provide both comfort and style.

Lowe’s and Ohio State University have teamed up to spread the word through a variety of projects. Their latest venture was a universal design kitchen exhibit displayed at the Farm Science Review, an annual trade show held at OSU and attended by thousands.

"We saw this as a great opportunity to engage the public and to demonstrate how incorporating universal design can make everyday living easier for everyone," says Melissa Birdsong, Lowe’s Vice President of Trend and Design.

Better accessibility, ease of use, and safety are important for anyone living in or visiting your home. And with varying family structures, such as households with multiple generations, baby boomers with changing needs and a desire for both style and comfort, and busy families with young children, designing universally is the way to go.

Enjoy your own personal tour of this kitchen below.


	A wide office area provides space for reading magazines or cookbooks, doing crafts or homework, and organizing bills and office supplies.	Family members who have trouble accessing higher shelves will appreciate this pull-down system. The lifting/lowering mechanism ensures stability.

Featuring comfortable nonslip handles that suit most hands, these innovative, universally designed tools simplify household tasks.	A blender with an easy-grip handle lets everybody make his or her favorite treat.	An under-counter microwave means little reaching is necessary to lift heavy dishes. It's also located at a lower height so everyone can use it.

D-shaped cabinet handles and drawer pulls provide an easy grip for just about any size hand and minimize pain for people with arthritis.	While making a sophisticated design statement, rocker-panel light switches are comfortable to operate.	Two refrigerated drawers on the island keep snacks and drinks accessible for everyone, including children.

Top 10 features of universal design

Universal design is not just for the kitchen - it's for every room in the house. Consider these elements for your next remodeling project.

The first floor needs an accessible bedroom, bath, kitchen, living area, and laundry room with 42-inch-wide hallways and a minimum of 32-inch-wide doorways. Swing-clear hinges can be installed on existing doors to widen openings.
Handrails should be installed on both sides of all exterior and interior stairways. For interior stairways, the banister should be installed in studs 1 1/2 inches from the wall.
A walk-in/roll-in shower is necessary in a first-floor bath. Important features include a handheld adjustable showerhead, portable bathtub seat or shower seat, and scald-control faucets.
Grab bars must be installed in shower/tub areas for safety. Walls near toilets and showers can be reinforced during construction or remodeling for installation of grab bars.
Accessible storage, such as adjustable- and multiple-height shelves, is needed for closets and kitchen cabinets.
Lighting features should include outlets and switches with dimmers located 18 to 48 inches from the floor. Task lighting is important for brightening workspaces; for example, under-cabinet lights increase visibility for countertop chores. Exterior walkways, porches, halls, and stairs also should be well lit.
Easy-grip controls are needed throughout the house. These include lever handles on doors and faucets, D-shaped pulls, rocker-panel light switches, and large touch-pad controls.
Work surfaces and appliances such as a front-loading washer and dryer, side-by-side refrigerator, elevated dishwasher, and electric range with front controls should be selected. Also choose large-print, color-contrasting controls.
Safe flooring features, including low or no thresholds (use a beveled strip for heights of 1/4 inch or more), nonslip and nonglare surfaces such as cork flooring, and low-pile carpets or rugs should be considered.
Safety devices, including smoke detectors, night-lights, temperature-limiting mixer valves (anti-scald devices), and carbon monoxide detectors are vital to any home.

Universal Design

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