There are many reasons to remodel your home to be more accessible, such as improving safety, making your daily routines easier, or simply planning ahead for aging in place. Accessible home modifications include far more than installing ramps or widening doorways. While these can be important aspects of making your home easier to navigate, accessible home design includes a wide variety of upgrades.
In this article, we’ll explore the most impactful universal design elements to consider during a remodel, from improved home layouts to smart home technology and more.
If you’re ready to learn how universal design can enhance your space, the team at James Barton Design-Build can help you plan a remodel that has everything you need. Schedule a consultation to learn more about the process of accessible home remodeling.
What is Universal Design in Housing?
Universal design is an approach to home remodeling that makes spaces easier, safer, and more intuitive to use. It’s more than just remodeling for mobility issues. It’s about making homes accessible regardless of age or abilities.
The core of universal design is incorporating accessible features into a project intentionally, rather than add them as an afterthought. During a remodel, this means blending accessible features into your plan during the design phase.
According to the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, the seven principles of accessible housing are:
- Equitable Use: Spaces should be usable by as many people as possible without extra modifications.
- Flexibility in Use: Designs should accommodate a wide range of preferences and abilities.
- Simple and Intuitive: Layouts and features should be easy to understand regardless of the user’s ability or experience.
- Perceptible Information: Designs should clearly communicate necessary information through sound, sight, or touch.
- Tolerance of Error: The design should minimize hazards to avoid accidents, such as using non-slip materials where appropriate.
- Low Physical Effort: Features should be usable with minimal strain or repetitive actions.
- Size and Space for Approach and Use: Designs should provide sufficient room to navigate regardless of the user.
By working with James Barton Design-Build, you have a team that understands not just the logistics of accessible design but also how to create aesthetic renovations that match your style. As Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) and Certified Active Adult Specialists in Housing (CAASH) since 1997, we bring a wealth of experience to your accessible home design project.
Universal Home Design Layouts
One of the first design considerations when planning an accessible remodel is the layout of your home. Your hallways, doorways, entryways, and room arrangements all play a role in accessibility. Here are a few design choices to think about:
- Widening doors and hallways to at least 34 to 36” makes it easier for people with mobility devices to navigate a home.
- Reconfiguring room locations, such as placing the primary bedroom on the main level, can reduce the need for using stairs.
- Reorienting doors, such as changing an inswing door to an outswing one, can increase usable floor space in smaller rooms.
- Designing wider transition spaces, such as adding more room in the entryway or between different areas, can make it easier to move from one space to another.
- Creating a flex room allows you to adapt your home as needs change in the future. For example, you may design an office that can transform easily into a bedroom.
Essential Universal Design Features to Use in Your Remodel
Reconfiguring your home layout is often the first step in making your home more accessible, but the features you include in each room are equally important. When designing rooms and picking out materials or fixtures, keep these considerations in mind:
- Slip-resistant flooring creates a safer environment, especially in the kitchen and bathroom.
- Multi-height counters and work surfaces make rooms more flexible.
- Grab bars may require reinforced walls. Even if you don’t currently need grab bars, you can plan ahead by creating reinforcements during your remodel.
- Smooth transitions between rooms and entryways will make your home easier to navigate.
- Correcting uneven floor heights will eliminate tripping hazards and reduce the need to step up or down between spaces.
- Incorporate lever-style handles instead of door knobs into your design for easier operation.
- In the bathroom, choose a comfort-height toilet, a wall-mounted sink, and a curbless shower.
- Choose flooring, countertops, and shelving that resist stains and spills to make everyday cleaning easier.
Smart Home Features to Consider
On top of thoughtful layouts and thoughtfully selected materials, technology can also make your home more accessible. Features like voice-controlled lighting, automated door locks, motorized window blinds, and touch-activated faucets can make your home easier to navigate independently.
Planning an Accessible Home Remodeling Project with James Barton Design-Build
A successful universal design remodel begins long before construction starts. Careful planning helps you evaluate your current space, identify potential barriers, and choose features that will meet your short-term and long-term needs.
James Barton Design-Build is your partner during the entire process, from coming up with ideas to selecting materials and overseeing construction to ensure your remodel meets both your style and your accessibility goals. With our team’s guidance and expertise, you can create a space that’s welcoming, functional, and comfortable for everyone who lives in or visits your home.
