It’s no secret that all of us age. And that’s okay! However as we get older, our properties ought to adapt to our altering wants if we would like the choice to stay in our properties as our bodily wants change.  One of the crucial essential areas of change to deal with is the kitchen, our central hub for every day duties. Whether or not you’re planning forward to your golden years, or simply trying to accommodate the wants of older relations, transforming your kitchen with accessibility in thoughts is a great funding.  

On this weblog, we’ll discover the important thing issues to think about for such a rework, in addition to design ideas for making a protected and accessible kitchen that enables you and yours to age in place! 

Why rework for accessibility?

Earlier than we dive into the reworking course of, it’s vital to grasp the importance of making an accessible kitchen. Growing old in place or residing independently in your house as you get older is a objective for many individuals. An accessible kitchen can play a pivotal function in attaining this goal for a number of causes: 

1. Security: The chance of accidents and accidents within the kitchen are already current however will increase as we age. An accessible kitchen minimizes hazards and supplies a safer surroundings. 

1. Independence: An accessible kitchen empowers householders to proceed making ready their meals, making independence and self-sufficiency a tangible idea. 

1. Consolation: Making the kitchen extra accessible ensures that it’s going to stay comfy and useful, permitting you to get pleasure from your property absolutely. 

Now, let’s discover some key components to think about to your rework. 

Common Design Rules 

Common design is an strategy to create areas and merchandise accessible to folks of all ages and skills. Incorporating this into your rework could make it extra adaptable. Listed below are some ideas to remember. 

• Large doorways/hallways: Be sure that doorways and paths resulting in the kitchen are vast sufficient to accommodate wheelchairs or walkers. 
• Low-threshold entries: Decrease or remove (if potential) any steps or thresholds at entry factors to the kitchen to forestall tripping or falling. 
• Adjustable counter tops: Think about counter tops that may be raised or lowered to accommodate numerous customers’ heights and desires. 
• Lever handles: Use lever-style door and tap handles, that are simpler to understand than conventional knobs and pulls. 
• Open shelving: This enables for simpler entry to kitchen objects and reduces the necessity to bend or attain. 
• Add a chair peak pull-out board subsequent to the oven for simple switch of a sizzling dish or to be used as a useful extra slicing/ work floor. 

Flooring and Lighting 

• Non-slip flooring: Select flooring supplies that present traction and are slip resistant to scale back the danger of slips and falls. Keep away from small rugs or mats that may turn out to be tripping hazards. 
• Enough lighting: Be sure that the house is effectively lit, particularly in work areas. Job lighting is nice for illuminating particular work zones. 

Accessible Cupboards and Storage

• Pull-out cabinets: Putting in these in decrease cupboards makes it simpler to achieve pots, pans, and different objects, lowering the necessity to bend or stretch. 
• Lazy Susans: A lazy Susan in nook cupboards supplies easy accessibility to objects that may in any other case be difficult to achieve in deep cupboard recesses. 
• Accessible heights: Hold your often used objects at an accessible height, avoiding the necessity to use step stools or attain overhead. 

Home equipment and Fixtures 

• Aspect-by-side fridge: This sort of fridge permits simpler entry to each the freezer and fridge compartments, lowering reaching and bending. 
• Wall ovens: A wall oven positioned at a cushty peak eliminates the necessity to bend down, inflicting potential for burns or harm. 
• Induction cooktops: These are a protected choice as a result of they solely heatd the cookware, not the encircling floor. Additionally they often characteristic contact controls, which might be simpler for many who have points with dexterity. 
• Touchless taps: These taps are handy and hygienic, lowering the necessity to twist or flip handles. Additionally they don’t must be cleaned as often. 

Security Options 

• Anti-scald gadgets: These stop burns from sizzling water.  
• Hearth security: Be sure that smoke detectors and fireplace extinguishers are readily accessible within the kitchen. 
• Drawer/cupboard locks: If there are kids or grandchildren visiting, these things stop entry to probably dangerous objects. 

Seating and Workspaces 

Multi-height counter tops: Incorporate counter tops at various heights, together with a seated workspace for many who desire to take a seat whereas working. 

Ergonomic chairs: Select chairs that present ergonomic designs and correct lumbar help for consolation. 

Open ground plans: If potential, design the house with an open kitchen structure to permit for ease of motion and suppleness within the house. Whether or not or not a wheelchair or walker are at the moment in use, it’s sensible to plan for a future potential want. 

Seek the advice of with a Skilled 

Whereas these design ideas are a place to begin, it’s important to work with an expert designer or remodeler skilled in kitchen design. They will help you create a custom-made plan that takes your wants under consideration. 

Reworking your kitchen for accessibility is not only a sensible funding, however it is usually a step in direction of making certain your consolation, security, and independence as you age gracefully in place. By incorporating common design ideas, addressing flooring and lighting, optimizing your storage, deciding on the suitable home equipment, being acutely aware of security options, and creating comfy workspaces, you possibly can remodel your kitchen into an area that meets your evolving wants.  

With the suitable design and modifications, your kitchen can proceed to be the guts of your property for years to come back, permitting you to benefit from the familiarity and luxury of your house. Name Kitchen Magic at (866) 525-0012 to learn the way we will help you obtain a kitchen that may age with you!