How Do You Incorporate Universal Design Principles?
There are many reasons to make your home more accessible. Perhaps you have a family member in a wheelchair, or elderly parents who visit frequently. Maybe you just want to make your home work for everyone. No matter the reason, architects no longer think in terms of barrier- free designs; instead, they employ universal design principles to make a house open and attractive for all ages and abilities. Have everything needed for living–bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and laundry–on the main level (without stairs) even if yours is a multistory house. At least one point of entry to the house should be usable without having to go up or down stairs. The door should be at least 32 inches (81 cm) wide, preferably 36 inches (91 cm), with a lever-style handle instead of a knob and a flat or beveled threshold no more than 1⁄2 inch (1.2 cm) tall. Build interior doors at least 32 inches (81 cm) wide with leverstyle handles instead of knobs. Pay attention to how lighting is installed throughout th
