Inclusive design mistakes to avoid

These inclusive design mistakes can be avoided…

If thoughts of making your home more accessible fill you with gloom, you aren’t alone – but you are also wrong if you think stylish design and accessibility are incompatible.

Embracing the trend for adapting rather than moving, Stannah’s Inclusive Design Expert Amy Francis-Smith highlights mistakes to be avoided and explains why inclusive design can be aesthetically pleasing.

There are benefits to both physical health and mental well-being from making our homes more accessible.
 

5 inclusive design mistakes to avoid

Here are Amy Francis-Smith’s key points to remember when planning any remodelling. Mistakes at this stage cause extra expense and heartache later…

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1. Overlooking mobility between the floors in your home

When reconfiguring your layout or extending your property, most people focus on the floor plans – the new kitchen, open-plan living, an extra bedroom or an en-suite. But one of the biggest barriers in any home is often the stairs.

If you’re planning a major renovation, now is the time to think about how you might move between floors (safely) so you can continue to enjoy life upstairs and your whole home. Consider introducing a stairlift or home lift and for additional peace of mind, you could think about installing a downstairs toilet underneath the stairs.

2. Forgetting to blend practicality with style

Accessibility upgrades needn’t look clinical. One simple yet elegant fix I advise is installing a boiling water tap near your hob or prep area. This eliminates the need to carry heavy pans of water across the kitchen which can often be difficult for children, older adults or anyone with joint pain or balance issues.

Similarly, replacing your kettle with a boiling water dispenser can reduce spill risks and free up worktop space in the process. They have a good flow rate so be mindful to pay attention when in use.

Choose a brushed finish to match your cabinet handles or statement tapware so it becomes a focal point rather than simply a practical feature.

3. Widening doorways without considering turning space

If you, or a loved one, have a wheelchair, scooter, walking frame or any form of disability aid equipment, it’s worth widening doorways. However, sufficient space to turn or move around on either side is crucial. While this may seem obvious, it’s easily overlooked.

A wheelchair user might find they can get through the door but then can’t turn to close it. Worse still, they might need to reverse onto a landing because there’s no room to manoeuvre which could be dangerous if at the top of the stairs.

Allow a clear floor space of at least 1500mm diameter in key rooms and ideally 900mm clear width at a door. That small bit of clearance can drastically change how usable and dignified a space feels. At the very least, narrow doorways lead to sore elbows and scuffed door frames.

4. Wet room installation

Wet rooms are often recommended for accessibility and with good reason, but I commonly see three causes for concern. Firstly, controls placed too high and therefore out of reach. Secondly, lips or trays still in place – defeating the ‘step-free’ purpose – and, finally, nowhere safe to sit down while showering.

If a portable or fold-down chair feels too clinical, consider something more spa-inspired. Many high-end bathrooms now feature prefabricated tiled benches that look luxurious while offering much-needed comfort and safety.

Ensure the floor gradient falling towards the drain is between 1.25% to 2%. Any steeper and it’s a slip hazard – but any flatter means the water won’t drain effectively. Also, check the shower controls are reachable from a seated position without getting wet first!

5. Not preparing your walls for grab rails (until it’s too late)

Installing grab rails or shower seats can be transformative – but only if they stay in the wall. A common oversight is forgetting to reinforce walls where these fittings may be needed later.

If you’ve already tiled or painted your space, retrofitting rails can be messy. Worse yet, if you install them directly into plasterboard with standard fixings, they can rip out and cause an accident.

Add pattressing (a solid timber or 18mm plywood backing) into the wall structure during your renovation. It’s a small job upfront that means your fittings will be safe, secure and easy to install when needed.
 

Introduce inclusive design now, enjoy tomorrow

A major myth about inclusive design is that it’s beige, medical and ultra-functional. In fact, it can look fabulous too! There’s no need to compromise on style. Then you can enjoy mental health benefits, as well as physical – now and tomorrow. Your loved ones and future self will really appreciate it.
 

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Further reading and resources

Stannah is a world leader in lifting products, supplying stairlifts, passenger lifts, escalators and moving walkways, vertical platform lifts, goods, and service lifts. It is one of Britain’s leading engineering companies and remains an independent, family owned and run firm. The company’s experience of the lift industry is unsurpassed, originating in cargo lifts in the 1860s. In 1975, Stannah designed its first affordable, quick-to-install and easy-to-use stairlift and has since sold over one million stairlifts worldwide.

You can see more of Stannah’s stair solutions on their showcase page

Independent Living has more about stairs and access here

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