UNIVERSAL DESIGN AT HOME MAKES SENSE FOR THE SHORT, LONG TERM

It’s a special moment when homebuyers realize that they may have found their new home – the place where they might raise a family, welcome neighbors, family and friends, unwind after work, explore their hobbies, and enjoy their leisure years. That moment is not an accident, but rather the product of design – of the community, landscape, architecture, interior and even the products inside. How well the designers of these features envisioned and accommodated the prospective homeowners determines how welcome they feel on that first visit and for years to come.

Some of the most important features may initially go unnoticed. The absence of stairs to the front entry might seem minor until Great-Aunt Betty comes to visit, or when furniture and appliances need to be moved. That wider door and hallway are suddenly needed and appreciated. Levers on door latches might seem trivial until bags of groceries, or a sprained wrist, make a person’s grappling with door knobs a frustrating experience. Electrical outlets that are easy to reach without stooping are another user-friendly feature.

These are just a few examples of universal design concepts at work in a home. They may be only mildly appreciated for years. But at some point, they may make the difference between keeping the home of a lifetime and being forced to relocate to find such features in a different home.

This is the essence of universal design, an approach to considering the needs of homeowners of all ages and abilities, and making everyone feel equally welcome and able to stay in the home.

“Some of the most important features may initially go unnoticed. The absence of stairs to the front entry might seem minor until Great-Aunt Betty comes to visit, or when furniture and appliances need to be moved."

Universal design isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” approach. It’s a design strategy that enables homebuyers to choose homes with the flexibility to adapt as needs change over their lifetimes and to welcome visitors – whatever their age or abilities. It’s an approach that will enable the vast majority of homeowners to keep the home they love as they age.

They might be interested in having a ground-floor bedroom and bathroom. And the bathroom should have an ample doorway, glare-free lighting, and reinforcement behind the shower walls - ready to securely hold a grab bar wherever it might be needed someday. A non-slip floor that flows seamlessly into the shower and slopes down to the drain keeps water in its place, without the need for a threshold to step over. The shower might include space for a seat and a handheld shower head.

In the kitchen, cooks of any height can easily access a side-by-side refrigerator. A variety of counter heights accommodates differences. Under-cabinet lighting focuses on tasks without causing uncomfortable glare. Single-lever faucets in both the kitchen and bathroom make it easy to control water flow and temperature with one hand, or even a wrist or an elbow.

Nightlights along hallways and near stairs make getting around at night safer. Closets positioned directly on top of each other vertically on each floor could be converted into an elevator shaft.

The beauty of universal design is that it adds to the value of the home, not only for the current owner, but for future owners, too. Universal design helps assure all occupants that, regardless of their age or limitations, the house they love will continue to enhance their well-being in their own home.

Jim Mueller is a citizen member of the Fairfax County Building for All Committee