Universal Design Kitchen Ideas

Using universal design principles in your kitchen makes cooking easy for people of all ages and abilities.

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By: Kelley Rebori

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Photo By: J. Turnbow Photography

Photo By: E. L. Designs

Photo By: Columbuspics

Photo By: Wolf, Sub-Zero Group, Inc.

Photo By: Blum

Photo By: The National Kitchen And Bath Association

Photo By: Monogram Luxury Appliances

Photo By: E. L. Designs

Photo By: Christopher Watkins

Photo By: Kerrie Kelly

Photo By: Photography by Bob Narod for Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen and Bath

Universal Design Features for the Kitchen

Universal design-style kitchens go beyond the basic triangle layout and solve accessibility problems so that your kitchen is beautiful and functional for the whole family. If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, consider incorporating these universal design features to create a cooking space that works for everyone regardless of age or ability.

From: Urbanology Designs

Two-Tiered Kitchen Countertops

Countertops positioned at various heights make this kitchen by E. L. Designs easily usable for any chef. Plus, if you slide the bar chairs aside, you’ve got wheelchair-accessible dining or working space.

Learn More: 20 Design Tips for a Wheelchair Accessible Home

Flexible-Height Appliances

Lowered kitchen appliances are perfect for people in wheelchairs. Install a microwave-convection oven in a base cabinet and let it function like a second oven, giving everyone access to cook or bake.

Adjustable Countertops

Height-adjustable countertops can be raised or lowered to provide the ideal work surface for anyone in the household. Eliminating lower cabinets allows wheelchair users to easily access the work areas in the kitchen.

Induction Cooking

As a potential source of fires and burns, a kitchen’s range — whether gas or electric — can be dangerous. Replace it with an induction cooktop. Among the safest technologies for your kitchen, induction cooktops will only heat up when a pan comes in contact with the surface. So, if the stovetop is accidentally turned on, the surface will remain cool until you set a pan on it.

Learn More: The Pros and Cons of Induction Cooktops

A Pull of the Handle

Since it requires the most effort to open a door with a knob, choose handles for your cabinets. Then you can open a drawer by pulling it with a single finger.

Shop Our Picks: The Best Kitchen Cabinet Hardware Finds in Every Finish

Handleless Doors and Drawers

For a sleek and still universal kitchen design, bypass handles altogether. Instead, install a mechanical feature that lets doors and drawers be opened with a light touch, such as Blum's TIP-ON system.

Dishwasher Drawer

Simplify dish chores with drawer-style dishwashers. Installing them higher off the ground makes them easier to load than a traditional dishwasher. Plus, you can wash smaller loads, which saves energy.

Alternative Refrigerators

A full-size refrigerator can be difficult to maneuver at certain ages and stages of life. Installing a fridge either under the counter or — as shown here with a Monogram glass-door refrigerator — above the counter, makes it easier for people with mobility issues to access.

Accessible Kitchen Storage

Try special storage features, like the pullout shelves and lazy Susans seen in this kitchen by E. L. Designs, to make cupboard contents easier to reach.

Shop Our Picks: 30+ Best Kitchen Cabinet Organizers and Clever Storage Solutions

Layers of Light

When designing your universal design kitchen, use layers of light also known as ambient, task and decorative lighting. Not only does this blend make it easier to perform kitchen tasks, but it also allows everyone to adjust the lighting to their own needs.

Learn More: 3 Basic Types of Lighting

From: H2D Architecture and Design

Wide Aisles

Give yourself room to move, even if you’re using a walker or wheelchair, by making wide aisles between cabinets, islands and dining areas. Keeping the floor clear of rugs, as designer Kerrie Kelly did in this space, removes trip-and-fall hazards in addition to creating a clean and beautiful look.

Contrasting Edge

This stunning live-edge countertop also has a universal design purpose. The color contrast between the edge and the counter surface gives a visual cue where one surface ends and another begins.

Learn More: Natural Beauty: Live-Edge Furniture for Every Room