Universal Design Tips

Top tips for a well-designed, usable house

Car Parking

Parking spaces should allow you the room to open your car door fully and move easily around the vehicle.
Pathways and Entrance

You should be able to easily and safely access the entrance to a home, whatever your situation.
Bedrooms

Bedrooms should support ease of movement around the bed.
Doors and Taps

Lever action door handles and taps are easier to operate than round door knobs.
Internal Doors

Keep them wide enough to facilitate comfortable movement.
Internal Stairways

Stairs should be wide, well-lit and designed with handrails to reduce the likelihood of injury.
Laundry

The laundry should be designed to support ease of movement and use of both appliances and storage space.
Light Switches and Powerpoints

If they’re placed at convenient heights and away from corners, they are easy to reach for all.
Windows

Controls should be at an easy-to-operate height and sills should allow easy viewing of the outdoor space from a seated or standing position.
Bathrooms

It’s best for the entry living level to have a toilet and shower that can be easily and independently used by all occupants and visitors.

Most Universal Design features add less than 1% of the total new build cost if included early in the design process.