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8 Tips for Designing a Kitchen for Aging in Place
Discover the elements needed for a beautiful kitchen that functions fabulously for people of any age
Successfully planning a kitchen that will work beautifully for you and other family members well into later life comes down to a number of factors. Considerations include safety, functionality, ease of use — and sustainability, because you’ll be building something that will last.
“We are frequently considering how things will work in 20 years’ time and all that’s in between,” says designer Steve Root of Roots Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms. “That means thinking about how the homeowners’ needs might change, how lifestyles may develop, how things will wear and break and, thus, how they can be maintained.”
But that doesn’t means a kitchen without character. Because when form and function work hand in hand, you’re winning at design.
“We are frequently considering how things will work in 20 years’ time and all that’s in between,” says designer Steve Root of Roots Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms. “That means thinking about how the homeowners’ needs might change, how lifestyles may develop, how things will wear and break and, thus, how they can be maintained.”
But that doesn’t means a kitchen without character. Because when form and function work hand in hand, you’re winning at design.
2. Install Drawers
Similarly, gliding out a well-made drawer that shows its contents at a glance makes for easier work than delving around in a dark cupboard. Drawers are something the experts strongly recommend. “Drawers allow for easy access to the full depth of a storage space,” Root says.
Interior drawers, he says, ideally need to be at least 15 inches wide to be effective. “A little space is lost in the width to clear the door hinges,” he says.
Similarly, gliding out a well-made drawer that shows its contents at a glance makes for easier work than delving around in a dark cupboard. Drawers are something the experts strongly recommend. “Drawers allow for easy access to the full depth of a storage space,” Root says.
Interior drawers, he says, ideally need to be at least 15 inches wide to be effective. “A little space is lost in the width to clear the door hinges,” he says.
3. Rethink the Height of Appliances
While under-the-counter cabinets can be great for food and lighter items, such as glassware and day-to-day dishes, it may not be the best way to go for ovens, dishwashers, fridges and freezers.
With ovens, Payne recommends eye-level installation. “Having food at eye level is much easier to put in and take out than bending down into an oven beneath the counter and getting a face full of steam.”
Byrne says, “Put in an eye-level microwave too, and explore options for accessible dishwashers, such as a drawer dishwasher. If space allows, place your dishwasher on a raised base” as pictured here.
“The ideal for easy access to fridges and freezers would also be eye level if possible,” Root says. However, where it isn’t possible, under-counter units may have other benefits, depending on the space.
A recent “design had us selecting two under-counter fridges with a customer instead of one tall fridge,” Roots says. “The cold volume is slightly smaller, but the extra countertop made for a corner space that was also more accessible.”
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While under-the-counter cabinets can be great for food and lighter items, such as glassware and day-to-day dishes, it may not be the best way to go for ovens, dishwashers, fridges and freezers.
With ovens, Payne recommends eye-level installation. “Having food at eye level is much easier to put in and take out than bending down into an oven beneath the counter and getting a face full of steam.”
Byrne says, “Put in an eye-level microwave too, and explore options for accessible dishwashers, such as a drawer dishwasher. If space allows, place your dishwasher on a raised base” as pictured here.
“The ideal for easy access to fridges and freezers would also be eye level if possible,” Root says. However, where it isn’t possible, under-counter units may have other benefits, depending on the space.
A recent “design had us selecting two under-counter fridges with a customer instead of one tall fridge,” Roots says. “The cold volume is slightly smaller, but the extra countertop made for a corner space that was also more accessible.”
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And if you do opt for an under-counter fridge, choosing a design like this, with easier-to-access drawers rather than conventional shelves, may be helpful.
“Design is always a compromise,” Root says. “There’s only so much space available between waist and shoulder height, so we need to decide how much we have to use as countertop and how much becomes accessible storage or appliances. There isn’t a right or wrong answer — it’s always a discussion and weighing of options.”
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
“Design is always a compromise,” Root says. “There’s only so much space available between waist and shoulder height, so we need to decide how much we have to use as countertop and how much becomes accessible storage or appliances. There isn’t a right or wrong answer — it’s always a discussion and weighing of options.”
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
4. Consider Seating With Care
You might imagine that padded, comfy chairs are the aim when it comes to kitchen or dining table seating fit for later life, but these can often be heavy and therefore not ideal.
“Choose chairs for the table that are stable but light, so they’re easy to move,” Byrne says. “Include at least one chair with arms for times of seriously impaired balance — yes, you can fall off a chair.
“A round table will be easier to navigate at all stages of decreasing mobility,” she adds.
“If possible, avoid a banquette so as to give you the flexibility to change your table in time,” Payne says. “The table might become more used as a prep space as you get older, with it being lower than a traditional countertop height.”
You might imagine that padded, comfy chairs are the aim when it comes to kitchen or dining table seating fit for later life, but these can often be heavy and therefore not ideal.
“Choose chairs for the table that are stable but light, so they’re easy to move,” Byrne says. “Include at least one chair with arms for times of seriously impaired balance — yes, you can fall off a chair.
“A round table will be easier to navigate at all stages of decreasing mobility,” she adds.
“If possible, avoid a banquette so as to give you the flexibility to change your table in time,” Payne says. “The table might become more used as a prep space as you get older, with it being lower than a traditional countertop height.”
5. Tap Into Touch-Free Tech
Fingers may not be as nimble as they once were, and there’s a whole array of smart technology that can make day-to-day kitchen tasks easier.
“Using our fingers to operate touchscreens may become difficult, and internet-connected appliances are making voice control possible,” Root says. “Those connections are often built into the models people choose.”
Research models carefully and opt for such features, even if you may not use them in the immediate future. “It’s like a free accessibility bonus feature for your future self,” Root says.
Fingers may not be as nimble as they once were, and there’s a whole array of smart technology that can make day-to-day kitchen tasks easier.
“Using our fingers to operate touchscreens may become difficult, and internet-connected appliances are making voice control possible,” Root says. “Those connections are often built into the models people choose.”
Research models carefully and opt for such features, even if you may not use them in the immediate future. “It’s like a free accessibility bonus feature for your future self,” Root says.
6. Contrast Your Colors
Choosing the right combination of colors can — perhaps surprisingly — be very helpful as we get older. “Our vision deteriorates with age and having a contrast between the floor and the cabinets and wall colors is subtle, but a consideration,” Root says.
“If they’re too similar or the same tone, as our vision deteriorates it can be hard to judge where the floor ends and the wall or cabinets start,” he says.
Choosing the right combination of colors can — perhaps surprisingly — be very helpful as we get older. “Our vision deteriorates with age and having a contrast between the floor and the cabinets and wall colors is subtle, but a consideration,” Root says.
“If they’re too similar or the same tone, as our vision deteriorates it can be hard to judge where the floor ends and the wall or cabinets start,” he says.
7. Take Lighting Seriously
Carefully considered lighting is also important. “Good lighting over countertops may not be noticeable now, but in the long run, your eyes may be appreciative,” Root says. “It’s easier to integrate effective lighting at the beginning than tack it on in 10 years’ time.”
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Carefully considered lighting is also important. “Good lighting over countertops may not be noticeable now, but in the long run, your eyes may be appreciative,” Root says. “It’s easier to integrate effective lighting at the beginning than tack it on in 10 years’ time.”
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8. Embrace Trends Strategically
You can futureproof and be fashionable, but there are ways to go about it that will still give your kitchen longevity.
“Trends come and go — particularly with extreme trends such as maximalism — but that doesn’t mean you need to be scared of a trend. Just perhaps don’t lean into it quite as hard as you may be tempted to,” Payne says. “Use accent features and props to add that extra touch of whatever look it is you’re going for, rather than something fixed in and tricky to replace and update, such as the cabinetry door style or countertops.”
For these, he advises, “Think understated and pared back. Use backsplashes, wall color/wallpaper, accent materials, soft furnishings and countertop gadgets to add the flair.
“When it comes to space planning and functionality,” he says, “the modernist ethos is that form follows function. That should be at the heart of every designer with longevity in mind.”
Tell us: Which of these futureproofing ideas would you consider for your own kitchen? Let us know in the Comments.
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Find kitchen remodeling professionals
Shop for your kitchen project
You can futureproof and be fashionable, but there are ways to go about it that will still give your kitchen longevity.
“Trends come and go — particularly with extreme trends such as maximalism — but that doesn’t mean you need to be scared of a trend. Just perhaps don’t lean into it quite as hard as you may be tempted to,” Payne says. “Use accent features and props to add that extra touch of whatever look it is you’re going for, rather than something fixed in and tricky to replace and update, such as the cabinetry door style or countertops.”
For these, he advises, “Think understated and pared back. Use backsplashes, wall color/wallpaper, accent materials, soft furnishings and countertop gadgets to add the flair.
“When it comes to space planning and functionality,” he says, “the modernist ethos is that form follows function. That should be at the heart of every designer with longevity in mind.”
Tell us: Which of these futureproofing ideas would you consider for your own kitchen? Let us know in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more remodeling guides
Find kitchen remodeling professionals
Shop for your kitchen project
Many kitchens include wall cabinets or high shelves for storage. This, all the experts agree, can be tough for many older people.
“As we age, our bodies change. Bending becomes harder, and reaching and lifting things from further away becomes more difficult as our muscles weaken,” Root says. “We approach that for all age groups by trying to design all the key things in a room between waist and shoulder height.”
Architect Eva Byrne of Houseology agrees. “Plan ahead for reduced arm and shoulder mobility in terms of storage, as it may be difficult to access high wall cupboards,” she says. “Plan for how food, dishware and glassware can be stored at a lower, more accessible level.”
“When planning cabinetry, avoid having to use overhead space for storing anything heavy. Lifting up from below is less risky than bringing heavy items down from above,” says Matt Payne of Roundhouse.
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