5 Ideas for an Accessible Kitchen

Safety is important when it comes to the range. The controls should be on the front of the unit as opposed to rear mounted. This prevents you from having to reach across hot burners. Induction burners can help prevent burns too. Ideally, there should be clearance under the range with room for a chair or stool.

Another safe-cooking tip is to position a wall oven lower in a cabinet. Some units even have a side-hinged door that avoids the need for reaching across a hot oven door.

A smart oven can link to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, allowing you to use simple voice commands to control power and temperature.

The sink is another area that can be fitted to accommodate different capability levels. Consider the clearance underneath. It should have room for a chair with knee clearance. Look for features for easier food preparation, such as a shallow basin depth, a sink cutting board and an over-the-sink colander.

As for the faucet, handles are easier to grip than knobs. A pull-down faucet allows you to move the sprayer closer to you.

Side-by-side refrigerator doors are easier to manage and require less room to open than other types of refrigerator doors. Plus, a side-by-size refrigerator with the freezer located on the bottom limits reaching.

As for cabinet storage, keep dishes and other frequently used cookware in lower cabinets. Pull-down organizers provide easy access to dishes and pantry items. Slide-out cabinet organizers allow everything to move toward you so you don’t have to reach into the back of the cabinet.

For cabinet hardware, use D-shaped drawer pulls instead of knobs. They require less strength and dexterity to grab. Overall, make sure there’s ample light for the entire space and food preparation areas.