Remodeling Trend: Universal Design

(Photo courtesy Dallas Morning News)

A recent article in the Dallas Morning News revealed that 10,000 Baby Boomers are turning 60 every day. And these boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964 — are the driving force behind universal design, which is becoming a popular home improvement trend. Basically, it’s designing a home that is accessible and useful to everyone, but mostly for our rapidly aging population of boomers.

• An American Institute of Architects survey revealed most homeowners are asking for greater accessibility within the home through wider hallways, fewer steps and single-floor design. This percentage is up from 66 percent the year before.
• The National Association of Home Builders also reported that 63 percent of upscale builders and 56 percent of average home builders believe they’ll see a growing trend toward universal design over the next decade as Baby Boomers advance in age and decline in health.

Universal design elements include:

• No-step entry
• One-story living. Everything is on one level, which is barrier-free
• Wide doorways (32-36 inches wide)
• Wide hallways (36-42 inches wide)
• Extra floor space
• Pull handles instead of knobs on cabinetry
• Under-cabinet lighting
• Adjustable rods and pullout shelving in closets
• Lever handles on doors instead of knobs
• No-step showers and baths

Be sure to catch up on what we’re seeing in Zillow for kitchen designs, bathroom designs and living spaces. What you’ll see are for sale homes that are real homes lived in by real people. Yes, the real deal!