You may have heard the phrase “aging in place.” It gets used a lot in remodeling conversations, usually evoking images of grab bars and hospital-style fixtures. That's not what we're talking about here, and it's not what the phrase should mean either.
Industry professionals are now using the term “universal design,” which encompasses features that are comfortable, safe, and useful for people at any age, not just later in life. A recent article from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) highlights how universal design has become an important design principle, improving not only functionality and accessibility, but aesthetics and quality of life as well.
Your kitchen should support your needs and be both functional and beautiful at every stage of life. That could mean a toddler learning to help set the table, a grandparent staying for the week, or simply having your own needs change over time.
The goal is to understand how you want to live in your home, then design the space to support it.
Most homeowners don’t consider adding accessible features until an injury or diagnosis makes them necessary. In our experience, the homeowners who plan best start long before any of that happens.
We ask questions about how a family lives and moves through the kitchen on every project, regardless of whether anyone has mentioned plans for aging in place. It's a normal part of understanding the goals of the remodel, the same way we'd ask how you cook or entertain. A knee replacement, a parent who needs more support than they used to, a pregnancy that makes it harder to bend and reach: none of these arrive on schedule. Planning for flexibility ahead of time can reduce the need for rushed accommodations while you're also dealing with an unexpected change.
Universal design is not a style of kitchen. It's a set of measurements and material choices that add functionality and ease to a space, whether or not you need them today.
It starts with how you move through the room. Wider pathways, with 42 to 48 inches of clearance in the main walkways instead of the standard 36 inches, allow a stroller, walker, or two people to comfortably pass without a bottleneck. Doorways deserve the same consideration. This additional space also makes it easier for multiple people to use the kitchen together, whether that's two active cooks or a grandparent who wants to be part of the grandkids' morning routine but needs somewhere to sit.
Storage matters just as much as circulation. Drawers or pull-out shelving replace the deep lower cabinets you have to climb into to reach containers or small appliances in the back. Pull-down upper cabinets are great for reduced shoulder mobility or to access items that need a step stool to reach, and a lower-height countertop or island can better accommodate a shorter cook or someone who is seated. Many parents store kid-friendly dishes in a drawer so their toddler can help set the table. Years later, when the kids are grown and gone, dishes are still accessible without having to reach a high cabinet shelf.
Surfaces matter too. Slip-resistant flooring, rounded counter edges, smooth flooring transitions between rooms, and materials with enough texture and color contrast to be easily distinguished all make the kitchen safer and easier to navigate.
This whole-home remodel is a good example of how naturally this comes together, even when accessibility wasn't the stated goal. The finished kitchen includes wide doorways, clear circulation around the island, ample and layered lighting, cabinet pulls instead of knobs, island seating that doesn't block the walkway, refrigeration drawers, and consistent flooring throughout the main living area, all finished in materials built to last. None of it reads as a health accommodation. It reads as a well-designed kitchen, because that's exactly what it is.
Homeowners sometimes worry that planning this far ahead means adding more decisions to an already complex process. But these choices can be part of the same conversations about layout and materials that should happen on every remodel, rather than an added checklist.
Homeowners who plan this way aren't preparing for decline. They're making sure their home can continue working well as their needs change.
There's value in knowing the decisions you make today are less likely to create limitations ten years from now. Many of the homeowners we work with in Salem, Portland, and the Willamette Valley have lived in their homes for five, ten, or twenty years, and plan to stay.
Universal design isn't an add-on to long-term planning. It's simply good design: a kitchen that functions well today, adapts more easily to change, and remains comfortable to use for years to come.
Our free eBook, A Homeowner's Guide to Thoughtful Kitchen Remodeling, walks you through the planning process, helping you make informed decisions. Whether you're just beginning to explore ideas or preparing to start your project, it's a practical resource designed to help you create a kitchen you'll enjoy for years to come.
Download your free copy of A Homeowner's Guide to Thoughtful Kitchen Remodeling today
If you're ready to discuss how your kitchen could better support the way your family lives now and in the future, schedule a Home Remodel Discovery Call. We'll talk through your goals, answer your initial questions, and help you determine the right next step.