For the last 15 years, the phrase “universal design” has come to indicate a forward-thinking concept of house planning. Also known as aging-in-place, the idea is to design spaces that can be comfortably used by people of all physical abilities. When it comes to a kitchen, everyone benefits from a universal design because not only does it accommodate people of varying ages, heights and abilities, it also allows the kitchen to adapt to the changing needs of an individual over time.

In universal design, a minimum of 36 inches of clearance is recommended for the space between cabinets and islands. When selecting appliances for the universal design kitchen, consumers should look for appliances that are easy to open and use, and which include easy-to-read graphics .