ith research showing one in 20 UK households is currently classed as multigenerational – made up of three generations or more – and with rallying cries from charities to ensure homes are made more accessible for people living with disabilities, there is an urgent need for the kitchen design industry to consider how to best help customers seeking support for these requirements.
Häfele Inclusive design for everyday families W
naturally alongside one another as part of the customer brief, as several considerations – such as functionality, accessibility and safety – have clear overlaps. But what else should a designer consider, to create great looking spaces that work for all?
Considerations for design
Defining the difference Multigenerational living is a holistic type of design that focuses on how people of different ages live, engage and interact with one another under one roof. Accessible and inclusive design, on the other hand, centres more on individual features that will improve how a home works for a person with specific physical or cognitive needs. In many modern kitchen and bathroom projects, these two areas of design are explored
While we’re exploring quite specific topics of focus, designers should still always begin with the fundamentals of design, asking who will be using a space, how they interact with one another, what they each need from it, and what they’re inspired by.
Alongside these considerations, consumers are increasingly demanding better value for their money from their home investments. Thankfully, accessible products are becoming more seamlessly integrated into today’s stylish designs. For example, pocket and sliding door systems don’t only look great, they also give that all important space back to rooms that must work for large families and can remove threshold barriers which can be reduce accessibility. Meanwhile, designing a kitchen with a higher percentage of drawer openings improves accessibility compared to high wall cabinets. Designers should also explore cross-category products that combine to elevate designs further, like adding clever lighting to internal kitchen storage.
Finally, if you’re working across a larger space than just the kitchen, consider how to zone the layout to create a relaxing space that brings everyone together to socialise and enjoy one another’s company, to add to their quality of life.
A tailored approach
Whether you’re looking at designs from a whole-house perspective with multigenerational living in mind, or focusing on what can be done to improve the lifestyle of just one person from a disability and accessibility viewpoint, there will always be unique requirements to consider. What’s key is for a designer to spend plenty of time speaking to the customer to understand what’s needed to ensure their home works well for them, every day.
www.hafele.co.uk BKU NOVEMBER 2025 35
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