Accessible Home Design Ideas for People with Paralysis

Designing a home to meet your needs as a wheelchair user can be a daunting process. From large-scale homes to small-scale apartments, there are things you can do to make your home work better for your needs.

From major renovations to simple additions to a room, here are some of the best ways to make a home accessible for someone with paralysis.

Open Floor Plan

If you are designing a home from the ground up, or if you are renovating an older home, an open floor plan is one of the best layouts for wheelchair users. A large space that contains both the living room and kitchen typically without any walls, an open floor plan gives wheelchair users the freedom to move between spaces without the hindrance of walls. Many people will remove walls to create open floor plans in their current home after a spinal cord injury.

One-Level Home

An obvious and cost-effective home design idea for wheelchair users is a one-level home. A popular home design found in warmer climates, especially in deserts, one-level homes are a simple solution for accessibility. They also provide universal appeal and are cost-saving when it comes to climate control. If building a home after a spinal cord injury, this can be a great design idea as well in that no elevator will need to be installed to access various levels of a home.

Reinforced Wall Corners

Wheelchairs may be a wonderful medical tool, but they can be detrimental to walls if not used precisely, which is why many wheelchair users dream of having reinforced walls and wall corners in their homes to ensure their longevity. To reinforce a wall corner, wire mesh or a piece of sheet metal is typically placed beneath the drywall before it is painted to give the wall corner robust strength and this usually works quite well in maintaining its integrity if hit by a wheelchair.

Consistent Flooring (No Carpet)

For many wheelchair users, the flooring in their home is one of the most important design features. The overwhelming preference is vinyl flooring due to its durability and easy cleanup. Many want it throughout their entire home, which can make it easier to traverse; especially if someone is using a manual wheelchair. Also, avoid carpet if at all possible. If you use a wheelchair regularly, it will put wear and tear on your carpet and the carpet will likely need to be replaced sooner than vinyl flooring.

Wall Paneling

A great and inexpensive way to protect your walls as a wheelchair user is with wall paneling, which is having a comeback in the design world. Typically made from thin wood material, wood paneling can be installed on nearly any wall to protect it from being damaged, especially if hit by a wheelchair. Many people will do half-wall paneling for a more modern look as it both protects walls and gives a lighter feel to a room.

Widen Halls & Doorways

If renovating or building a home, one of the first things you need to do is look at the width of the hallways and doorways, which will likely need to be adjusted after a spinal cord injury. According to the ADA, which establishes guidelines for the accessibility of public buildings, a recommended minimum hallway width for a wheelchair is 32 inches. However, 36 inches is recommended for ideal maneuverability. As for doorway width, the minimum recommended width is 32 inches.

If you are on a budget and cannot fully renovate your home, a cheap idea to make a doorway wider is to install door hinges that mount outside of the door jam (instead of on the inside) to get more width.

Height Adjustable Countertops & Sinks

Height-adjustable countertops and sinks are an expensive but futuristic accessibility feature to add to any kitchen. Both give wheelchair users an easier way to work in the kitchen without struggling. Several companies offer height-adjustable options, including Granberg, Linak, Accessible Home Solution, and Pressalit.

Built-in lifts and motors allow you to adjust the height of the countertops and sink, which makes it possible for wheelchair users and able-bodied individuals to comfortably use the same kitchen.

Pull Down Cabinet Shelves

If you have cabinetry that is high on your walls, consider installing pull-down cabinet shelves. For many people, installing only lower cupboards is not possible due to space in their kitchen. Pull-down cabinet shelving makes it possible to use every square inch of your kitchen wall space. Many of the same companies that offer height-adjustable countertops and sinks also offer pull-down cabinetry. Pull-down cabinetry works by utilizing electricity and motors similar to height-adjustable countertops.

Drawer Dishwasher

There are several appliances you can purchase to make a kitchen more accessible and one of the most popular is a drawer dishwasher, which is higher from the ground and opened via a pull-out handle making reaching it and accessing it much easier than a traditional dishwasher. This style of dishwasher is popular with the elderly as well. Although a drawer dishwasher cannot hold as many dishes, people who need this style do not care as it makes washing dishes independently possible.

Wall Mounted Bathroom Sink

In the bathroom, a popular sink style for wheelchair users is a wall-mounted sink, which gives plenty of knee space. One drawback to this style is a lack of countertop space, but for those who want to fully access their bathroom sink without any limitations, a wall-mounted sink is the best option.

Sliding Doors Rather Than Swinging Doors

Sliding doors and pocket doors are a great alternative to traditional "swinging" doors that can be difficult for wheelchair users to use. Sliding doors, which are typically found on patios, can be installed throughout the home where traditional doors are installed. Pocket doors can also be put in the same location, but can be more expensive due to their installation requirements.

Lever-Style Hardware for Doors, Faucets

A way to make doors and faucets easier to use for those with paralysis in their arms and hands is by installing lever-style hardware. Lever door handles for example are the best way for those with quadriplegia to open a door without any help, and the same goes for lever handles on sinks, as minimal hand dexterity is needed.

Lower Light Switches, Raise Outlets

Electrical outlets and light switches are typically in terrible spots for wheelchair users and both need to be adjusted properly in order for wheelchair users to use them independently. If building or renovating a home, doing this will be much easier. Ideally, light switches should be lowered slightly, while outlets need to be raised several inches. And a cheap workaround is simply using a strip and bringing it to your height.

Large Attached Garage

An ideal home for any wheelchair user will include a large attached garage for storing their accessible vehicle and will include enough room to complete car transfers safely and maneuver their wheelchair without issue. Having an attached garage is also critically important as it is ideally temperature controlled, which is an important health issue for people with spinal cord injuries.

Large Wet Bathroom with Roll-in Shower

Bathrooms can be a difficult issue for many wheelchair users, as many tend to be small and unusable. If renovating a home, one of the best things you can do is create a large wet bathroom with a spacious roll-in shower. Not only will this make it easy for any wheelchair user to use, but installing a drain in the middle of the bathroom floor will help preserve the longevity of the room itself over the years as water can get pretty spread out in the bathroom when bathing with a spinal cord injury.

Bottom Freezer Fridge

Lastly, another kitchen appliance that can completely change the independence of a wheelchair user is a bottom freezer fridge, which makes accessing frozen foods much easier than a traditional refrigerator. The one drawback to this design is that the fridge area is a bit higher than normal, which can be difficult for some wheelchair users to reach.