Better Living Design in Storage

Is it time to clean out and organize your cabinets and closets? Fortunately, many of the concepts of Better Living Design apply to home organization and storage. Storage systems can be built to adapt and adjust to changing lifestyles, ages and abilities.

Providing ease of use for all occupants of the home is one of the major tenets of Better Living Design. Whether in the kitchen, bath, laundry room or closet, you can acheive this by:

• Adapting cabinetry, shelves and doors to right- and left-handed users.

• Constructing the components to be accessible from a seated or standing position.

• Keeping the elements simple. Everyone should find them easy to open and reach across with minimal effort.

• Accommodating differences in hand size and grip strength

Place clothing rods and shelves at eye level for easy viewing and access by wheelchair. By using adjustable-height closet components, you can change the configuration as needed. The best measurements are from 3-feet to 5-feet 5-inches high. Pull-down closet rods can also aid in accessibility.

Use lever-style or d-shaped door handles for easy opening.

Incorporate easy-to-handle cabinet hardware. Handles that are d-shaped are easier for users with limited hand strength.

For pantries, full-length shelves allow access for wheelchair users and maximize your storage space. Lazy Susan’s in corner cabinets will also make the best use of available storage area and allow simpler access to items. Use pullout shelves wherever possible.