A comfortable home is essential for leading a healthy, happy lifestyle – and of course, this applies to accessibility. And so, it’s unsurprising that property developers are being urged to make new living spaces as spacious and functional as possible. Want to boost the accessibility of your home? Look no further than our top three tips on creating a welcoming, accessible home.
1.Invest in wider doors
Wheelchairs can obviously take up a fair amount of space – that’s why it’s crucial that all buildings are equipped with wide doorways. 32 inches is typically the minimum advised width for a doorway to be able to accommodate a wheelchair. As each person’s needs are different, you may benefit from a doorway wider than this. So, how about measuring the dimensions of your wheelchair? That way, you’ll be able to work out a comfortable doorframe width for you.
Alternatively, you could try out mock doorways in a specialist store. Whichever option you choose, you’ll no doubt find that this adjustment offers a great way to improve your home.
2. Add ramps
Unfortunately, not every property is equipped with a ramp – old buildings, in particular, can be tricky to navigate as a wheelchair user. Invest in ramps, though, and it could really boost the accessibility of your home, whether you live in a bungalow or a multi-story property. Before you get started, it’s important to find out whether you’ll need planning permission for your home improvement.
Don’t worry, though – this doesn’t have to be a lengthy process. There’s plenty of advice and information about planning permission on Gov.uk. Once an appropriate number of ramps have been installed, you’ll likely find it easier to get in and out of your home, which brings us nicely onto our next point…
3. Expand your driveway
How’s your driveway looking? Could it be made more open? Most often, a small, messy driveway can complicate the typically simple task of entering our home. The solution? Expand your driveway! It may sound like an obvious suggestion – but it’s an important one to make. With ample room for your wheelchair accessible vehicle, you can pull into your driveway with complete peace of mind.
Still looking for a suitable wheelchair accessible vehicle? Use a specialist, and you’re guaranteed to find the model to suit you. Allied Mobility, for example, are experts in accessible motors.
Everybody deserves an accessible home – whatever their needs or preferences. Follow our top tips, and you’ll be able to maximise the comfort of yours.
We’re very proud to bring you this feature in association with Allied Mobility. For more tips for your home, please pay a visit to our interiors page.