Furniture
• Furniture placed against the walls will maximize the space
in the kitchen, but bear in mind that this might not suit someone who is used to having a table or island in the center of the room

Oven
• Controls that are tactile or provide auditory feedback are a must
• Sliding or fold away doors can help to prevent burns and take up less space
• Lighting inside the oven is essential to help the user see what they are doing
• Silicone aids are available to create contrast and protection from the front edge of oven shelves and trays

Flooring
• Clearly mark separate areas of the room with contrasting or textured flooring
• Flush access and level flooring throughout is ideal to reduce the risk of trips and falls
• Make sure it is clear where the floor ends and the wall starts with high contrast colours so the room boundaries are well defined
• Block colours are ideal and patterns are best avoided
• Non-reflective, matte flooring is best to eliminate reflection or glare from lighting

Cupboards
• Question whether the cupboards need hinged opening doors –sliding or folding doors might work better depending on the
space available
• The colour of the handles must contrast against the doors so they can be identified easily
• Avoid gloss or glass doors that can cause significant glare
• Position at a height that is suitable for the user
• Consider automatic internal lighting for cupboards and drawers

Lighting
• Identify how much natural light enters the room at different times of day, paying particular attention to the times that the client typically uses in the kitchen, for what tasks and where specifically within the room
• Install task-specific lighting, such as separate down lighting that illuminates appliances, sink and food preparation areas, rather than focus on lighting the entire room
• Lighting controls that can be manually adjusted to support different tasks are a good idea

Other white goods
• Contrast everything so the user can tell the difference between each item
• Position the fridge near to where food is prepared
• Place the dishwasher near the sink
• All appliances need to provide either physical or auditory feedback

Taps
• Mixer taps may be easier to use depending on the user’s requirements
• Avoid any exposed pipework that can get hot and cause burns
• Clearly marked taps are vital, with colour coding for hot and cold
• Thermostatically controlled taps are the safest option as they limit the temperature to a point that reduces the risk of scald injuries

Accessories and small appliances
• Opt for accessories, such as tea towels, tea and sugar canisters, in colours that contrast against their surroundings to make them easier to identify. Make the kettle stand out against the wall behind it, for instance
• Find out what colours the user associates with certain tasks and apply contrasting shades on that basis
• Make sure the things that are used frequently are always at hand

Doors
• Whether the door should open outwards or inwards depends on access and the preferences of each specific user, but bear in mind that if someone falls inside the room there is a risk that they could get stuck behind the door if it opens inwards
• ADM evidence suggests that pivoted/hinged doors should swing away from the direction of travel therefore consider whether door can open both ways
• Consider sliding or folding doors to maximise space on both sides

Sockets and switches
• Make sure that all sockets and switches are easy to access where they are used and not covered by other objects
• Place sockets at a higher than usual level to suit the user
• Socket fascias and switches must be in a high contrast colour so that they can be distinguished from the wall itself
• Avoid any trailing flexes

Sink and workbenches
• Contrasting the sink against the kitchen workbench will make it easier for the user to distinguish between them
• Distinctive textures on sideboards in different areas can help to distinguish between various parts of the kitchen and the tasks
completed on them