Whether you have a small patio or a large, sprawling garden, it’s worth considering how you can make it more accessible for people with mobility impairments. In this guide, we’ll go over some tips for designing inclusive outdoor spaces and increasing the desirability of your property in the process.
Planning Your Accessible Outdoor Space
Before you start making major changes to your outdoor space, it’s important to assess your current layout and identify areas that could be improved. You should look at the overall layout, entry points, pathways, and seating areas, and think about how someone with limited mobility would navigate the space and what obstacles they might encounter.
Creating Accessible Pathways
One of the most important aspects of an accessible outdoor space is the pathway design. You should make sure your garden paths are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, or two people walking side by side.
You also need to avoid steep slopes in your pathways. If you have any changes in elevation, such as steps, you may need to browse for alternatives from suppliers like The Ramp Factory for wheelchair users. You could also include handrails on both sides of your steps and ramps for added support and safety.
Designing Accessible Seating Areas
Comfortable and accessible seating is also essential in any outdoor space. A variety of seating options at different heights are available to accommodate all sorts of people. For example, some may prefer higher seats that are easier to get in and out of, while others might need armrests for support. Just be sure that there’s enough space around seating areas for wheelchair users to manoeuvre and join in comfortably.
You could also create sheltered seating areas to provide protection from the sun and rain, which is particularly important for people more sensitive to temperature changes. This can in turn make your property more appealing to older house buyers seeking a futureproofed space to retire into, increasing your chances of a higher free cash offer from online property-buying companies like Sold. These companies will be able to sell your home faster to an older demographic with greater disposable income to spend on a home that is designed with them in mind. This could also mean a faster and easier house sale for you that circumvents the need for estate agents.
Accessible Gardening Equipment
Raised beds and containers are a worthy consideration for facilitating gardening for those with difficulty bending or kneeling on the ground. You should buy raised beds with a height of around 24 inches, which allows for comfortable reach from a seated position.
You may also want to install a potting bench at an appropriate height to provide a comfortable workspace for planting and maintaining seeds. You can check out a range of adjustable potting benches from B&Q, for example, to find one suitable for your garden space.
So, now you know how to incorporate accessible design into your garden or patio, and with these tips you’re not just on track to creating a more usable space but a more inclusive and welcoming one that could increase the market value of your property.