In the world of home design, there’s a growing conversation around the importance of creating more accessible homes. And while residential spaces are not legally required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as the US population matures and multi-generational living becomes more prevalent, making homes usable and comfortable for all ages and abilities has become more important than ever. Moen, the leader in water experiences in the home, shares insights into design approaches that can improve the functionality of spaces for everyone – without sacrificing style.

Making Way for Universal Design

In the quest for more accessible residential spaces, many brands, builders and designers are gravitating towards the concept of universal design. This approach focuses on creating environments that are usable by everyone, regardless of age, ability, or size. Not only does this concept benefit those with physical disabilities, but it also accommodates those who are aging, facing temporary injuries, or working through other physical limitations.

Key elements for a home incorporating a universal design approach include one-floor living – or simply having at least one bathroom and bedroom on the first floor; generally larger, more open spaces, including doors and hallways wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs; bright lighting; non-slip surfaces and grab bars in bathrooms; and seating-height appliances and countertops in kitchens. Today, some homes take it a step further by leveraging smart technology to make living easier, such as thermostats that can be controlled from a smartphone or even voice- activated faucets and showers.

Regardless of the space or products used, a key element of universal design is the belief that form and function don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

At Moen, we understand how essential it is to create accessible spaces that enhance functionality for daily routines with products that also integrate seamlessly into the home, said Julie Parker, senior territory manager, Moen. Whether it’s through bathroom accessories like our toilet paper holders and grab bars, or touchless technology in our Smart Kitchen Faucets, it’s important that elements that promote accessibility add to a home’s functionality without detracting from the house’s aesthetic. That’s why we’re committed to creating thoughtfully designed products that look great while also functioning beautifully.

When correctly implemented, universal design principles lead to enhanced experiences for all who live in and visit a home. From guests in a wheelchair who need more room to move about to a pregnant mother who may need a little more support in the tub to an aging grandparent with arthritis who finds it easier to use his or her voice to open the smart blinds than their hands, universal design benefits people of all ages and abilities.

A Step Further: ADA-Compliant Homes

While universal design offers a framework for creating inclusive spaces, creating more ADA- compliant homes provides even greater opportunities to promote independence and improved quality of life for residents. Recently, Moen was fortunate to see the benefits of an ADA- compliant home in action by participating in a life-changing experience for an individual in need. In early 2024, local Stanford Kentuckian Cindy Mullins faced a transformative experience – what started as a routine kidney stone procedure quickly became a critical situation that resulted in the loss of both her legs and hands. After hearing her heart-wrenching story, a group of contractors, volunteers and design pros, including designer Liz Betack of Liz Betack Design Studio, came together to design a brand-new, fully accessible home for Cindy and her family – all completed in just 10 days.

Through its partnership with supplier Showplace at Lexington Winnelson, Moen joined the project by providing various smart and ADA-compliant products to help make life easier for Cindy and her family as they adjusted to their new normal.

Everyone deserves accessible living and to be comfortable in their own home, said Patricia Ramey, vice president, category management, Moen. We are so grateful to be part of Cindy’s life and help her during this transition, leveraging our products and innovations to pave the way for a more functional day-to-day experience with water.

In the kitchen, Moen's Smart Faucet allows Cindy to use voice commands through a smart speaker to operate the fixture, a function helpful for individuals with limited fine motor skills or those who find it difficult to adjust traditional faucet handles. For the bathroom – one of the most important rooms for ADA-compliance due to mobility and dexterity challenges many face in this space – Mullins’ home includes Moen^® bath faucets with MotionSense Wave^™ which feature a sensor on the side of the faucet that allows users to turn the faucet on and off without touching it, ideal for someone with limited mobility. With the addition of the Smart Shower, this advanced, Wi-Fi enabled, digital shower offers mobile connectivity and unmatched personalization, providing countless ways to create the ideal showering experience. The easy voice-activated control and preset options make daily routines less of a safety concern and less challenging. And, to help Cindy keep tabs on her home’s water use – and protect her brand-new space from water damage – the home also features the Flo Smart Water Monitor and Shutoff, a smart leak detection device that proactively alerts a homeowner to leaks and allows users to monitor and control their home’s water all from their smartphone. These fixtures throughout the home provide an added level of simplicity and automation to drastically improve the functionality of Cindy’s kitchen and bath spaces.

Incorporating design principles and products that promote inclusivity and accessibility help foster more welcoming, functional environments for individuals of all abilities. By prioritizing universal design and ADA-compliance in homes, brands and pros alike can do their part to create beautifully designed, practical spaces that give all types of people a better quality of life. For more information on Moen products, visit www.moen.com.

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ABOUT MOEN

Moen is part of Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc. (NYSE: FBIN), a brand, innovation, and channel leader focused on exciting, supercharged categories in the home products, security, and commercial building markets. Moen anchors Water Innovations (WINN), which also includes several brands under the House of Rohl^® including Emtek^®, Perrin & Rowe^®, ROHL^®, Riobel^®, Shaws^® and Victoria + Albert^®. Fortune Brands’ other brands include Fiberon^® composite decking and railing products; Master Lock^®, Yale^® residential, August^® and Sentry^® Safe security products; LARSON^® storm doors and Therma-Tru^® entry door systems. For more information, please visit www.FBIN.com.

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