5 Amazing Ways to Improve Accessibility for Commercial Interiors
Incorporating accessibility into commercial interior design is more crucial than ever as successful hospitality businesses increasingly aim to support and cater to wider demographics.
Legal requirements aside, creating luxury spaces that can be enjoyed by all people is both ethical and good business sense.
In this article, we’ll look at five key areas where improvements can be made to help make your interior a welcoming space for everybody.
- Entrance and exits
The entrance to your premises is many of your customer’s first impressions of your business.
Ensuring you have ramps with appropriate slopes where needed is a non-negotiable for the easy access of disabled customers.
You should also utilise automatic doors or doors that are easy to open for wheelchair users, and, if your bar or restaurant is multi-story you should also ensure there are appropriate elevators.
- Seating and tables
It’s important to offer a range of seating options to accommodate customers with complex needs. This might include chairs with arms for people with reduced mobility or strength as well as seating arrangements with enough clearance under tables to accommodate wheelchairs.
Ensuring accessibility for commercial interiors also means clear pathways between seating areas and tables so these customers can easily move through the building.
- Accessible bathrooms
Make sure all bathrooms have accessible stalls that are plenty wide enough for wheelchair users. It’s also important to check that your bathrooms are big enough to manoeuvre a wheelchair in.
Bathrooms should have grab rails as well as sinks, mirrors, soap dispensers and dryers at an appropriate height. Consider using lever style or automatic door openers instead of knobs which require more manual dexterity to use.
Any signage should be high-contrast and clear to help people locate the bathroom. It’s also a good idea to install a help button that alerts staff in case of any problems.
- Sound and light
Often overlooked, lighting and acoustics are a huge part of ensuring accessibility for commercial interiors. Spaces should be adequately lit to help customers with visual impairments and adjustable lighting is ideal for avoiding glare and providing contrast for visibility.
Sound management is equally important and integrating sound-absorbing materials and furniture will reduce background noise making it easier for people with hearing impairments to communicate.
This can also help those on the autistic spectrum as many people are especially sensitive to noise and can feel uncomfortable in spaces with high background noise and reverberations.
- Signage and wayfinding
Clear signage is another key factor in raising accessibility for commercial interiors. Quality, high-contrast signs should complement tactile elements to help people with visual impairments easily navigate the business.
You can also implement flooring makers and tactile flooring indicators to guide these customers through the space.
Improving accessibility with ease
It’s great that you’re looking into ways to improve the accessibility of your commercial interior and we hope you’ve found this article helpful.
Expert in commercial interior design, Daniel James Interiors has worked with some of the most successful high-end hospitality businesses in the country.
We’re passionate about creating luxury spaces that everybody can enjoy. Get in touch with us today to discuss how we can empower your business to welcome more customers than ever!
