Designing Homes for All Guide
The relationship between housing and health is well established. The quality, design, and suitability of our homes have a direct impact on both physical and mental wellbeing. Poorly designed environments can increase stress, limit independence, and widen health inequalities—particularly for people living with cognitive and sensory impairments.
Cognitive and sensory impairments, including conditions such as dementia, autism, visual or hearing impairments, and broader neurodiversity, can profoundly shape how individuals navigate, interpret, and experience their homes. Environments that do not respond to these needs can create confusion, anxiety, and barriers to everyday living.
This guide seeks to bridge the gap between design and lived experience by offering practical, evidence-informed guidance. It demonstrates how thoughtful design choices, such as clear and legible layouts, intuitive wayfinding, effective lighting, good acoustic performance, and the careful use of colour and contrast, can significantly enhance daily life. Central to this approach is the promotion of inclusive design from the outset, embedding accessibility and usability as core principles rather than retrospective adaptations.
The Guide below was launched on 9th June 2026.