If there is one things that can’t be stressed enough as you select materials, it’s safe flooring. Here are some tips for accessible, universal design flooring.

• Select nonslip flooring whenever possible.
• Limit the use of area rugs (or at least affix them to the floor with carpet tape) to prevent tripping.
• For added safety, consider installing tactile, high-contrast strips of a different texture to alert people with limited vision where flooring or elevation changes occur.
• Opt for the lowest threshold level possible—particularly when flooring materials change from room to room—to minimize the hazard of tripping.

Flooring Options

Glazed ceramic tile, stone, vinyl flooring with a matte finish, and wood are all good flooring options. Although thick, plus carpet is comfortable under foot, low-pile, tightly woven carpet is a more accessible option.

Two flooring options that are growing in popularity are cork and bamboo. Cork is recommended because of its naturally cushiony consistency. Bamboo is a popular green option, because although it looks and feels like wood, bamboo is a grass that quickly replenishes itself. Bamboo is similar to wood in durability, and installed much like standard wood floors.