Success in the kitchen for the wheelchair users, advice you won't find

Success in the kitchen for the wheelchair users, advice you won't find in a cookbook.

Having what you need in easy reach is important for any at-home chef. However, as a wheelchair user, the kitchen can sometimes feel like a daily obstacle course.

Today, we’re sharing our favourite hacks and kitchen advice that you won't find in a cookbook. These hacks can make a huge difference in navigating the kitchen as a wheelchair user.

Mike’s guide to using the oven from a wheelchair.

Using the oven can be intimidating. Balancing and reaching in a wheelchair can be hard enough, let alone with a hot dish added to the equation.

But with a good approach (and a bit of practice), using the oven can become something you do confidently and safely.

Positioning.

Roll up and park your chair parallel to the oven door, nice and close, but still comfortable. You want to be close enough to reach in without leaning too far, but not so tight that you feel stuck.

Form a good foundation.

Grip the outer rim of your wheelchair's push-rim. That grip gives you a strong anchor point and helps keep your core stable while you reach.

Take it slow.

Keep your foundation strong and move in and out of the oven slowly, with control and confidence.

Reaching new heights: accessible cupboard solutions.

High cupboards can be one of the biggest kitchen annoyances for wheelchair users. They’re technically “storage”

But if you can’t access them without help, they’re basically decoration.

Gem has installed pull-down organisers inside her existing cupboards, which means she can bring the shelf down to her level instead of stretching, leaning, or missing out on that space entirely.

The best part?

These shelves aren’t just helpful for wheelchair users; they’re convenient for everyone. It’s one of those rare accessibility upgrades that makes life easier across the board.

Maximizing your kitchen's potential.

So if you’re planning a kitchen reno (or tweaking your current setup), take a page out of our playbook and consider these design tips to level up your kitchen.

Lowered work space. Standard bench tops sit too high and often have cupboards underneath, which means wheelchair users are forced to stretch and strain just to prep food. If you can, consider a lowered bench with open space underneath so you can roll in and get close.

Drawers instead of cupboards. Cupboards can be awkward. You’re reaching into the dark and hoping what you need is somewhere in the back. Drawers are easier because you can roll alongside, pull the drawer out, and access everything without digging.

Keep essentials in reach. Streamline your cooking and meal preparation by having all your essential items within easy reach. Consider bench organizers, magnetic strips, and hooks to keep tools within easy reach.

Wide areas. When designing your kitchen layout, aim for plenty of wide open space, particularly between appliances. Consider the "work triangle," and ensure the connecting pathways between the sink, refrigerator, and stove. Make sure these are spacious, allowing you to easily roll from one to another.

Cupboard organizers. Consider installing sliding cupboard organizers. There are a variety available for upper cupboards and lower corner cupboards. These solutions can be practical and useful for everyone, not just wheelchair users.

Empowered in the kitchen.

In the kitchen, just like everywhere else, wheelchair users deserve to feel empowered, independent, and in control.

The right setup makes cooking easier, safer, and enjoyable.

Stick around because next, we’ll be sharing some of our favourite low-cost items that help us with independence in the kitchen, without needing a full renovation.

Take a tour of our kitchens.

Want to see more of our kitchens? Check out our head-to-head showdown to see whose kitchen emerges victorious.