These universal design features apply to all hallways and pathways throughout the home, plus indoor and outdoor living areas.
| 4.1 | No steps to access any area inside home. | Why? |
| 4.2 | No steps to access outside spaces (e.g., decks, porches, patios). | Why? |
| Layout | ||
| 4.3 | Hallway widths and pathway widths around furniture no less than 36 inches at narrow-most points. | Why? |
| 4.4 | Exterior doorway widths no less than 36 inches, and interior doorway widths no less than 32 inches. | Why? |
| Moving Between Spaces | ||
| 4.5 | Flush interior thresholds and transitions between rooms. | Why? |
| 4.6 | Thresholds between inside/outside spaces no higher than 0.5 inches. | Why? |
| 4.7 | Door hardware operable with one hand and does not require pinching or grasping to use (e.g., lever handles, push-pull-rotate knobs). | Why? |
| 4.8 | Color and texture contrast used for transitions between spaces. | Why? |
| Lighting | ||
| 4.9 | Even lighting (natural & artificial) that minimizes shadows and glare. | Why? |
| 4.10 | Light switches placed at both ends of hallways and pathways. | Why? |
| Flooring | ||
| 4.11 | Slip-resistant, trip-resistant, and durable flooring. (Trip-resistant flooring can include carpet recessed into surrounding floor.) | Why? |