Low Vision Kitchen Tips: Making and Carrying Drinks Safely

For people with low vision or sight loss, the kitchen can be one of the most challenging rooms in the house. Hot drinks, sharp knives and things that are easy to knock over all need a bit more care. The good news is that small changes can make a big difference to safety and confidence.

Use contrast everywhere

Contrast is one of the most useful tools for low vision. NHS and sight loss charity guidance suggests:

• Plain, single-colour crockery on a placemat that contrasts with it.
• Coloured mugs and glasses rather than clear ones, which are hard to see.
• A dark chopping board for light foods.
• Bold, high-contrast tape on cupboard edges, steps and light switches.
• Avoiding patterned surfaces and flooring, which make things harder to pick out.

Get the lighting right

More light usually helps. Combine general lighting with task lighting and under-cupboard lights that shine onto the worktop where you work, and keep windows clean. Glare can be a problem with some eye conditions, so choose lampshades that do not show the bulb, and use blinds to control bright sunlight.

Making a hot drink safely

A liquid level indicator clips over the rim of a mug and beeps when the drink nears the top, so you do not overfill. A small kettle is easier to lift and pour, and a ping-pong ball in a teapot rises to the top when it is full. Heat-resistant gloves or oven mitts add extra protection.

Find things by touch

Small raised rubber dots, often called bump-ons, can mark the settings you use most on the cooker, microwave and kettle. An elastic band around one of two similar bottles, such as ketchup and brown sauce, helps tell them apart.

Carrying drinks

Carrying is where spills and burns can happen, especially if you need a hand free to hold a rail or a cane.

The Topple Tray is held from above with one hand, and the tray hangs below so drinks stay level as you walk, leaving your other hand free. Pre-order customers receive both of our new neoprene mats, and we designed them with visibility in mind. The sage green mat has a large cream spiral in the centre that marks exactly where to place your drinks, and the navy Sapphire mat gives strong contrast against pale cups and glasses. Placing drinks in the centre also keeps the tray at its most balanced.

Keep floors safe

Remove rugs or use non-slip ones, and wipe up spills straight away so they do not become slip hazards.

Get support

Your local council's visual impairment or sensory team can arrange a home assessment and training. Low vision clinics can provide magnifiers and other aids, and charities such as the RNIB (0303 123 9999) and Blind Veterans UK offer excellent advice for daily living with sight loss.

With a few simple adjustments, making and carrying your own cup of tea can stay safe and enjoyable.

Carry drinks with confidence. Discover the Topple Tray no spill tray here.

Sources: Royal Berkshire NHS, living with sight loss; Blind Veterans UK, sight loss tips for the kitchen. This article is general information, not medical advice.