Abstract: A method creates an operating interface for a first domestic appliance from a plurality of domestic appliances. The method includes providing a plurality of different generic operating elements for specifying different functionalities and/or parameters of the plurality of domestic appliances. The method further includes determining description data for the first domestic appliance. The description data indicate which one or more of the plurality of generic operating elements are used to operate the first domestic appliance and which functionalities and/or parameter values of the first domestic appliance can be set by one or more generic operating elements used. The method also includes creating the operating interface for the first domestic appliance on the input/output unit of a control unit on the basis of the plurality of different generic operating elements and on the basis of the description data for the first domestic appliance.