Method for creating an operating interface for a first household appliance from a plurality of household appliances , wherein said method comprises - providing a plurality of different generic operating elements for specifying different functionalities and/or parameters of the plurality of household appliances ; - determining a status of the first household appliance ; - determining description data for the first household appliance ; wherein the description data indicates - which one or more of the plurality of generic operating elements are used to operate the first household appliance , depending on the status, and - which functionalities and/or parameter values of the first household appliance can be set via the one or more generic operating elements used; and - setting the operating interface for the first household 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 household appliance , as well as on the basis of the status and a system of rules for the rule-based interpretation of the description data; and - dynamically adapting the operating interface for the first household appliance to 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 household appliance , as well as on the basis of the status and a system of rules for the rule-based interpretation of the description data, if it is detected that the status of the first household appliance has changed. - providing a plurality of different generic operating elements for specifying different functionalities and/or parameters of the plurality of household appliances ; - determining a status of the first household appliance ; - determining description data for the first household appliance ; wherein the description data indicates - which one or more of the plurality of generic operating elements are used to operate the first household appliance , depending on the status, and - which functionalities and/or parameter values of the first household appliance can be set via the one or more generic operating elements used; and - which one or more of the plurality of generic operating elements are used to operate the first household appliance , depending on the status, and - which functionalities and/or parameter values of the first household appliance can be set via the one or more generic operating elements used; and - setting the operating interface for the first household 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 household appliance , as well as on the basis of the status and a system of rules for the rule-based interpretation of the description data; and - dynamically adapting the operating interface for the first household appliance to 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 household appliance , as well as on the basis of the status and a system of rules for the rule-based interpretation of the description data, if it is detected that the status of the first household appliance has changed. <EOS>