A Bathroom Safe and Accessible for Everyone

If you're considering remodeling your bathroom, check out our tips to make your bathroom safe, work for you and look incredible.

Safety First

You're never too old or too young to Install grab bars near faucets in the tub/shower and at the entrance to these wet spaces. Available in cool colors and finishes, grab bars can be a helpful support for little kids as well. Grab bars should normally be mounted at a 45-degree angle which provides the greatest help should you fall and need to pull yourself up.

If possible, lay non-slip flooring throughout your bathroom. Check rugs to be sure they have a rubber or non-slip backing. Wet floors and slippery rugs are a recipe for disaster.

If you decide to change the door handle hardware, try to use door locks that allow unlocking from both sides to make access easier in an emergency.

Function and flair is the way to go when it comes to faucets. Adding single-handle or lever faucets that can be used with closed hands can come in handy.

Adding a bench in your newly remodeled shower stall, or building a small seat at the front of the tub will allow to rest if you feel dizzy or can't stand for long periods of time. If not, removable tub seats are available too.

Equipping your shower faucet with a pressure-balancing valve will help prevent surges of hot or cold water. Especially useful if you have kids or plan to. Pre-programmed faucets are also available that set limits on water temperature.

Lighting and Electricity

Replace outlets near water sources with a A GFCI outlet (ground fault circuit interrupter). GFCI's have their own built-in circuit breaker. They are intended to protect you from an electrical shock, such as dropping a hairdryer in the sink.

Positioning switches and outlets at least 60-70 inches away from any water sources will help prevent accidents as well.

In addition to providing a bright lighting source in your bathroom, including an alternate low-light option that will make those pre-daytime visits more endurable.

Convenience and Maneuverability

Install a handheld shower head. Even better, install a rod mounting shower glide to the wall that will enable the shower head to adjust the height for each family member.

Include accessible storage in your bathroom design. Sliding trays and baskets will help to minimize stooping and bending. Avoid doors and latches that have knobs that are difficult to open. Try to make shelving placement at a height that is usable to you and the whole family.

Making your bathroom door swing out rather than in will allow easy access in case someone falls in the bathroom. Trying to open a door with dead weight behind it is very hard.

Keep the door threshold as level as possible with the flooring surface to prevent falls.