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A home bathroom should be a place of ease and comfort. For many people, especially those with mobility difficulties, sight challenges, health concerns, and other complications, the bathroom can be a stressful location. However, with a few personalized adaptations, you can turn your space into an accessible bathroom that perfectly meets your individual needs.
In this article, we will discuss several features that you can add to your home bathroom that improve accessibility and ease of use for a variety of individuals. Let’s begin.
Many People Struggle with Accessibility in the Bath
Everyone is unique, with their own personal strengths and challenges. When it comes to a home bathroom, many people find difficulty using or accessing some traditional bathroom features, such as a standard bathtub or a tall vanity. Because of this, it’s important that everyone has a bathroom that perfectly suits their individual needs.
Those who use wheelchairs often struggle to access many features of a standard bathroom. From the shower to the sink, accommodations need to be made to allow easy access to every part of the bathroom. Because of this, people with mobility concerns may search for wheelchair accessible bathroom vanities and sinks, as well as wheelchair accessible showers and toilets.
In addition, people who struggle with mobility may need more handy bathroom features, such as simple walk-in showers and tubs, eliminating trip hazards and allowing for simpler access into the bathing areas. Or, they may need safety grab bars, convenient seating, and more.
Each individual is different. Some people struggle with climbing over a tub wall, some struggle with reaching the sink, some have visual concerns, some have trouble transferring to the toilet. Whatever your unique needs, you should have a bathroom that perfectly suits you.
Let’s explore some of the bathroom features that allow you to more readily use your home bath.
Here are 7 Features to Make Your Bathroom More Accessible
While there are many possibilities to improve ease of use in your bathroom, we have outlined some of the most popular methods to make your bathroom more user-friendly. Let’s explore some of the features below.
1) Walk-in Showers & Walk-in Tubs
Whether you struggle stepping over the side of a bathtub or need a wheelchair accessible shower, a walk-in bath can be your solution. These can be installed with a very low, or even flush, threshold so that anyone can easily access their bathtub or shower. You can select both a walk-in tub or a walk-in shower, whichever best suits your preferences. Then, you won’t have to worry about getting in and out of a bathtub for bathing.
2) Handheld Shower Heads
For many people, showering with a traditional shower head can be difficult. It requires flexibility and movement that some struggle with. To make the showering process more accessible, you can opt for a handheld shower head. This allows you to move the water where you need it, as opposed to moving your body to meet the water.
3) Shower Seats & Bath Seats
For those with balance issues, trouble standing, or reliance on a wheelchair, standing in the shower can be a burden. With the addition of a shower seat, you can utilize your shower without worrying about falling, becoming fatigued, or otherwise being uncomfortable. In addition, if you prefer a bath, you can opt for bath seats. These allow you to enjoy the comfort and relaxation of a bath, with the accessibility and convenience of a chair.
4) Safety Grab Bars
Standing, sitting, and getting around can present a challenge to many in the bathroom. With the addition of safety grab bars, you can alleviate the worries about getting up and down in the bath. In addition, you can use these bars to move around safely and steady yourself. Safety grab bars can be installed in the shower, in the bath, around the toilet, and throughout the room as needed to create an accessible bathroom that suits you.
5) Spacious Doorways & Accommodating Dimensions
Particularly for wheelchair users, bathrooms can be difficult to navigate. Some wheelchairs may not fit through narrow doorways, next to the toilet, or through the shower entrance. With proper planning and measurements, you can ensure your bathroom has enough space for your personal needs. Whether you need wider doorways, more space around the toilet, or areas to turn around, it’s always important to consider building a spacious bathroom to accommodate your needs.
6) Personalized Vanities
For many, a traditional vanity will not be accessible and thus cannot be utilized to its full potential. However, an accessible vanity will allow any person to use the space, access the sink, and see in the mirror. Accessible vanities may be lower to the ground, may leave space underneath to bring a wheelchair closer, and may have tilting mirrors to allow anyone to access them. When you are preparing your accessible bathroom, it’s always important to consider these factors.
7) Illuminating Lights
Many bathrooms use soft lighting or natural lighting to illuminate the space. However, that can present a problem to those with vision difficulties. When you are creating a more accessible space in your home bathroom, you can use more vibrant lighting to improve visibility in the area.
Because every person has different requirements, additional considerations may be necessary. However, this list is a good start when you are planning your accessible bathroom. It’s always important to consider the ease of use, the height of bathroom features, the dimensions of the space, and the lighting in the room. If you’re designing a new bathroom, it’s always helpful to reach out to a local bathroom remodeler for guidance on the best utilization of your space.
Overview
When you’re designing an accessible bathroom, there are many things to consider. Will you need a walk-in tub? Do you need a wheelchair accessible vanity or shower? Will the lights be bright enough for you to navigate? With our recommendations, you should be able to get a head start in creating your new bathroom space.
Need Help Building Your New Bathroom?
Are you planning to remodel your bathroom or install a new bath? Whether you’re searching for accessibility due to mobility concerns, visual impairment, or another complication, Lori K Bath is here to help. We will work closely with you to understand your unique needs and create a completely custom design for your bathroom. Ready to get started? Call us today.