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Your morning shower should be a soothing and invigorating time in your day. Trying to navigate slick shower floors or ducking under a too-low showerhead can turn the experience into an annoying one. If that’s not enough, those minor nuisances become serious dangers for seniors and homeowners struggling with mobility challenges.
No matter your age or abilities, you can make your bathroom more comfortable and functional by applying a few universal design principles. We spoke with American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) member and Certified Aging in Place Specialist Kerrie Kelly about her favorite universal design strategies.
Grab Bars
Grab bars add a reassuring, stable grip for getting in and out of bathtubs and showers. These bars are particularly useful anywhere in your bathroom where slips and falls are most likely to occur. They can also double as shelves and towel racks. “It’s a quick thing you can do for your family,” Kelly says.
You don’t have to buy a chunky, industrial-looking grab bar for this upgrade. Many more options are available that can match existing hardware and fixtures. However, you’ll want to focus on ADA-compliant ones that can support at least 250 pounds of force in any direction. Properly anchor them to wall studs so they keep their stability.
Handheld Showerheads
Handheld showerheads are a practical, convenient way to direct water precisely where you need it without bending into an awkward position. They become even more functional with a tub shower, allowing you to bathe pets and wash down larger items. Some even have specialized nozzles on the outer rim to help you clean your shower walls.
Look for a model with a long hose (at least 60 inches) and simple controls. Many showerheads have multiple spray settings, so you can simulate a gentle rainfall or up the pressure to rinse thick hair. A few models also have slide bars that adjust the hook to your height.
For added safety and comfort, install an anti-scald pressure balancer at the same time as your new showerhead. This device helps keep a consistent water temperature when pressure fluctuates, preventing those nasty sudden bursts of burning hot water.
Trip-Free Flooring Transitions
During your next remodel, forego the need for the standard metal threshold between your bedroom carpet and the en suite bath. Instead, stick with the same or a similar non-carpet flooring, and ask your flooring retailer about smoother ways to transition between coverings. “Aesthetically, it looks beautiful to carry one material throughout a space, and you’re not creating a trip hazard between rooms,” says Kelly.
Good flooring for a universal design bathroom has high slip resistance and a consistent surface. Textured tiles and vinyl with a non-slip coating fit the bill nicely. Install the flooring so there aren’t any loose tiles or uneven surfaces that could pose a trip hazard.
Generous Bath Tiles
Textured floors can add enough grip to prevent dangerous trips, slips, and falls. It’s no different for bathroom tiles, with many texture options and sizes. Larger tiles with a slightly rough or matte finish are always a good choice for universal design. “In showers,” Kelly says, “we like to cut the tiles in a two-by-two size so that you have a lot of grout in between to prevent slipping.”
Shower Bench
An in-shower bench has several different uses. You can sit and rest when you feel dizzy, put your toiletries on top, or make it a stable surface for washing and shaving your legs. When combined with a handheld showerhead, you have a universal design power combo that everyone can enjoy.
The ideal bench for your shower should be large enough to sit comfortably without impeding movement. Choose a water-resistant material, like teak wood, that matches the surrounding design. You can incorporate a slight slope or drainage holes to prevent standing water issues. Built-in options are also available if stability is your top priority.
