Bathrooms That Work For Everyone

Whatever you choose to call it, it’s simply smart to think about universal design when remodeling or building a new bathroom.  Most likely your project will have physical and financial constraints that will require compromises.  For example, you might not have room for a wheelchair-accessible shower, but if you are building a shower that happens to be large enough, consider making it curbless.  You’ll thank yourself if you ever need a wheelchair-even temporarily-and you’ll eliminate a tripping hazard for everyone.  Plus, curbless showers look great. 

And looking great is a hallmark of successful universal design.  Nobody wants an institutional-looking bathroom in his or her home.  Fortunately, manufacturers realize this, so you’ll have no problem finding gorgeous products that can be incorporated into universal design.  Also, universal design isn’t just about the products themselves-it’s about smart use of products.  Here are some ideas to get the conservation going when you talk to your architect or designer.  Some of these ideas are simple enough to retrofit, so you might think about incorporating them in the other bathroom down the hall.  

Think “Thighs to Eyes.”

That’s about 24 in. to 60 in. above the floor-the range that’s easy for most people to reach.  When designing storage, try to keep the things you’ll use most often at that height range. 

Add A Horizontal Line.

As mentioned, many of us wear glasses or contacts that we remove while taking a bath or shower.  Add to that the fact that a shower fills with steam and we can lose a significant amount of depth perception if the wall is painted or tiled a consistent color.  Creating a band of contrasting color-paint or a course or two of tiles at about 5 ft. from the floor-provides depth perception and a level orientation.  It can look really sharp, too; in fact many bath designers use horizontal lines to tie elements together visually or to make a bathroom seem more spacious.  If you have glass shower doors, a horizontal line etched into the glass is also helpful. 

Make Shower Controls Easy To Reach.

As larger showers have become more common, bath designers have begun putting the controls near the entrance rather than directly under the showerhead so you don’t have to lean over to avoid the water while adjusting the temperature.  Turns out, this is also better for your back and decreases the chance of falling as we get less nimble with age. 

Install A Curbless Shower.

Showers that have no curb and employ a linear drain have exploded in popularity simply because they look better and more up to date than a shower with a curb and round drain in the middle.  A shower without a curb is safer for everybody and can make the shower accessible to a wheelchair user.  Creating a custom curbless shower with a linear drain can be expensive because the slope needs to be built into the floor.  But manufacturers have responded with sloped shower pans that bring the cost down.  Keep in mind that a curbless shower needs to be at least 36 in. wide to prevent water from splashing out. 

Use Vertical Shower Door Handles. 

A horizontal shower door handle is dangerous because people may grab for it if they slip.  Shower doors are not designed to take weight and could come down if grabbed. 

Make Sink Controls Easier To Reach.

This is a good example of the difference between accessibility and practical universal design:  If you were designing for true accessibility for someone in a wheelchair, you would leave a clear space under the sink so the person could roll his legs undermeath.  However, if you are not designing specifically for a wheelchair user and you don’t want to give up the storage a vanity supplies, you might position the vanity in a spot where someone could parallel park their wheelchair next to it and you could reach them.  You can accomplish this by rotating a round sink with faucet holes or you could use a sink with no holes in conjunction with controls mounted in the counter.  The sink will be easier for kids to use, too. 

Install Single-Lever Sink Faucets.

These decrease the probability that a user will accidently turn on full-hot water.  Levers in general are easier for children and people with arthritis to use. 

Use Door Levers.

As with sinks, levers are easier to operate than knobs.  Plus, you can push a lever down with your elbow when you enter the bathroom with an armload of towels.  It’s also helpful for door handles to be in a color that contrasts with the door. 

Carefully Consider Toilet Height.

Most experts recommend installing “comfort-height” toilets that are 18 in. high because they make it easier for older people to sit down and get up. But Richard Duncan, executive director of the Universal Design Institute, points out that comfort-height toilets can be difficult for short people, including children, to use.  Noting that there are devices to raise toilet seat height, Duncan suggests that a comfort- height toilet can be good idea but only if you have a lower toilet elsewhere in the home.  Wall-mounted toilets can be placed at any height you like. 

Install An Outlet Behind The Toilet. 

Today you can buy toilet seats that are heated, provide washing and drying functions, and incorporate a nightlight. These seats need to be plugged in. You might not opt for a multi-function seat now, but all of those functions are helpful for older people and people with mobility issues. Adding an electrical outlet is cheap and easy during construction, and it is also a great place to plug in a simple nightlight. 

Provide A Strategic Nightlight.

A nightlight behind the toilet or incorporated into the toilet seat is ideal because it pinpoints the most likely middle-of-the-night destination.  An LED strip installed in a vanity kick is another easy-to-install solution.