Every home should be renovated or built with universal design considerations, but some seem to forget that as we grow older, we need to plan accordingly. Universal design is all about making spaces work for anyone, regardless of age or disability.
Ideally, every room should have these design features, but at minimum, the bathroom should be universal. Here are ten things to consider when planning your bathroom design.
5′ radius
A five foot radius is essential for turning around in a wheelchair or walker, especially in a shower. We want this space to be used by anyone regardless of ability. And if you don’t even need these spaces to perform in a wheelchair, it will be nice to have that extra space and you may need it as you grow older.
Seamless shower
Tripping is a major concern. It’s easy to trip on the smallest thing. So having a seamless shower is a must. Taking large steps into a shower is always a tripping hazard, so let’s get rid of it altogether. Plus, it gives a modern, clean look to any space.
Grab Bars
Grab bars are essential for supporting your own weight and help with balance. And to be honest, these would be good for everyone, even little ones. I would have loved a grab bar while I was pregnant. Anytime in your life, young or old, you may need a grab bar in your shower and around the toilet.
ADA Accessible Toilet
We all love a comfort height toilet, and it’s definitely worth the extra money for anyone to be able to use. But we also want to think about how anyone can actually get on the toilet. The easiest thing to do is add a few grab bars.
Lever Handles
For all your plumbing fixtures and doors, use a lever handle. Levers are always easier to use than knobs because it eliminates the need to turn your wrist. Just the weight of your hand will turn the lever.
Access under the sink
At least one sink in the primary bath or powder will allow a wheelchair to get underneath so the user can wash their hands or brush their teeth. You can find vanity cabinets that have doors that look like regular doors but are just the shell of the cabinet, or just a sink mounted on the wall, so make sure the tile floor is finished underneath.
Pocket Doors
Pocket doors free up space (especially if you need it for the 5′ radius). But almost anyone can use a pocket door. Reaching for the handle on a swing door is difficult and clunky when using a wheelchair or walker.
Mosaic Tile
If you have an uneven or unlevel floor, trust me, all floors are not perfectly level. Houses tend to settle after a while. So, how do you know what kind of bathroom tile you need?
First, you want a honed finish and preferably a porcelain tile. Second, you may want to consider a small size tile. People tend to shuffle their feet as they get older or are recovering from illness, so we want to avoid tripping on large pieces of tile. Even a ¼” difference will cause someone to trip.
So buy a small mosaic porcelain tile, no larger than 2″, because the small pattern will hide any imperfections, and you won’t risk tripping on any tiles.
Pulls with closed ends
Pulls with closed ends are best for everyone. I can’t tell you how many times my kids have caught their hair on an open-ended pull. And any medical tubing also gets stuck on these ends. It’s very frustrating. So get ones with closet ends and save yourself the headache.
Automated light switch
This is luxurious as well as functional. You can also set up the lights in the home to have an automatic timer, customize the settings to your liking and control all of if from your home, making it perfect for anyone to use.
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