FT NEWS

When designing a bathroom, much as we’d like a spa-like ambience in a functional space, safety should be the primary concern. Whether we have elderly people at home or a child with a temporary injury, say a leg in a cast thanks to a bike accident, these tips can increase safety, accessibility and convenience for everyone.

Opt for a zero-threshold shower

A shower area that’s on the same level as the floor and doesn’t feature a step or a threshold is one tripping-hazard less. It’s great for someone using a wheelchair or for anyone who has to bathe a small child. Go for an enclosed stall to avoid water spillage.

Choose levered taps

Pick taps with a lever design over any other kind. This eliminates the twisting and turning that could pose a problem to owners of little hands or those with mobility issues.

Use adjustable sprayer attachments

A moveable shower head on a vertical slide bar that allows for adjustment at various heights to suit the height and position for each individual bather is convenient for young children and elderly people. Even better, if the shower head can be detached and held, with easily operable controls.

Add a built-in shower seat

Introduce a bench in the shower stalls for the older adults to sit comfortably and safely as they bathe. Not only does it help the seniors in the household, but is great for anyone who wants to relax in the shower – or for someone with an injury that forces them to sit down to bathe.

Pick smaller tiles

smaller tiles are less slippery than large tiles – the recurring grout is a good slip deterrent and gives your feet better grip. Also, keep in mind – the more textured the tile, the less slippery it will be.

Install thermostatic shower mixers

Modulate temperature by introducing a thermostatic shower valve which eliminates those sudden blasts of hot or cold water in the shower, when a toilet is flushed, for example. It ensures the temperature you have chosen remains constant for the duration of your shower, even if you shut it mid-shower, say, to shampoo your hair.

Select the right hardware

Door locking systems that can be unlocked from both sides are the safest for bathrooms. With this kind of lock, one can get in immediately without any fiddling, to rescue an injured person or a child who gets locked in.

Wall-mount your sink

Floating sinks are not only ideal for small spaces, they are easily accessible to those who may use a walker, wheelchair or crutches because of the knee space underneath.

Create storage within reach

Toiletry items should be placed such that there is no need to bend or stretch out to get a particular item. A shower caddy mounted not too high on the wall is one way to ensure products are within arm’s reach. Another way is to fix a dispenser on the wall; this way there’s no fear of soaps or shower gel bottles slipping from the hands.

Ensure sufficient in-shower lighting

Dim showers can be a hazard, and not just for people with weak eyesight. So, do pay specific attention to good lighting in the shower area, which is more accident prone than any other part of the bathroom. Recessed shower lights mounted within the ceiling, which are resistant to water and steam, are a great option.