Disabled-Friendly Bathroom Design
When designing a disabled-friendly bathroom, there are so many special requirements to consider. It can be difficult to know what to include or how to lay everything out to make access as easy as possible for those with disabilities or mobility issues. Designing a disabled-friendly bathroom isn’t an easy task as you constantly need to keep in mind safety and convenience. But, at the same time, you can also incorporate modern designs and create a stylish, yet functional, bathroom.
Disabled-friendly bathrooms need immense attention to details, careful strategy and thoughtful planning – and we’re here to help. At Renovation Capital, we can design and create a custom accessible bathroom to cater to your exact needs and requirements.
Everything You Need For A Disabled-Friendly Bathroom
Renovation Capital has all your disabled bathroom modifications or renovation needs covered. We specialise in transforming your bathroom into a space that is accessible, practical and functional for your needs.
Here are some main considerations to take into account for disabled-friendly and wheelchair-friendly bathrooms.
Space and Flooring Design
The space in the bathroom is really important for the increased accessibility of the bathroom. All the plumbing fixtures need to have enough space around them so that there is room to move around in a wheelchair.
The doorway also needs to be wide for easy wheelchair entry and exits. The design of the bathroom flooring is a really important aspect when designing wheelchair friendly bathrooms, specifically for safety. Wheelchairs wheels can be very slippery. Slippery wheels and wet floors can be dangerous and impractical.
This is why it’s so important to install some form of non-slip flooring. For example, rubber flooring is an excellent choice for wheelchair friendly bathroom designs. It is one of the best types of non-slip flooring and is the softest to fall on if a slip does happen.
Some other materials to consider include cork or vinyl. These are great because they have a matte finish and therefore aren’t slippery. If you prefer ceramic tile floors for your disabled bathroom design, you can make them non-slip by brushing a special, non-slip finish over the tiles. Doing this improves the traction of the flooring so that it’s not so slippery.
Vanities, Sinks and Cabinets
For vanities, sinks and cabinets, it is incredibly important to consider the height of these fixtures. You want to make sure that they’re accessible and wheelchair friendly.
So, they mustn’t be too high. They need to be reachable but also not too low as there should be enough room underneath so that a wheelchair can fit without any struggle.
To make vanities and cabinets more accessible, you can add pull-down handles that will enable easier access.
A great thing is that modern disabled-friendly sinks have special tracking features installed in them so that they can be moved. This can make it easier and more convenient for wheelchair users to adjust the height to suit them.
These sinks can be moved both up, down and sideways for increased accessibility for wheelchair users. Or, there are other sink designs made for people with disabilities. For instance, some have built-in grab rails or have a floating shelf-like design so that they can be installed at the right height.
When it comes to sinks, single-handle faucets are also the best choice. These can be adjusted and turned on easily. The user won’t need to grab anything or twist.
Baths, Showers and Toilets
Having a walk-in tub allows for increased accessibility for disabled users. You will be able to walk into the bathtub so that you don’t need to climb over the sides to get in.
The bathtubs should also have any controls near to the front of the tub to prevent users from needing to reach far to turn the faucets on or off. It is also essential to install grab bars for all the bathing areas. With regards to tubs, there should be two bars on the sidewalls that users can grab whether they are sitting or standing in the tub.
A shower without curbs is the ideal design for a disabled-friendly shower. It can also be used by everyone regardless of ability. In terms of space, the shower should be wide enough to fit someone in a wheelchair comfortably. The user should also be able to turn around in the shower comfortably.
The shower must have support bars on all walls to increase support. It would also be a good idea to install a shower seat or maybe have a small plastic chair in the shower to allow the user to sit while showering. Something that is also incredibly important to remember regarding showers is to have non-slip flooring in the shower. This will help to avoid any slips and falls, especially in such a wet, slippery environment.
Lastly, for toilets, it’s important to make sure that they are high enough so that it is easy to transfer from a wheelchair onto the toilet seat. It’s also best to install grab bars where needed on the side of the toilet for extra support. This can make it much easier to maneuver on and off the toilet seat.
Support rails
Having support rails or support bars in the bathroom is extremely important. It is one of the key features of a disabled-friendly bathroom.
They offer great convenience and increased accessibility as they provide people with disabilities more support around the bathroom.
Another great thing about modern support bars is that they are available in all different styles and colours. So, you’re bound to find a style that blends in seamlessly with your bathroom decor and design.
Customisable Disabled-Friendly Bathrooms To Suit Your Needs
At Renovation Capital, we understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to disabled-friendly bathroom design. We strive to create custom bathrooms to suit the needs and specifications of each client.
If you need a disabled-friendly bathroom, Renovation Capital is here to help. We will help you create an accessible bathroom with everything you need so that you can have a safe and functional space. Get in touch with us today so that we can discuss your requirements and design a comfortable and practical disabled-friendly bathroom.
