Universal Design Bathroom Ideas

Universal design for the bathroom means designing a loo for people of all ages and capabilities. That can seem tricky, especially in a bathroom, with its slick surfaces and areas where mobility can be difficult, like tubs and showers. Working around these issues isn’t as hard as it seems, though. Get ideas from top designers and manufacturers to make a bathroom that feels like home while being safe for anyone to use.

Whether you’re aging in place or creating a bathroom for multiple generations living together now, your bathroom may need room for a walker or wheelchair. The ADA recommends you leave 30-48 inches for a wheelchair to roll forward or back; 5 feet if it’s going to make a 180-degree turn.

A floating vanity is another good option for accommodating wheelchairs and walkers. To be ADA compliant, cabinets need to have a toe kick (the area under the cabinets) that's at 9 nine inches high and deep.

One of the basic tenets of universal design is to make it obvious when there’s a change in a walking path. That might mean switching flooring types (for example, from wood to carpet) to signal you’re leaving one space and entering another. But it can also be done in other ways. One simple way is to stick an LED strip light under the bathroom vanity like Kelly & Stone Architects did here. It tells you where the floor ends and the vanity begins, and it also makes a really cool night light.

A curbless shower lets you roll in a wheelchair or walker without having to maneuver it over the bump. It also makes the shower safer for younger kids, who might find a curb to be a trip hazard.

If climbing into the bathtub is too difficult, why not walk in, instead? Newer versions of walk-in tubs — such as this model from Kohler — have safety features like extra-wide doors, easy-grip handrails and luxurious options like hydrotherapy and bubble jets.

If a step-in tub isn’t your thing, but you just can’t give up your relaxing soaks, try a tub with a built-in surround, instead. They’re great for adults and kids, their wide edges giving you a natural place to sit as you get in and out of the tub.

The standard counter height is 36 inches, but universal design recommends varying counter heights for different uses like designer Kerrie Kelly did in this bathroom. Whether you’re accommodating people of different heights, ages or needs, changing the countertop height from 28 to 40 inches can make life easier. Plus, you can have more than one counter height in the same room, creating natural work zones.

Knobs look great on cabinet doors, but from a universal design perspective, they can be harder to use than a handle or lever. That’s because you only need one finger to grasp a handle, while you need your whole hand to grip a knob.

If you’re renovating your shower, consider adding a bench and a shower wand. The bench makes it easy to sit while you shower and, when combined with a shower wand, means you can bring the shower to you.