It is ubiquitous for people to wish for a bathroom that caters to the special needs of a family member without compromising on its aesthetics. However, while achieving this perfect combination of accessibility and luxury, you need to keep several points in mind designing an ideal disabled bathroom layout.
From discussing the importance of accessibility to discussing probable design features of such a setup, let’s look at some of the vital elements of a disabled bathroom.
Need for Accessibility
Indeed, most people don’t need to think about the accessibility of their bathroom. However, this consideration becomes empirical if you have a specially-abled person in your family. It caters to their daily needs and provides them with a sense of independence. This can simply not be obtained from a typical bathroom setup.
Something as simple as a grab door or bar can make a difference. While it may not even be considered essential by an individual, it can allow others to manoeuvre with space comfortably.
Keep into Account the Person You’re Designing the Bathroom For
Thinking about a specially-abled person’s individual needs is the first step for designing a disabled bathroom layout. This will help you determine the kind of features you’d want your designer to provide. For example, are you making a bathroom for the following:
- Individuals with movement impairment;
- Wheelchair users;
- Individuals suffering from bladder impairment;
- Individuals with balancing issues.
The specific needs of different individuals will determine the various elements that you’ll have to add. Before you let your designer start the building process, find answers to the following questions:
- What all bathroom activities need assistance with?
- Will there be a change in the user’s needs over time?
- Is there a requirement for placing the medical supplies of the user?
- Are there activities that the user can perform independently with the help of grab bars?
Standards of Accessibility
While the accessibility design varies from individual to individual, there are some textbook standards that you can consider.
- Comply with the AUS/NZ 1428 standard that lists the most critical considerations and requirements;
- Providing an entrance width of at least 90 cm;
- Comply with the special dimensions of accessible toilets, i.e., 70 cm of height and 90cm of side clearance;
- Consider having a bidet toilet that provides the function of both bidet and toilet at the same pace.
Design Features
If you think that accessible bathrooms need to look like to comply with the requirements, you’re wrong. You can achieve a perfect combination of modern and functional with the help of some quality bathroom layout providers.
To make a bathroom both modern and accessible, here are some essential toiletry elements you need to consider.
- MIrrors and sinks: For people requiring wheelchair facilities, mirrors and sinks will need to be placed lower than usual.
- Non-slip surfaces: Make sure that you find non-slip materials for designing the floor, shower and bathtubs.
- Storage: Auger for a storage setup that is easily accessible and can hold all the necessary medical supplies.
Also read: All You Need to Know About Bathroom renovations
Final Words
A well-designed accessible bathroom can be the difference between independence and dependence for someone. It helps provide physical comfort to some people ands them feel more confident about their abilities. If you have a specially-abled family member, investing in an accessible bathroom is one of the best things you can do to make their life easier.
So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with some of the best suppliers to build a perfect disabled bathroom layout today.