Optimize Your Bathroom WITH UNIVERSAL DESIGN

by Chad T. Speight

Is your bathroom aging well with you? It will if you incorporate Universal Design features: common-sense solutions for better living. Universal Design creates spaces that help family members age in place gracefully, accommodate guests of all ages, and are easier and safer to live in, allowing occupants to maintain maximum mobility and independence.

When considering the functional design of your home’s living spaces, it’s helpful to review the 7 Principles of Universal Design as articulated by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).

1. Equitable use—Design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.

2. Flexibility in use—Design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.

3. Simple and intuitive use—Use of design is easy to understand regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.

4. Perceptible information—Design communicates necessary information effectively to the user regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.

5. Tolerance for error—Design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.

6. Low physical effort—Design can be used efficiently and comfortably with minimum fatigue.

7. Size and space for approach and use—Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of the user’s body size, posture, or mobility.

To incorporate Universal Design principles in your bathroom, access should be as barrier free as possible. The best option is usually a zeroclearance threshold shower with a secure seat and niches for storage. Properly designed and installed, these shower enclosures can be integrated to turn the entire floor into a waterproofed area. While a main-level bathroom is desirable for long-term accessibility, an existing bathroom can be thoughtfully renovated to maximize access.

Toilets can have automatic flushing mechanisms and should be situated in the larger space area versus a separate enclosed space to allow someone to assist from one side, if needed. A chairheight, or comfort-height, toilet or bidet is an excellent option requiring less bending to use and is easier to get on and off. Faucets and valves with twist handles should be replaced with single-handle levers or single-handle shower control for better manipulation. They should also be positioned for easy reach and control. A handheld shower on a vertical bar provides excellent height control and flexibility in showering options.

Consider safety first. Grab bars are available in many styles and finishes for seamless integration into any bath design. It’s prudent to install blocking for grab bars when building or remodeling, even if you don’t plan on installing them just yet. Surfaces should be durable and easy to clean. Take care in selecting nonslip flooring (especially where surfaces can get wet) and ensure flooring material is installed properly to prevent trip hazards or mobility-device obstacles.

If possible, the floorplan should allow for a threshold-free, wide-access doorway into the space—36-inch minimum is optimal—and enough room to turnaround a mobility-assistance device. A pocket door or outward swing door can allow for better access if the door were to be accidentally blocked from the inside. Lever door handles and illuminated rocker light switches are easier to see and handle for all ages. Select a sink vanity with a readily accessible height and plan for essential item storage within easy reach. Floating vanities can be an ideal option to allow for positioning the sink at the best height and providing space to maneuver around and under. A removable storage shelf under the floating vanity is a flexible way to replace lost cabinet storage. Ensure any closed storage areas have functional door and drawer handles for easier access to contents.

Technology helps boost access when combined with Universal Design principles. A humidity-sensing bath vent can be a smart addition since the fan can turn on and off automatically to stop moisture from accumulating and help prevent mold. Lighting should be designed for both general access and specific tasks. Think in terms of layering your lighting, utilizing good general lighting and bright task lighting for self-care, and easy to operate low-light options for dark interior spaces or latenight usage.

A NARI-certified Universal Design Certified Professional (UDCP) goes through extensive training to properly interview clients, consider their unique needs, and integrate Universal Design seamlessly into remodeling projects. Your renovated space should be physically durable, functional, and accessible. It should be personalized for your current and long-term needs. Ensure that the company helping you update your home has a UDCP or similarly certified staff professional to support your long-term investment. When you incorporate Universal Design into your living spaces, you ensure that everyone—regardless of age, size, or ability—can live safely, comfortably, and effectively in your home.

Chad Speight is the owner and president of Chads Design Build, in Madison, which has three NARI-certified UDCP team members on staff. Chads Design Build is the NARI of Madison 2022 Contractor of the Year (CotY) award winner for the Universal Design Bath category.

Photographs by Kyle Wege, AIAP, of Crimson Sun Studios

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