Multigenerational households have grown in popularity since the early 1970s and have gained even more momentum in recent years. There are numerous benefits to living with grandparents, parents, and grandkids in the same home. When relatives live close by, there is more opportunity to build closer relationships and lasting memories.
With people of various ages living in the same house, consider the needs of older individuals, young kids, and everyone in between when designing rooms. Here's how to design a bathroom to create a safe, functional, and comfortable space for everyone in your family.
Design Features to Consider
Slip- and Trip-Proof Surfaces
Let's begin with safety. Removing tripping hazards ranks high on the priority list, as the household might include people with different mobility strengths. A bathroom door threshold flush with the floor will reassure family members who have difficulty stepping over raised surfaces.
Materials with exceptional traction can help prevent tumbles on wet flooring. Granite, for instance, is available in various colors, making it an easy-to-find solution that complements many different aesthetics. Beyond its visual appeal, stone provides traction to reduce the risk of falls. Rubber and vinyl with a slip-proof surface are also worth considering, as both can help cushion falls to prevent injuries.
Open Floor Plan
More space to spread out makes the bathroom safer and more functional. Consider an open floor plan with unobstructed routes to the toilet, shower, vanity, and storage areas. This feature is helpful for seniors who use walkers and wheelchairs. They can navigate confidently without the frustration of bumping into fixtures and cabinetry.
Adults and children alike may use the space to get ready for the day, too. As a result, there may be multiple family members in the bathroom at the same time. An open concept ensures different parties can access counter space. Lastly, younger kids will enjoy a roomier area to play with toys before or after bath time!
Walk-In Shower
A walk-in shower is an appealing addition to a multigenerational home. There's no need to raise legs over the side of a tub, which might be challenging for different family members. A built-in shower stool or bench eliminates the need to stand for long periods, while slip-proof flooring provides peace of mind to individuals who prefer to stand.
Space-Saving Storage
Create ample storage so everyone has a dedicated place to put their belongings—from skincare, shampoos, and makeup to toys and towels. Built-in shelves and cabinets are excellent for creating storage without sacrificing floor space. Shelves and cabinets installed closer to the floor are more accessible for children and individuals who use wheelchairs. Install locks to child-proof cabinet doors as appropriate.
Installing a large vanity also creates more storage space for everyone's stuff. Consider a wall-mounted vanity if someone in your household uses a wheelchair, as they have space underneath for one to fit under.
Lighting
Lighting influences the comfort, safety, and functionality of a bathroom. When there are dimmer lights, each person can customize the lighting to suit their needs. Place the switch lower on the wall so everyone can reach it.
Useful Bathroom Fixtures
Grab Bars & Accessible Handles
Grab bars are safety features that can be placed near the shower and toilet for added stability when standing and sitting. Plumbing fixtures with levers might be easier to grip and use when compared to turning knobs. For hands-free accessibility, incorporate innovative technology like a motion sensor-operated toilet and faucets into your multigenerational bathroom.
Handheld Showerhead
A handheld showerhead is an excellent fixture for your multigenerational bathroom. Canopy's Handheld Filtered Showerhead is even better because it meets the consumer demand for shower fixtures with an accessibility focus that also target skin and hair health.
The handheld component simplifies adjusting the water angle and pressure while sitting or standing, overcoming accessibility challenges and benefiting family members of every age.
Our ADA-compliant and dermatologist-recommended handheld filtered showerhead removes heavy metals, chlorine, and other skin-irritating and hair-damaging contaminants from the water.
Bathing with contaminant-free H2O keeps skin in good condition. Chlorine and other contaminants can dry out the skin, compromising its barrier and causing discomfort. Removing the contaminants boosts the skin's functionality and improves its appearance and feel. Filtering out drying contaminants is especially beneficial to seniors, as the skin naturally becomes drier and more fragile with age. Babies are also prone to dry skin.
Filtered water protects the scalp and hair because unfiltered H2O can strip hair of its natural oils (regardless of a person’s age), leading to dryness and breakage. Filtered water won’t irritate the scalp or fade hair color. It's easier to rinse out the suds in filtered water, too. Thoroughly washing out products keeps hair bouncy and glossy instead of limp and lifeless. Unwind while supporting hair growth with our handheld filtered showerhead’s scalp massager attachment.
