Wiley's Place

Most people have a functional, but fairly boring bathroom. We may pretty it up with accessories, paint, and a nice shower curtain, but, it’s still not our true dream bathroom. In order for it to be we’d need to do a bathroom renovation.

While a renovation may get us the dream bathroom we’ve always wanted, it’s a luxury that may not be in the cards. However, if we have an elderly relative moving in with us, we may no longer have the luxury of remodeling. It may now be a necessity. There are some easy upgrades that can be done to a bathroom, but what if grab bars and a shower seat aren’t enough?

A walk in shower is a wonderful luxury upgrade to a bathroom. They increase the value of your home, and they are elegant. Yet, in addition to being luxurious, they are also great for accessibility. Someone using a walker or cane can much more easily use a walk in shower than stepping into a bathtub. Walk in showers for seniors can also restore lost independence by allowing the person to bathe without assistance.

Many walk in shower designs incorporate a lip at the door to hold back the water. There are designs that will eliminate this lip, but they tend to be large, which may not work in a smaller bathroom. However, a wet room upgrade may be a great solution. Wet rooms are designed so that the whole floor can get wet. Since they often have a central drain, water flowing out of the shower along the floor isn’t a problem. This means that a much smaller wall or screen can be installed to protect the toilet and sink from the shower spray, while eliminating the lip on traditional walk in shower designs.

Remodeling your bathroom to add accessibility may be even more stressful that planning a luxury remodel. However, there are designs for luxury bathrooms that can be easily adapted for accessibility. You can have a beautiful and accessible bathroom.

Tags: wet room