What Makes A Shower Awesome & How to Make Your Home Accessible

October 2021

Dear ,

Each day we perform dozens, if not hundreds, of tiny little routine acts. Things like turning on a faucet, opening a door, or getting an item out of the cabinet. We never really consider that these may become difficult one day.

Making your home accessible may seem like something other people need but there are many reasons for it. You might also be surprised at how easy and inconspicuously you can achieve at least some level of accessibility in your home with a simple remodel.

But first, let's take a look at what makes a shower the perfect, relaxing, awesome experience you deserve.

Whether it’s where you start your day or end it, your shower should be a place that makes you feel relaxed and refreshed. If yours is old, outdated, difficult to clean, or you’re just not impressed with your shower, we have some tips on designing the shower of your dreams.

Make it Big and Spacious

If you’ve never taken a hot shower in a spacious shower, you are missing out. Even if your bathroom seems small, we can find space to install a spacious shower.

If you have a shower-tub combination, removing the tub will clear up a significant amount of space to devote to your new shower. We can also extend the shower into unused parts of your bathroom.

The idea that we, or our loved ones, may lose mobility or dexterity at some point is not pleasant to think about. We do, however, like to think we can remain comfortable and take care of ourselves as we approach our golden years. We’d also like to be able to care for a parent or other loved one if they start to face these issues in the future as well.

If you would like to make your home more accessible, for an immediate need or the future, we put together a list of ideas to get you started thinking:

Accessible Kitchen
One of the most vital areas of any home is the kitchen. It might also appear to be a daunting task to update it into an accessible space while maintaining the cozy, comfortable feel we all want. A few simple changes can make your kitchen much more accessible without the institutional look.

Lowering countertops to wheelchair-accessible heights is just the tip of the iceberg. New refrigerator and freezer drawers placed in base cabinets allow frequently used items to remain visible and accessible at all times.

Reaching deep inside a base cabinet can be problematic for many, and the door can easily get in the way. Replacing them with storage drawers for cookware and dinnerware can make these items easier to reach.

Bathroom Accessibility
Another part of the home that you need to think about is the bathroom. They can be not only inaccessible but also dangerous for people with disabilities. Many household injuries happen because of slip-and-fall accidents in the bathroom.

Zero-threshold showers provide a smooth transition from the bathroom floor to the shower, eliminating a tripping hazard while keeping the water contained. Slip-resistant flooring is also important.

Grab bars are another must, but they can be integrated into the shower design where they don’t have that industrial feel.

For the toilet, you can go with a chair-height version that is easier for people with limited mobility and strength. You should also install handrails to help a person keep their balance while sitting down and standing up.

There are some very stylish options available for wheelchair-accessible vanities, providing easy access to the sink. These may include easy-access storage for everything from towels to hair-driers and other daily-use items.

Flooring Options for Easy Mobility
When thinking of flooring, our minds might immediately go to making sure they are not slippery, which is a good start. However, standard carpeting can make getting around difficult for people with wheelchairs, walkers, or just some basic mobility issues.

The best flooring choices are hardened materials that are fairly smooth yet slip-resistant. Ceramic tile, laminate, or hardwood floors are some good options for mobility-friendly floors. These surfaces are durable and allow more free movement for people with wheelchairs and walkers.

If you have different types of flooring throughout the house, make sure the transition treatment works well for wheels and the change in height is ¼ inch or less.