Put Together the Perfect ADA Accessible Bathroom

When designing a bathroom, it’s common to think about form over function. Selecting a style and finding fun fixtures to pair with enchanting colors is the fun part of the design process. Yet, a well-designed bathroom blends an eye-catching design with fixtures that fit your lifestyle.

Homeowners may not need one now, but an accessible bathroom is handy to have. There’s no way to predict when someone will have mobility issues, and the accessible bathroom is a great selling point if the homeowner decides to sell the property in the future. Before putting together the perfect ADA-accessible bathroom, it’s essential to learn how this design differs from a standard bathroom and the types of features to include.

How Does an ADA Bathroom Differ From a Standard Bathroom?

The Americans with Disabilities Act is a law that requires businesses to ensure their buildings and the facilities inside are accessible to people with mobility challenges. For example, someone who uses a wheelchair to get around must be able to use the toilet and sink at the business. To accommodate this individual, the business must install grab handles around the toilet. Accessible bathrooms also have taller toilets and an open sink that a wheelchair can slide under.

Advantages of Creating an ADA-Accessible Bathroom

Although homeowners don’t have to follow the ADA accessibility guidelines, they can take cues from them to use in their own homes. Having an accessible bathroom is convenient when a guest with a mobility challenge visits. The features and fixtures that make a bathroom accessible are also helpful for elderly people, which makes it possible for homeowners to stay in their homes as they age — without the need for a costly renovation in their retirement years.

Create a Forever Bathroom with These Top ADA Bathroom Products

Ideally, the bathroom has enough room to accommodate a wheelchair or a walker inside the room. In a small bathroom, this may not be possible. However, it is possible to adjust or replace the plumbing fixtures, so they’re convenient for everyone to use. When you’re ready to start the bathroom remodel, consider these top ADA-friendly bathroom products.

Accessible Toilet

An accessible toilet is taller than a standard toilet, which makes it easier for people to sit down and stand up when they use it. The ADA requires toilets to measure at least 17 inches from the floor to the top of the bowl. The seat then adds another inch or so. When choosing a toilet, pay attention to the dimensions. Not only should the bowl be tall, but the toilet itself should leave enough space for a wheelchair or walker to rest nearby (if the room has space for that) and for grab handles on the wall.

Faucets

When choosing faucets for an accessible bathroom, look for handles instead of knobs. This design is easier to turn with one hand and doesn’t require a strong grip, which can be a challenge for someone with mobility issues. Handles that turn with a simple pull and push, like those on the Restoration line of bathroom faucets, work well in an accessible bathroom. Single-handle faucets like Fauceture’s Claremont line also fit in an accessible bathroom.

Grab Bars

An accessible home bathroom has grab bars beside the toilet and in the shower or tub. People can use these bars to help them sit down and stand up. Grab bars come in a variety of styles and finishes that coordinate with other fixtures in the room. For a bathroom with a modern or industrial design, look for grab bars with sleek, straight lines like those in the Berwyn collection. Look for bars with curved ends and decorative touches for a vintage or traditional room. Grab bars in the Meridian collection do double duty by combining additional features like a built-in soap holder.

Hand-Held Showerhead

Hand-held showerheads pair well with shower benches in an accessible bathroom. Instead of positioning the body under the stream of water — which is not always possible for an older person or someone who has trouble balancing — it’s possible to move the hand-held head to reach all the person’s body parts. Consider installing a hand shower combo unit that combines a regular showerhead with a hand-held version. A diverter switch makes it possible for everyone to choose the showerhead they want to use.

Shower Bench or Solid Surface Shower Seat

A shower bench is an essential part of an accessible bathroom for those who cannot stand in the shower or climb into the basin of the bathtub. If multiple people share the bathroom, consider installing a folding shower bench that tilts down out of the way when it’s not being used. The Adascape wall mount bench features openings that prevent water from collecting on the surface, and it comes in multiple finishes — wood grain, solid white, and brushed stainless steel — to complement any bathroom. A solid surface bench is an alternative to the folding bench. With no grout lines, this type of bench is easy to clean and won’t crack or warp.

Sink

Converting the sink in a bathroom may be the biggest part of creating an accessible bathroom. Ideally, the sink should sit 34 inches above the floor and have space underneath for a wheelchair to pull up close enough for the person to wash their hands. This may require switching out a cabinet-style vanity with an open one or installing a wall-mount sink with a shallow basin that’s easy to reach across.

Finding Accessible Bathroom Products at Kingston Brass

When shopping for plumbing fixtures to install in an accessible bathroom, pay attention to the dimensions of each item. Not only should they fit in the space available, but they also should be tall enough to meet the needs of the people using them. Kingston Brass carries a variety of products that you can use to create the accessible bathroom you need now or later in life. Explore the inventory of sinks, shower benches, grab bars, and more in an array of finishes and colors to coordinate with the room’s style.