The term ‘accessible bathroom’ may conjure up a dull and off-putting image of clunky bathroom aids and a clinical appeal. Luckily, that is no longer the case. Thanks to modern design, accessible bathrooms can be just as trendy as any other bathroom and be perfectly safe and easy for everyone to use.
At Mobility Plus, we don’t believe you need to sacrifice style in order to achieve a bathroom that is practical and suits your mobility needs. That’s why we’ve researched the best examples of accessible bathroom design ideas from the Internet to inspire you and help you make your space an attractive haven.
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- Bathroom plants and a touch of greenery
- Built-in storage
- Minimalistic tiles
- Floating and wall-hung sinks
- Handheld shower heads
- Upcycled and repurposed items
- Walk-in-showers and the wet room aesthetic
- Hanging lights
- Stylish grab bars
- Monochrome design
- Spa-like bathroom
- Walk-in baths
- Contrasting taps for visually impaired people
- Outdoor shower
- Retro decor
- Bright colours
- Marble floor and surfaces
- Wooden patterns
- Large mirrors over the vanity
1. Bathroom plants and a touch of greenery
When it comes to assisted living bathroom design, we’re seeing a lot to do with plants at the moment. In fact, placing household plants in the bathroom is on track to become one of the biggest design trends of the next decade. Plants provide many mental health benefits as well as a connection to nature, helping us to feel calmer, more centred and happier. They also help to oxygenate your bathroom, to a small extent, but it’s the overall feel of being closer to nature that is the true benefit.
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Of all the trends on this list, this is possibly the easiest to implement. If you’ve got a window sill, this is the perfect place to add a little potted succulent (or two) while larger leafier plants can dress up bare corners. Have a look at our selection of best plants for small bathrooms for inspiration.
Adding a statement piece such as a photograph like our_home_in_kingstone did is can also elevate the space even further.
2. Built-in storage
Space-saving options are yet another trend sweeping accessible and small bathroom designs in recent years. There are plenty of smart storage ideas out there to optimise the room you do have without compromising on style.
Storage built into walls, as seen on the right-hand side of this wet room by wheely_love_living, can be particularly helpful when designing a bathroom for those with limited mobility. Not only does this declutter the room, but it also eliminates the need for wall-mounted cupboards and shelving units that limit movement.
Designing your bathroom space with mobility in mind is a smart decision as you get older. If you are contemplating this, you should always have storage in the forefront of your mind, as there is always a need for it.
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3. Minimalistic tiles
A key disabled bathroom design trend at the moment is minimalism: clean and uncluttered spaces with flourishes of character that create a calm oasis to help you to unwind. You can achieve this look easily by selecting some chic minimalistic bathroom tiles like Maegan from Blue Copper Design did that will instantly update your bathroom’s look and feel. There are plenty of options to explore, from classic monochrome to vintage-inspired patterns.
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Have a look at our selection of minimalistic tiling trends for some ideas. Meanwhile, by choosing non-slip floor tiles or flooring, you’ll be adding an essential safety feature to prevent bathroom falls.
If you’re looking at tiling alternatives, you can also look at tile effects wallboards.
“Ideal for an accessible bathroom, wall boards are 100% waterproof and do not need grout, which makes them hygienic and easy to keep clean for years to come. They also come in a range of modern designs”, says one of our bathroom installation experts at Mobility-Plus.
4. Floating and wall-hung sinks
Bathroom sinks mounted to the wall are perfect for everybody to use and are particularly great for those who need wheelchair access. Design-wise, they’re a smart choice to go with if you want to achieve that minimalist look with something that’s both practical and elegant to look at.
Going with a floating sink means you can fix the unit at any height to suit your needs.
“We also recommend wall-hung toilets in many bathrooms. This not only gives the option to install them at different heights but also allows the floor to be easily cleaned underneath the toilet, often a difficult area to access”, says our expert at Mobility-Plus.
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5. Handheld shower heads
A great way of adding a touch of luxury to any bathroom or shower pod is with a handheld shower. This elegant fixture is not only practical and accessible but can also serve as a focal point as part of an otherwise minimal design. Choose yours in a metallic finish like copper or gold, or opt for a more striking monochromatic appeal with an all-black unit. This is the perfect kind of feature to match with the minimalist tiles we touched on earlier.
“A handheld shower can also be useful where carer access is required or may be required in the future to assist with safe bathing”, explains Mobility-Plus expert.
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6. Upcycled and repurposed items
Designing on a dime? One of the best ways to complete an accessible bathroom project on a budget is through upcycling and repurposing. As a trend, upcycling has been around for a while now, but now it’s extending to bathrooms now.
Repurposed items like wood and retro sinks feature heavily while designers embrace mixing luxury fixtures with more warm and natural items. Just look at how wheelieliving has repurposed a piece of wood in this design to support their custom-made sink.
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7. Walk-in-showers and the wet room aesthetic
More than just an accessibility requirement, the wet room is quickly becoming the sought after look for new bathrooms. In fact, wet rooms are becoming the ultimate symbol of a luxury bathroom. Not only are they perfect for all ages, but they also help to maximise limited space while giving your bathroom a contemporary minimalistic vibe.
“Wet rooms can offer the safest access of any accessible bathroom. With level access flooring throughout, there are no lips or steps to trip over”, explains our expert.
There are so many options when it comes to creating a wet room effect in your bathroom, from walk-in-showers with benches to the full wet room look. This design by accessibleplease shows how you can integrate a bench with an open wall-mounted shower.
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8. Hanging lights
Yet another style that’s made its mark on the home interior circuit and is now making its way into our bathrooms. Hanging lights are something you might be used to seeing more of in kitchens. Set up a couple in your bathroom, though, and we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. When matched with other fixtures, they can really pull an entire design together like shown in this example from The Handmade Home. In addition to this, they increase brightness and visibility above areas like the sink.
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9. Stylish grab bars
You might think grab bars are nothing but supportive eye-sores. However, you can find stylish hand rails that blend nicely into your bathroom decor, offering a more subtle alternative to some of the more plain options.
The accessible bathroom idea below combines vertical and horizontal grab bars to create a symmetrical layout, which is a key aspect of modern design. What’s more, the steel grab bars add to the bathroom’s contemporary feel.
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10. Monochrome design
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Monochrome is one of the most popular palettes in contemporary, minimalist and modern bathroom designs. That’s because monochrome is simple and stylish by nature, which is what minimalism centres on. In the world of bathrooms, we believe that monochrome and minimalism go hand-in-hand.
As the idea below shows, you can pair white bathroom elements with black frames to create clean lines using monochromatic colours.
For an accessible bathroom, you can easily turn your walk-in shower into a monochrome centrepiece using a black frame around a glass enclosure. Or, you can pair black taps with a white basin.
11. Spa-like bathroom
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As we’ve said, accessible bathrooms can be stylish and luxurious. Installing spa features inside your walk-in shower or wet room can help elevate your bathroom experience to that level of relaxation. Of course, it’s not the most budget-friendly accessible bathroom idea, but it’s worth considering if you want unrivalled rejuvenation.
The example below uses multiple shower heads inside the walk-in shower to create a fully enclosed spa area. However, there are more affordable ways to build a spa-like atmosphere inside your bathroom. For instance, you can install mood lighting, use candles, or build a seating area inside your shower enclosure.
12. Walk-in baths
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If you have limited mobility and prefer soaking to showering, walk-in baths are a good alternative to walk-in showers. Walk-in baths have watertight doors and a low threshold, allowing you to get in and out of the tub more easily, without having to lower yourself or pick yourself up. You can choose from a variety of sizes, too.
There are compact walk-in tubs designed to help you bathe while sitting up, but you can also get full-length walk-in tubs, offering a more traditional bathing experience. Of course, the style of walk-in tub you should go for depends on your floor space and level of mobility.
13. Contrasting taps for visually impaired people
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If you’re visually impaired, there are ways you can make your bathroom more accessible and easier to navigate. First off, you can contrast the colour of your bathroom elements. Now, don’t be afraid to get creative here. Just look at the Instagram idea below – why not mix things up with a pink tap and olive basin? The variations of colour and shade can help you move around the bathroom more easily.
You can also use a variety of materials to help you locate different areas of the bathroom. For instance, you could use slab stones by the toilet and wash basin, and wooden flooring surrounding the shower enclosure.
14. Outdoor shower
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You already know about walk-in showers. But did you know you can also install walk-outdoor showers? If you have the space and budget, you can turn a regular outdoor space into the most natural shower enclosure possible.
Obviously, this accessible bathroom idea won’t be possible for everyone – it requires a bathroom with an adjacent garden. That said, it’s a good option if you want to feel closer to nature while you soak. Don’t forget that outdoor walk-in showers are not only easy to access, but they could help boost your mental wellbeing thanks to the calming properties of Mother Nature.
15. Retro decor
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The majority of accessible bathrooms are modern and minimalist. But if you’d like your bathroom to stand out from the crowd, you could go for a retro design instead. This type of decor can be tricky to get right – you need to install vintage elements without making the bathroom feel chaotic or mismatched.
For some retro inspo, look at the Instagram example below. It uses lots of whitespace with vintage floor tiles, a retro shower head, and a 70s-inspired basin, giving the room a green-coloured accent. In fact, the only contemporary element is the glass shower enclosure.
16. Bright colours
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Just like retro decor, using bright colours is an interesting way to create a unique bathroom. With so many whitewashed bathrooms out there, this design idea could be just what you’re after if you want your personality to shine through.
Again, you can get creative. As the Instagram example shows, you can choose bold colours to contrast with white tiles. Also, the wallpaper is bright and bold without being totally overwhelming. Remember, if you’re visually impaired, using bold colours could help you move around the bathroom more easily.
17. Marble floor and surfaces
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In terms of bathroom designs, marble is a timeless classic. It’s been used in manufacturing for thousands of years, thanks to its beauty and resistance to water. Of course, marble isn’t the cheapest material on the market, so this accessible bathroom idea won’t be suitable for everyone. However, you can find marble-effect replacements at a fraction of the cost.
18. Wooden patterns
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Nowadays, wooden layouts are used to create rustic bathrooms that help you feel closer to nature. If you appreciate rustic bathrooms, you could install wooden flooring and pair it with leafy plants and a rainfall shower head. The example below goes the extra mile with its wooden wall, creating an almost sauna-like shower enclosure.
19. Large mirrors over the vanity
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Using a large mirror over the vanity is one of the most stylish ways to brighten up your bathroom. Not only do elegant mirrors look wonderful, they help reflect light and make your bathroom feel even bigger. If you love classic bathrooms, then you should definitely consider investing in a showpiece mirror.
With so many different interior design options available, there are plenty of opportunities to inject your personal style and contemporary design into your new accessible bathroom while making it accessible and safe for everyone.
Find out more about our walk-in showers & wet rooms, as well as our walk-in baths for disabled and elderly and what we can do to introduce accessibility features into your bathroom without compromising on style.