The bathroom can quickly turn into one of the most dangerous rooms in your home if it isn’t appropriately designed for safety. Safety is even more important if you have small children, elderly people, or someone with a disability in your home. If you decided to do a bathroom remodel, this is the perfect time to work in improving the safety of the bathroom for your family. Here are a few bathroom remodeling tips that are important for keeping your family safe and comfortable in the bathroom.
Tip #1 – Start with Non-Slip Flooring
One great tip for a bathroom remodel is to start off with non-slip flooring. The right flooring is essential in the bathroom. Your flooring needs to stand up to water, since the bathroom often deals with puddles and humidity. You also need to ensure that the flooring has a non-slip surface so there is less likelihood of a fall occurring.
Tip #2 – Avoid Steps if Possible
While many people feel that steps add some visual appeal to the bathroom area, you should avoid steps if you can for safety reasons. Steps that lead into the shower, tub or the bathroom can end up being dangerous. Older people and children are more likely to have problems with steps. Instead of using steps when you’re working on a bathroom remodel, consider adding a platform area around the tub. This allows you to easily sit down while getting in and out of the tub.
Tip #3 – Use Anti-Scald Faucets
When installing new faucets as a part of your bathroom remodel, make sure you use anti-scald faucets to keep your family safe. These faucets should be used on the sink, shower and bathtub. This is especially important if you have small children that will be using the bathroom. Anti-scald faucets will help prevent accidental scalding accidents in the bathroom.
Tip #4 – Go with Shatterproof Shower Doors
If you’re planning to have a shower that includes shower doors, make sure that you install shatterproof shower doors. Shatterproof doors are much safer in your bathroom. They won’t shatter, helping to prevent injuries within the bathroom area.
Tip #5 – Ensure Electrical Outlets are GFCI
It’s also important to ensure that the electrical outlets in your bathroom are GFCI outlets, which stands for ground fault circuit interrupters. These special outlets are designed for areas where water may accidentally be splashed in the area. Not only will they keep your electrical system safe, but they’ll help prevent electrical injuries from occurring in your bathroom as well.
Tip #6 – Use Grab Bars Throughout the Bathroom
You’ll want to make sure you add some grab bars throughout the bathroom as you remodel the bathroom area. Grab bars help to provide more safety in the bathroom, especially to those who are elderly or disabled. Of course, the entire family can benefit from the improved safety that comes with installed grab bars. These bars can be added in bathtubs, in showers and in toilet areas as well. When choosing grab bars for installation, make sure that you choose models that hold at least 250 pounds. You can find these bars in various finishes, shapes and sizes, allowing you to find the options that work best with your bathroom remodel.