Bathtubs

October 2025

SHOWER or BATH?

Statistics tell us 57% of the population shower and 32% take baths. Which are you?

In this Bath notice the small tiles on the floor, a wet area. There are 2 grab bars. One vertical for entering/exiting the tub and one horizontal that supports someone showering or lowering themselves into the tub.

My 75 year old mom took oatmeal baths for a period of time. How did we make sure her bath was safe and comfortable for a 75 year old? The same way you would for a 2-5 year old, using Universal Design! A non-slip surface on the floor of the tub and around the tub, a grab bar handle on the tub for exiting and entering the tub, a stool to sit on and for ease of getting out of the tub and lastly a heater to maintain the temperature in the bathroom.

UD Checklist for Optimum Bathtubs

Flooring: Non- slippery, small tile

Shower Chairs, Benches, Stools

Grab Bars: Install 40” from floor.

Lighting

Heater/In-Floor heating

Hardware: UD hardware, Adjustable Hand Head Shower Head.

6’ Turning radius in front of tub, vanity and toilet.

Vanity with open toe kick at the bottom.

Tubs: How big is enough? Walk in tubs

Bathtub Flooring: Addressing a slippery surface is easy, place a bath mat with suction cups on the tub floor. Appliques on the tub floor work for any age.

Flooring: I can not stress enough about the correct size of the tile in a bathroom area.  It is not safe to use any large tile on a bathroom floor.  The tile must be a small sized tile (5”) to reduce slips. Use large tiles on the walls of a tub but for safety sake only use small tiles on any wet floor surface around a tub.  A small sized tile will have more grout lines and this allows the toes to grab onto something and prevent a slip or fall. 

Find a tile that fits your design style that is also safe.  Believe me, a fall in a bathroom usually results in a poor outcome.  Remember for safety, comfort and independence, use at least 1” tile in any wet areas (particularly in those combo tub and shower wet rooms) and no more than 5” tiles for the rest of the bathroom floor. 

This small bathroom tile floor is flush with the hallway threshold , great UD. No tripping hazard here!

Other materials used in a wet room area? Whatever it is make sure it’s waterproof and installed correctly! Luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) has many options to select from. I would not use carpet in a bathroom area.

Remember that any floor rugs or bathmats may be a tripping hazard. It is best not to use them when balance and mobility are an issue in the family or with friends. Using a wheeled device on a rug or bathmat can be difficult. If there are any concerns regarding safety, remove the rug or bathmats.

Shower Chairs, Benches and Stools:

The waterproof step stool (about 12”) or a stackable bath step inside the tub is a great tool for getting kids in the tub but also allowing easy transfers for adults. If an adult finds the stool placed in the bathtub is too low, time for a shower chair!

Bath bench slide: There are bench bath slides that sit across a tub.  One transfers onto the bench and slides across into the middle of the tub. You need a flat surface on either side of the tub to place the slide.   There is no back on a slide, so it may not provide the feeling of security that a shower chair provides.  If you only have a tub in the home, this is a great option.

Bath Bench slide. It fits inside the tub. Over kill on tub grab bars! The angled one on the far side works best.

Shower Chairs: My rule of whether a person can use the tub is , can they independently and safely transfer into and out of the tub? If not, you have 2 options, use a shower or use a shower chair in the tub.

You have 2 options in shower chairs. To clarify, we call any chair which is in a tub or shower, a shower chair! Bathing chair might be more accurate.

Back to your 2 options. A swivel shower chair will easily allow someone to sit on the chair and then pivot 90 degrees towards the interior of the tub. They must be able to move their legs into the tub or someone must assist them.   If safety/balance is an issue, consider the swivel chair.

Swivel shower chair. Turns 360 degrees.

The second option is the stationary shower chair which fits inside the tub. Both options allow for showering rather than tub bathing. You will need an adjustable shower head.

Stationary Shower Chair is portable, easy to use, simple, safe and functional. All UD features.

This shower stool is another option. It doesn’t look as institutional as the shower chair. Make sure it fits safely in the tub space.

There are waterproof electric bath lift chairs if a bath is something an aging person or a person with mobility difficulties is interested it. It will lift the person from the tub floor up to either level with the edge of the tub or higher. This piece of equipment will probably stay in the tub as it weighs around 20-30# and others couldn’t use the tub. That being said, you would be surprised how kids will enjoy the experience of riding in and out of the tub! If you are contemplating an electric lift for the tub, make sure the inside dimensions of the tub allow for the lift dimensions, as it fits inside the tub. You may need a power source so check to see if has a battery option.

Grab Bars:

The easy to mount clamp handle grab bar can be used by all ages to exit/enter the tub safely. I would consider this if the person, young or old needs minimal assistance entering or exiting the tub. The handle grab bar is movable and temporary so the fixture can be removed when no longer needed or if you want it at another location on the tub.

Easy to mount

clamp handle grab bar for a tub. Great UD.

This is the one of best UD safety products for anyone using a tub.

I love, love, love GRAB BARS:

I like to put a vertical grab bar on the wall where one enters/exits the tub. I usually put another grab bar horizontally for tub bathing by the soap holder area in the tub. Horizontal grab bars are typically used to guide you as you walk into a space particularly in a tub/shower combo.

Use your design sense and find bars that reflect your style.  In the shower blog I explained how to install a grab bar properly.

Wavy Grab bar that can be mounted either horizontally or vertically.

Grab bars come in a variety of materials, lengths and widths.

Grab bars should be place at about 40” from the floor, whether for kids or adults. The shower blog explains why grab bars can be used instead of a towel bar.

You find grab bars along the path of transfers in and out of a tub, in any slippery area, by the hand held shower head and in the toilet area.

This angled grab bar is part vertical and part horizontal. Works quite well in tubs and toilet areas where people are transitioning from a sit to stand position.

Lighting: This is where your design style can shine! Task lighting and overall lighting in a tub area which contributes to the safety of all who use the tub is good UD.

Look at commercial bathrooms for fantastic lighting ideas.

Decorative Puck Light on top of bathroom linen cabinet.

Hardware:

The adjustable shower head is a must especially if someone is using a bench, chair or stool in the tub.  Young and old can both use it. Make sure the shower head slides down far enough that everyone can reach it easily. All bath hardware should have as many UD features as possible.

This shower/tub combo has a hand held shower head with the adapter/mixer close by. There is an overhead rain shower as well. Modifications need to work for you and be simple, easy to use, equitable to all, intuitive, and look nice. All UD features.

The higher location of this hand held shower head and mixer makes me think the parent wants to control the water!

6’ Turning Radius: For great UD there needs to be ample space in front of a tub and bathroom vanity. Minimum of 5’ but 6’ is better. Again, this allows space for a caregiver.

Vanities: Bathroom vanities should have an open toe kick space to allow your feet to slip under the vanity particularly if someone is using a wheelchair.

Open toe kick on this vanity

just like in a lower kitchen cabinet!

Vanity has the recessed toe kick at the bottom. This allows a person using a wheelchair to get closer to the sink.

Tubs: Technically a tub is never going to be great Universal Design, because it is not usable by all and unsafe for others. UD product modifications will make it safer and usable for many. Tubs come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Make sure you can safely get in and out of the tub before purchasing it!

Figure out how large the tub really needs to be and how deep. Removable handle grab bars can make a bathtub more accessible, but the deeper the tub, the greater the safety risk. Using a stool to move from the tub floor to its edge can be helpful for some individuals. However, the need to repeatedly place and remove the stool may reduce its overall convenience. When you can maneuver around a tub, it allows for easy cleaning and more options for exiting the tub.

Walk in Tub

This is a modification that may work for folks that are walking and wanting to take a bath yet reducing the risk of a fall. Notice the turning area available in front of the tub.

I also recommend using waterproof moldings in wet areas of the bathroom.

Heater: a heater in a bathroom is great UD for everyone whether toileting, bathing or brushing your teeth.  Everyone loves the comfort of the heater. This is a separate heater unit from your main HVAC system. This heater can be part of the light and exhaust fan unit. If you need more information, check with an electrician.

A product like a bathroom heater is great UD not only for safety but comfort.

Another UD feature that is popular is in floor-heating. The cost has come down making it more affordable in a small bathroom space.

As life evolves, so do our needs. Aging, temporary injuries, or changing circumstances can affect mobility and accessibility in unexpected ways. That’s why it’s essential to remain open to modifications — not just for ourselves, but for everyone around us.

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