If you’ve been shopping for an accessible, ADA, roll in, or barrier free shower, by now I’ll bet a ‘dollar to donuts’ (yes, that’s a weird saying I know) you’re used to seeing pictures of boring, white plastic shower systems. YUCK!
And while these institutional-looking white systems will ‘work’ (and function as a barrier free shower), they don’t exactly conjure images of a luxury bathroom at a Ritz Carlton hotel!
And even if you NEED a safe, barrier free shower, that doesn’t mean you want to settle for one which looks straight out of General Hospital…without the drama.
But you may be wondering in this ‘sea’ of white, institutional, plastic barrier free showers how you can get one which’ll score high for looks, not drain your wallet of every last penny you have and be safe. And if this is your dilemma read the 9 tips below for a barrier free shower which’ll actually give you a lux look at a reasonable price.
Tip #1 – Use stylish wall panels – or if your budget is bigger (and you’re OK with more maintenance), install tile
While you can create virtually any design in barrier free tile shower, it’s expensive and costly to maintain. A surprising option to consider – which’ll save significant labor expenses are 3/8” thick grout free laminate wall panels. They’ll have you saying I Can’t Believe it’s NOT Tile! With these panels you can get stack bond or running bond tile looks – or even the look of stone or wood tiles.
Tip #2 – Ditch the shower curtain and use a thick frameless glass shower door or even a grid style door
Shower curtains are not only dirt and grim magnets, but they also block the view of your stylish shower wall surrounds, cool niches, and shower fixtures. And they’ll also make your barrier free shower darker (and therefore, more dangerous). So, you may be thinking of a shower door instead.
And while options in shower doors can be overwhelming (and if you want to simplify buying a shower door read How to Choose a Glass Shower Door), what many people don’t realize is it IS possible to design a walk-in, or fully enclosed barrier free shower – and add warmth and style to your shower in the process.
One smart option for a barrier free shower (which can even work if a loved one needs the help of a caregiver) is to use a shower screen. It’ll give you 36” to enter if you’re doing a tub to shower conversion in a 60” wide space. And for a walk in shower – it’s pivoting door does a nice job keeping the water in. Or if you want a bolder look – the matte black grid style bypass doors are a hot look.
Tip #3 – Choose your hardware wisely to add style AND ease of maintenance
If you’re staring at pitted polished brass doorknobs and shower head which WERE the pinnacle of bathroom fashion when mullets were popular – they’d be telling you (if they could speak) it’s time for a bathroom upgrade (whether it’s barrier free or not).
So, to add modern pizzazz (and reduce maintenance since these patterns don’t show spotting like their polished hardware brothers) is to choose matte black, brushed nickel, or brushed brass hardware.
Since hardware is the ‘jewelry’ of your stylish barrier free shower you’ll ignore it at your own risk.
And to also make your barrier free shower simpler to use for someone in a wheelchair (and/or to make it simpler to clean your dog) a hand-held shower with a diverter valve is smart.
Image Credits: Lowes.com
Tip #4 – Make your shower drain a stylish and better-flowing feature of your barrier shower, and NOT an eyesore!
If you’re used to cussing your shower drain (which is stopped up again and looks oh-so-ugly!) you need to learn two things:
Your shower drain is an inanimate object and won’t respond to your gripes and
And the right shower drain can actually stop you from standing in a pool of water AND look stylish (yes, that’s a Ripley’s Believe it Or Not claim)
And here’s the secret to make your shower drain asset vs. a liability. It’s to use a linear drain. It’ll increase water flow and minimize the drain getting clogged. You can also add decorative drain plates (or even get a disappearing drain with tiles set into the plate). And since a linear drain is located towards an edge of the shower pan, you won’t have the discomfort of standing on the drain.
Tip #5 – Use the one level wet room floor the Europeans have embraced for years.
If you visit a home in Europe this shower and bathroom floor design is as common (or ubiquitous if I’m to throw in a fancy word so you’ll think I’m smart) as a Starbucks or McDonalds in your town.
And if you don’t know what wet rooms are they’re a waterproof seamless bathroom and shower floor where the low spot in the floor is where the shower drain is but there’s no barrier between the shower or bathroom floor.
Wet rooms are not only wonderful for roll in or roll through showers, but they have a sleek vibe which is also popular in high-end hotels to use for all bathrooms – not just for ‘handicap accessible’ rooms.
Image Credits: JTEK Solutions
And a wet room beats the pants off the look of a fiberglass handicap ramped barrier free shower pan which has as much style sense as U.S. Senator John Fetterman at a news conference (which, you have to admit, is a bit lacking, whether you like his politics or not).
Unfortunately, as we age – our eyesight doesn’t age like a fine bottle of wine. We need more lighting. However, showers with curtains, bathrooms with no windows – or blinds over the windows for privacy, don’t help your shower feel bright and open. And that’s not even including the negative effect on bathroom safety in a dark space.
Tip #7 – Add seating without it gobbling precious space.
I don’t know about you, but I cringe when I see geriatric shower chairs sitting inside white plastic, institutional looking barrier free showers. Nothing says UGLY or AN OLD PERSON LIVES HERE so well!
And even though fixed bench seats can look stylish (initially) in a tile shower – they’re often a source of leaks and a pain to clean.
A better option are stylish fold down seats. Put them down when they’re needed (for shaving your legs of if you need to shower in a seated position) and put them up for those who want a roomier shower.
Tip #8 – Take advantage of the ‘design riches’ in recessed niches.
It’s amazing how many times storage is forgotten in a shower design. Then owners end up putting their shampoo bottles on the shower floor – creating an ‘accident waiting to happen.’ Or in desperation they go to the Dollar Store and buy a hideous plastic shower caddy to hang over the shower head.
However, this shower caddy ‘solution’ doesn’t do their mobility challenged family member any good whatsoever (who might not be able to reach the plastic caddy hanging over the shower head), not to mention they get valuable ‘style points’ taken away for including such an ugly ‘shower appendage!’
So, how can you lick (ok, not literally…. YUCK!) the shower storage dilemma AND add a cool feature to your barrier free shower at the same time? It’s to add a recessed niche. You can get low maintenance stainless steel niches in a vertical or horizontal orientation in 7 sizes and 10 finishes.
Tip #9 – Reimagine your grab bars as an asset, not a ‘style liability’ of your barrier free shower.
In many cases, a zero threshold (AKA a barrier free) shower is needed because you have a family member with mobility challenges. And mobility challenged showers are joined at the hip with the need for grab bars (which are usually the style-zapping and element of a shower which are about as welcomed in a shower as a trip to the medical supply store or your dentist (sorry to say that Dr. Marsh!).
However, I’m here to deliver the good news to you. This DOES NOT have to be the case. In today’s world you can get decorative grab bars (like you’ll see below) or even grab shelves (which do double duty as a grab bar and a storage shelf).
Don’t settle for a truck-stop or ‘hospital-inspired’ (sarcasm intended) grab bar any longer!
How can we help you with a stylish (non-institutional) barrier free shower?
I hope this article has made you see a barrier free shower CAN be stylish IF you know the right products and systems to make it happen (and can find a progressive contractor willing to build your accessible shower).
President of Innovate Building Solutions a nationwide supplier and regional (Cleveland and Columbus) remodeling contractors. Some of our product lines include glass counters, floors, backsplashes, glass blocks and grout free shower and tub wall panels
