As we age, our homes should support our lifestyle, safety, and independence. With a luxury aging in place bathroom, you don’t have to choose between elegance and functionality. Thoughtful design makes it possible to age well at home with beauty and confidence.
Falls are a major risk for older adults. The bathroom is one of the most important rooms to prioritize in any aging-in-place remodel, but it’s also one of the most dangerous. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults, and the bathroom is the most common setting for these incidents. But with the right design, your bathroom can be transformed into a luxurious, safe, and supportive environment.
How to Make Your Bathroom Aging in Place Ready
Here are a few tips from Bonnie J. Lewis Design, a nationally recognized Aging-in-Place Remodel expert who has helped many homeowners age in place with beauty and safety:
- Ensure ADA Compliance
Incorporate wide doorways, a curb-less (zero-threshold) shower, and well-placed, attractive grab bars. Consider a shower bench and a raised toilet seat for ease and comfort.
- Use Slip-Resistant Flooring
Flooring should reduce the risk of slips and falls, especially in wet areas like the shower and tub, while maintaining a high-end aesthetic. - Install Abundant, Layered Lighting
Good lighting is important for visibility and safety. You can also include ambient and accent lighting to enhance usability and create a soothing environment. - Design for Accessible Storage
Vanities and linen closets should be easy to reach and use, even from a seated position (i.e., wheelchairs) or with a mobility aid (i.e., walkers). - Choose a Calming and Relaxing Color Scheme
A soft, serene palette reduces stress and creates a space that makes you feel more at ease in your bathroom.
An Aging-in-Place Remodel to Live Independently and Avoid Assisted Living
Christine’s Story
“My favorite features are the shower bench, which I can flip up, and the big niche for all my shampoos and lotions. It is not just functional, it also turned out beautiful.”
In her 70s, Christine had a spacious primary bathroom, but discovered after undergoing double knee replacement surgery that it wasn’t designed to meet her needs. The shower was narrow and small, and there was no seat, which was essential. So, she had no choice but to get an ugly, institutional medical equipment seat.
Christine said, “I hated seeing that ugly thing multiple times a day.” Plus, the shower door would not close, with both she and the seat inside the shower, so water poured out on the floor, creating a slip-and-fall hazard every time. The water closet was also difficult for her to navigate with her walker, which she also had to use for her recovery. Christine quickly realized that her bathroom was not conducive to aging well, independently.
Her desire was simple: stay in the home she loved rather than moving to an assisted living community in the future, maintain her independence, and never feel like she was living in a medical facility. Christine decided to look into having her bathroom designed and remodeled for Aging-in-Place.
That’s when she contacted Bonnie J. Lewis Design.
Bonnie listened carefully to Christine’s needs and designed a detailed new floor and lighting plan tailored to her recovery and long-term goals. An attractive shower seat was a priority. Bonnie also created CAD drawings that were used by the contractor for construction estimation, obtaining a city permit, and as a construction roadmap. The result was a beautifully remodeled, ADA-compliant bathroom featuring:
- A large, no-threshold/curb-less shower
- A custom, wheelchair-accessible vanity
- Slip-resistant flooring
- Ample, layered lighting
- Elegant, functional grab bars
- Accessible storage and thoughtful layout improvements
- And many more aging-friendly and ADA features
Christine was especially thrilled with the attractive flip-up shower bench and the spacious built-in shower niche for all her toiletries. “It is not just functional,” she said. “It also turned out beautiful.”
Before
After
Why Luxury and Safety Can and Should Coexist
Aging in place design blends luxury, comfort, and thoughtful functionality. When guided by a degreed interior designer with aging-in-place expertise, the result is a space that feels elegant, inviting, and beautifully tailored to your lifestyle and personal taste.
Designing for aging in place is all about empowerment. It provides the confidence to live independently, stay in your home longer, and enjoy every room with comfort and ease.
Learn More About Luxury Aging in Place Bathroom Design
Want more expert tips, inspiration, and real-life remodel stories? Explore the latest issue of Bonnie J. Lewis’s Later Life Living magazine. It’s filled with award-winning design insights that can help you age well in the home you love, with the luxury and peace of mind you deserve.