Bathrooms are typically wet thus it is no suprise that the most common accidents are slips, falls & scalding from hot water.  Although you cannot completely eliminate accidents in bathrooms, a well-designed bathroom should consider safety a priority.  A few things to consider when redesigning your bathroom:

1. Use slip resistant flooring; this will reduce the chances of falls caused by slippery floors.
2. Eliminate steps into tubs or shower areas.  For tubs, consider building a surround so you can sit down prior to entering or exiting the tub.
3. Shower doors should open into the room rather than the shower.  Glass doors should be tempered.
4. Install proper faucets; consider pressure-balance and/or temperature-controlled valves to prevent scalding from sudden temperature change.  Faucets should be accessible; you should not have to stretch or reach for the valves.
5. Install benches and/or grab bars, especially in showers.
6. Whirlpool tubs should have accessible (from inside & outside tub area) emergency shut-offs.
7. Use ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) on all electrical receptacles.
8. Keep all household products out of reach (or locked away) as many are poisonous.

Tags: bathroom, construction, Design Build, General Contractor, Interior Designer, Renovation, safety