Children are often at the forefront of what we do. Whether you have them, planning to have them or trying to get them out of your home they will be the first thought that comes to mind. Depending on the age of the child you may want to adapt your new bathroom to their needs as well without going totally overboard. Below are my 5 tips for creating a child-friendly bathroom renovation.
1. Use a step stool
Introducing a step stool into the bathroom can be the easiest, most cost-effective way to child-proof your bathroom. This will enable them to reach things without over-stretching and climbing up on unsafe surfaces. If there are a few children, have multiple step-stools to stop accidents.
Tip – If you are really looking to go all out why not build a custom made vanity that has draw that doubles as a step stool.
2. No Screen Doors
Kids are not always the greatest at opening and closing doors. Shower screens these days are made from tougher glass so even though they don’t shatter when broken they will still crumble under high impact. So if the person using it is unpredictable its better to not have it at all. The fixed panel shower screen is our most popular shower screens In Perth WA and is the best screen for kids.
Note – Tempered glass or Toughen glass is about four times stronger than “ordinary,” or annealed, glass. And unlike annealed glass, which can shatter into jagged shards when broken, tempered glass fractures into small, relatively harmless pieces
3. Ditch the towel rails
Towel rails can be a hazard I myself have walked into the poked end of one more times then I count. So to save those kiddies from a towel rail to the eye I recommend go with hooks. It also acts as a cleaner feel in the bathroom with fewer features poking out the wall.
4. Taps Not Mixers
This is a tough one because mixers are nice and modern but taps are more practical for children. One of the few criticisms of wall mixers is that they change the temperature very fast for most of us that’s what we want but for a child, there is a higher chance they will burn themselves. Taps allow for a gradual change in water temperature I know it doesn’t sound like a lot but it will stop kids burning which is always a plus!.
5. Choose a big sink
If your bathroom has space, consider a large sink instead of double sinks. The larger sink is able to accommodate more hands at once and is quicker to clean. I often am not a fan of double sinks as they feel pointless when bench space is king this will kill two birds with one stone. The bathroom renovation below we completed in Thornlie, WA uses a double large sink
Extra Tip – Consider full wall tile
This is an especially good tip for the splashback. Children tend to splash around while washing their hands. A splashback that continues up to the ceiling will protect your wall from getting soggy. So whenever you can go full height tiling with children and save that paint.
When making a room built for one person’s function is exactly that, built for one type of person in mind. So my list doesn’t include the advice of making things lower because I feel if more than one type of person will use something and if that child becomes older and taller it will become a room that does not function well for everyone so the list above is more practical things that everyone can use.
It’s important to note that all our advice is general in nature and all bathrooms are unique so always speak to your local qualified tradesman for the best advice. At on the ball bathrooms we love feedback so let us know what you think with a comment below or if you are looking for a bathroom renovation quote and live in Perth, Western Australia contact us on 0419964678 or email us at info@ontheballbathrooms.com.au
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