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Accessible bathroom

Reading Time: 10 minutes | Article from 23.5.2024
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When planning your bathroom, think ahead to the future! We explain the important points to consider when planning an accessible bathroom or bathroom solutions for elderly users.

Content

  • Accessible bathroom ideas: planning and modification
  • Accessibility – think ahead to the future
  • Planning an accessible bathroom
  • Key points at a glance

At a glance

  • Take care of conversions for later life in advance and have less to worry about in the future

  • Install a walk-in shower bath with a shower chair

  • Use practical aids that also meet your design requirements

Accessible bathroom ideas: planning and converting

Generous dimensions and plenty of space are key factors in an accessible bathroom. A large space allows bathroom conversions to be carried out quickly and efficiently. The first step is to explain the difference between disabled bathrooms and an accessible bathroom.

Disabled bathrooms have lots of space to manoeuvre, as well as a toilet that a wheelchair can be positioned over and a washbasin with space below for wheelchair access. Light switches and sockets are positioned at a convenient height and the mirror is slightly angled so you can see yourself in it. Slightly less space to move around is required for an accessible bathroom, but it also has additional aids for people with disabilities. The precise requirements for accessible and disabled bathrooms are set out in DIN 18040-2.

Accessibility – think ahead to the future

An accessible bathroom conversion is not just about a bathroom for people with disabilities. Older people also benefit from a disability-friendly or accessible bathroom conversion. If you can’t stand for a long time in old age, you will be happy to have a shower seat or a chair in front of the sink. Grab rails in appropriate places will also be practical for the future. The ViCare Design collection includes practical bathroom accessories that meet modern design standards. Choose non-slip flooring for the bathroom too, such as easy-care cork or modern vinyl, to reduce the risk of accidents.

A modern accessible bathroom with a toilet and washbasin from the ViCare collection by Villeroy & Boch.

Benefits of an accessible bathroom

A wheelchair-friendly or accessible bathroom offers further advantages in addition to its primary purpose. Children, too, benefit from the ample room and the support and grab rails in the bathroom. Moreover, having plenty of space also means more comfort in your own bathroom. A seamless design requires less maintenance than a conventional design – and this is one advantage you can enjoy today. Additionally, you won't have to worry about the expensive and complex remodelling in old age or after an accident.

An accessible bathroom can be attractive too. Choose from a wide range of design elements and easily customise the bathroom to your personal taste. You’re sure to find the perfect solution for your needs among the wide range of options for individual colour and lighting designs.

Costs for an accessible bathroom

The final cost of an accessible bathroom conversion naturally depends on the specific work you carry out. The following costs are therefore estimates which can vary in individual situations.


Grab and support rails are the cheapest: These cost from €16 and are usually relatively easy to install. Access aids for the bath or shower are also relatively inexpensive at around €50. A folding shower seat or shower chair can be purchased from around €100. If you would like to convert your bath to a shower, your budget should be around €3,000. A bathtub door, on the other hand, will cost somewhere around €2,000, including installation. If you have the entire bathroom renovated by a specialist company, you can expect to pay around €10,000 in total.

Accessible bathroom ideas

When planning your bathroom, be sure to think about the future - especially if you already live in your own home or do not wish to move again. Even if illnesses or accidents do not limit your mobility, accessible bathroom conversions can mean greater comfort and independence in the long term.

What is required in bathrooms for elderly users?

If you are already looking ahead to the future, think about your requirements in later life when planning your bathroom conversion. A door that opens outwards will be practical in the event of an accident. There should also be enough space for shower chairs and other seating. A raised toilet makes it easier to stand up, even if you do not need a walking aid. A level-access shower is useful if steps are a problem for you.

Clever lighting is another essential requirement for an accessible and disabled bathrooms. Well-lit areas have been proven to reduce the risk of accidents. Make sure the light is bright and evenly distributed throughout the room. For added convenience, you can integrate your bathroom lighting into a smart home system, allowing you to control it easily from your smartphone.

Grab rails and support rails in many places

Rails are useful next to almost all bathroom fixtures to allow you to move freely. Grab rails and support bars also help to reduce the risk of accidents. No special requirements apply for grab rails, but support rails need to be fitted to ensure they can bear at least some of your weight. Fit rails on both sides of the toilet, in the disabled shower or disabled bath area, and next to the washbasin!

Disabled shower (including for wheelchair users) and disabled bath

If the layout of an accessible bathroom allows enough space for both a shower and a bathtub, you should take advantage of this. As well as showering, many people enjoy a relaxing bath from time to time. A wheelchair-friendly disabled bath is fitted with a door and/or a lift. The DIN standard even states that disabled bathrooms must allow the possibility of retrofitting/installing a bath. Freestanding baths are practical and come in elegant, timeless designs. For accessible bathroom ideas, consider the Villeroy & Boch Theano collection. It stands out with its graceful, elegant shapes, while the Theano Curved Edition brings modern asymmetry into the accessible bathroom.


The disabled shower provides 1.50 x 1.50 metres of space for manoeuvrability, allowing unrestricted movement with a shower wheelchair. The Lifetime Plus and O.novo collections include shower trays in a wide variety of designs. Taps and corner shelves must be positioned at an easily accessible height. Using a shower seat or chair makes showering easier.

Accessible toilets

The building standard 18040-2 stipulates certain dimensions for a disability-friendly or accessible toilet. To be classed as accessible, a toilet needs to have a minimum distance of just 20 centimetres from the surrounding sanitary fittings and a manoeuvring space of 1.20 x 1.20 metres in front. The washdown toilets from Villeroy & Boch’s ViCare collection are a perfect choice. They are available in wall-mounted and floor-standing versions. Additional requirements apply for a wheelchair-friendly bathroom. In this case, the toilet must be installed at a height of 46 to 48 centimetres, have a 30-centimetre clearance from the wall and 90 centimetres of space at the side. Grab rails are essential for wheelchair users, along with a backrest, usually provided by the room wall.

Consider tailored bathroom furniture

Furniture for an accessible bathroom or bathrooms for the elderly needs to be functional. However, this does not mean that you need to compromise on design. Make sure that shelves, wall boxes and other items are positioned at a height that you can reach comfortably. This, of course, means the height you can reach when seated. The Villeroy & Boch Finion collection includes modular shelf units that you can freely place on the wall. A vanity unit under the washbasin is generally not an option; shelves either side of the washbasin are a better solution. A mirror cabinet is also not practical in an accessible bathroom and you should choose built-in shelves and cabinets instead.

Finion hanging shelf in white with light on a brown wall.




Key points at a glance

Planning an accessible bathroom doesn’t mean you need to compromise on attractive design. Observe the requirements of the building standard 18040-2 and tailor the bathroom to your individual needs!

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