Tips for planning a comfortable bathroom: ergonomics and coziness.

Dimensions and distances

Bathroom ergonomics is primarily aimed at convenience during hygiene procedures. Each person has their own concept of comfort, we only provide average figures that should be used as a guide.

It is recommended to install the bathtub at a height of 60 cm from the floor, while it is necessary to provide a slope for draining water into the sewer. The height of the bowl from its bottom to the ceiling should be about 200 cm. And for older people, a glass shower stall is considered a more convenient option – too high a side creates additional difficulties.

When installing a sink, it is necessary to take into account the height of the apartment owner, but the standard height is considered to be between 80 and 110 cm, optimally – 90. If instead of a one-piece structure, an overhead sink and a base are assumed, it is best to choose them at the same time in order to determine in advance the installation level of the products.

It is also worth considering such ergonomic recommendations as the distance between the sink and the mirror: it should be at least 20 cm. In this case, the mirror surface will be protected from drops and splashes. It is convenient if there is a distance of 50-70 cm between the bathtub (or shower) and the towel hangers: this will make it easier to reach them. The same rule applies to shelves for hygiene products.

The photo shows a small combined bathroom with well-thought-out ergonomics.

If there is a toilet in the bathroom, the standard distance to the bathtub should be at least 50 cm. But in small rooms it is not always possible to carve out the necessary centimeters: then, in favor of ergonomics, it is worth considering replacing the bathtub with a shower with a floor drain.

The distance in front of the toilet should also be comfortable. If you do not plan to redevelop, but do not want to put up with cramped space, you should look for another toilet. A product with an upper cistern will allow you to gain 15 cm, but not everyone will agree to an “old-fashioned” design. There is a way out – a suspended toilet with a built-in cistern. It is more compact than classic models, and it also looks very aesthetically pleasing. Unfortunately, replacing a plumbing fixture entails repairing the floor, as well as the area on the wall behind it.

For convenience, it is advisable to place the toilet 40 cm from other furniture: from the cabin or from the bathtub, bidet and sink. The rules of bathroom ergonomics establish that for minimal convenience, it is advisable to leave about 30 cm between the bidet and the toilet. Various accessories (hygienic shower head, toilet paper holder) should be placed at a distance of a half-outstretched arm. The height of the holder from the floor is about 70 cm.

The photo shows a toilet located quite far from the bathtub, but close to the cabinet: in a small bathroom, it is better to sacrifice the distance to the furniture than to the bowl.

Correct layout

Let’s decide on the location of the bathroom. If the short wall is more than 160 cm, it is more convenient to install the bowl along it. If the wall is shorter, there are several options for solving the ergonomic problem:

• Installing a cabin or shower corner (ideally, with glass doors, since when using a curtain, cold air can blow inside).
• Purchasing a corner bathtub.
• Installing a shortened bowl: it will be difficult to lie in it, but for bathing a child and washing clothes, this option is quite suitable.

Sometimes it is more practical to remove the partition between the bathtub and toilet and make the bathroom combined. In terms of ergonomics, this is not always convenient in a large family, but thanks to the combination, space is freed up for a washing machine. Dismantling must be agreed with the BTI.

In a small bathroom, it is important that the door opens outward: this increases the free space. Sometimes it makes sense to replace a hinged door with a sliding one.

The photo shows a bathroom whose ergonomics are thought out to the smallest detail: the corner cabin is equipped with mirrored doors and a bench, the optimal distance is maintained between the elements, and closed storage systems help maintain order.

If it is uncomfortable to use the toilet in a combined bathroom, it is worth turning it 45 degrees. You can place a standard model at an angle or buy a special corner one. In terms of ergonomics, wall-mounted products also have their advantages: washing the floor becomes much easier. In addition, furniture raised above the surface creates the effect of unoccupied space, and the room looks more spacious.

The photo shows a spacious room with perfectly organized ergonomics.

The ergonomics of the bathroom dictates the arrangement of not only furniture, but also various small items: shampoos, tubes, cups with toothbrushes. It is convenient if hygiene products are at hand, but their abundance clutters the space, cheapening even the most stylish interior.

It is best to use closed storage systems, for example, a cabinet with a mirror above the sink. The most essential elements of the bathroom – liquid soap and toothbrushes with toothpaste – can be left in a visible place in beautiful dispensers and cups

When planning lighting, you should think in advance about the installation of sockets, switches and lamps. General lighting of the entire room and local lighting of the shower area meet the requirements of ergonomics.

Follow the safety rules

The elderly and small children are most at risk in the bathroom, but the rest should not neglect the simple rules of ergonomics.

In a damp room, the main danger is water. First of all, you need to take care of the anti-slip coating on the floor and shower stall. You can use a rubber mat in the bathtub.

For children, it is necessary to provide stable stands to make it easier to use the washbasin. It is worth making sure in advance that they do not slip.

Ergonomic requirements also apply to handrails, which help to easily move into the bath or cabin. If elderly people take a shower in it, the support helps to maintain balance. The handrail is installed at a height of approximately 100 cm.

The ergonomics of this bathroom are enhanced by the anti-slip floor tiles, wall-mounted sanitary ware and sufficiently large distances between them.

If the dimensions of the shower stall allow, it is worth providing it with a moisture-resistant bench: it is indispensable for older people, as well as those who have difficulty bending over.

A room that uses high-quality bathroom furniture with a minimum of sharp corners is much safer and more ergonomic.

From the point of view of ergonomics, it is important to create such conditions for residents so that during hygiene procedures, washing and bathing the baby there were no difficulties. For this, it is necessary to clearly plan all scenarios for using the bathroom, because a successful design begins with the right ergonomics.