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Safety Plays With Style in Kids' Bathrooms
Have a little fun with "safety first" using kid-friendly furnishings and fixtures, plus a dose of imagination
Houzz Contributor. Pangaea Interior Design is an award winning design firm specializing in residential projects including new construction, remodeling and kitchen & bath design. Pangaea's style is characterized by clean lines and uncluttered interiors that are warm, comfortable, inviting and reflect the personal taste and interests of her clients. Call to schedule your initial consultation and you'll be well on the way to the home of your dreams. 503-.816.4394
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Children's bathrooms are such fun places to decorate! You can pull out all the stops when it comes to color and indulge your children's fascination with mermaids or sailing ships. Some children love bath time and become extra rambunctious and bouncy. Others approach it kicking and screaming like a prisoner in medieval times being dragged to a torture chamber. Either way, the decorating decisions you make in this room need to take safety into consideration.
Check out these great ideas for kid-friendly fixtures, furniture, hardware and placement that improve safety yet help children become more self-sufficient.
Check out these great ideas for kid-friendly fixtures, furniture, hardware and placement that improve safety yet help children become more self-sufficient.
1. Help children reach the sink.
Step stools are a must-have when it comes to kids accessing the sink. In a bathroom shared with adults, this idea for a pull-out style looks very grown up and slides out of the way when necessary. Place mirrors low enough so children aren't tempted to climb up on counters to see themselves.
Step stools are a must-have when it comes to kids accessing the sink. In a bathroom shared with adults, this idea for a pull-out style looks very grown up and slides out of the way when necessary. Place mirrors low enough so children aren't tempted to climb up on counters to see themselves.
by Kerrie L. Kelly
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In a bathroom just for children, why not create really adorable painted step stools like these? If you have a double-sink vanity and there is a big difference in your children's height, personalize the stools with different sizes so that each one is just right.
Tip: Be sure to provide step stools that are wider on the bottom and thus harder to tip over. Add rubber feet to prevent sliding.
Tip: Be sure to provide step stools that are wider on the bottom and thus harder to tip over. Add rubber feet to prevent sliding.
| 2. Protect kids from bumps, bruises and burns. Protecting children from bumping their heads in the bath is important. Instead of installing soap holders that protrude from the wall at the perfect height to knock your little one in the head, use fully recessed niches for soap, sponges and rubber duckies. |
Adding a soft rubber faucet cover is a great way to keep children's heads safe from bumping. Elmo makes great company, but faucet covers come in a variety of shapes: whales, rubber duckies, caterpillars and more.
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While we're on the subject of protecting children from spots where they can be hurt, countertops should have rounded edges and corners. This pedestal sink eliminates sharp corners and adds a nice dash of kid-pleasing lime green. Rounded edges on sinks and mirrors are also good choices.
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3. Place necessary items within easy reach.
Although step stools are great for helping little ones reach things up high, why not install fixtures down low when you can? Hand towels can be hung on the side of the vanity. Hooks make it easy for children to hang their bath towels, and robes and lower placement like this keeps children from climbing on toilets or counters. Consider placing a mirror at their height too, so they can easily see themselves while dressing or combing their hair.
Although step stools are great for helping little ones reach things up high, why not install fixtures down low when you can? Hand towels can be hung on the side of the vanity. Hooks make it easy for children to hang their bath towels, and robes and lower placement like this keeps children from climbing on toilets or counters. Consider placing a mirror at their height too, so they can easily see themselves while dressing or combing their hair.
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| Cubby hooks are a great alternative to hard and pointy hooks — no sharp edges here! Plus, the cubby in the middle is the perfect spot for your little ones to stash everything in their pockets as they undress for their bath. |
by Joel Snayd
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4. Provide a safe place to sit.
Having a spot to sit down while drying off or putting on slippers is safer than trying to balance on one foot or sitting on the edge of the tub. Stools or chairs have the added bonus of being a comfortable place for adults to sit while supervising.
I also like shower curtains better than sliding shower doors for a child's bathtub. They eliminate those nasty, sharp-ish sliding tracks on the top edge of the tub. If you use a shower curtain, you might want to install a rod mounted on the wall with screws, instead of a tension rod that can easily be yanked down.
5. Grab rails aren't just for the disabled.
Installing grab rails around a tub or shower can help children stay steady while getting in and out. Grab rails come in all kinds of fun colors, such as red, yellow and green, which can help children remember to use them.
Having a spot to sit down while drying off or putting on slippers is safer than trying to balance on one foot or sitting on the edge of the tub. Stools or chairs have the added bonus of being a comfortable place for adults to sit while supervising.
I also like shower curtains better than sliding shower doors for a child's bathtub. They eliminate those nasty, sharp-ish sliding tracks on the top edge of the tub. If you use a shower curtain, you might want to install a rod mounted on the wall with screws, instead of a tension rod that can easily be yanked down.
5. Grab rails aren't just for the disabled.
Installing grab rails around a tub or shower can help children stay steady while getting in and out. Grab rails come in all kinds of fun colors, such as red, yellow and green, which can help children remember to use them.
by LM Designs
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6. Think nonslip for everything on the floor.
Nonslip rugs and flooring are important for everybody. Rugs in the shape of monkey faces just add to the fun. Be sure all rugs used in children's baths have a rubber backing — a safer choice than all-cotton bath mats.
7. Lighting needs to be easy or automatic.
The lights in this particular bathroom also have a nightlight feature, which helps with those sleepy-eyed trips during the night. Install light switches low enough that children can operate them without having to get on a step stool. If this isn't possible, make sure you have a nightlight with a sensor that turns it on automatically. That way nobody forgets to turn it on, and your child can see well enough to reach the main light switch. Another kid-friendly idea is to replace the light switch with a motion sensor, so the main light comes on as soon as anyone enters the room.
Nonslip rugs and flooring are important for everybody. Rugs in the shape of monkey faces just add to the fun. Be sure all rugs used in children's baths have a rubber backing — a safer choice than all-cotton bath mats.
7. Lighting needs to be easy or automatic.
The lights in this particular bathroom also have a nightlight feature, which helps with those sleepy-eyed trips during the night. Install light switches low enough that children can operate them without having to get on a step stool. If this isn't possible, make sure you have a nightlight with a sensor that turns it on automatically. That way nobody forgets to turn it on, and your child can see well enough to reach the main light switch. Another kid-friendly idea is to replace the light switch with a motion sensor, so the main light comes on as soon as anyone enters the room.
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8. Make things easy to find and put away.
You might want to eliminate doors and drawers entirely to make it easy for children to find things and clean up after themselves. Baskets can work to hide items so that no folding is required.
You might want to eliminate doors and drawers entirely to make it easy for children to find things and clean up after themselves. Baskets can work to hide items so that no folding is required.
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| 9. Choose hardware that's easy for little hands to operate. Single-lever faucets are easier for little hands to work. Select pulls in sizes and shapes that are easy for tiny fingers to grip and operate. Smaller drawers and doors also are good for children, since they don't take as much strength to pull. 10. Select locking mechanisms with care. Locking drawers or doors should be used for any cleaners or medicines that could pose a danger. Even better, store these things in another room accessible to adults only. Speaking of locking, little ones have been known to lock themselves in by accident, so make sure the bathroom door can be unlocked from both sides or doesn't lock at all. And speaking of doors, lever-style handles are much easier for children than round door knobs. Heck, they're easier for everybody! |
Rubber drawer pulls are a fun and soft option.
Do you have great decorating tips for a child's bath that also take safety and independence into consideration? Share them in the Comments!
More:
Kids' Bathrooms, Grown-Up Style
Kids' Spaces: Fun, Beachy Bathrooms
Product Picks: Safety Choices Show Fearless Style
Do you have great decorating tips for a child's bath that also take safety and independence into consideration? Share them in the Comments!
More:
Kids' Bathrooms, Grown-Up Style
Kids' Spaces: Fun, Beachy Bathrooms
Product Picks: Safety Choices Show Fearless Style
Ideabook published on March 20, 2012.
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mthstar -- I would suggest that the playground might be a better place for children to gain their physical strength and skills than the bathroom. I suppose you're in favor of concrete under the swings instead of grass? :0}
@Hoskins Interior Design -- Yes, the non-skid strips are a good thing to add. Amazing how easy it is to slip & fall at any age.