Bathroom Design
10 Stylish Showers With Aging-in-Place Ideas
Grab bars, easy entries, slip-resistant flooring and more enhance safety without sacrificing style
A grab bar, a low- or no-curb entry and built-in seating can help reduce falls, improve mobility and make showering safer. Add slip-resistant flooring, a handheld sprayer, easy-to-reach controls, good lighting and enough room for a wheelchair or walker, and you have a shower that’s more comfortable and functional for people of all ages and abilities. The following 10 showers show how aging-in-place features can blend seamlessly with beautiful design.
2. Barrier-Free Beauty
A curbless shower designed for aging in place is the focal point of this bright contemporary bathroom in a multigenerational Berkeley, California, accessory dwelling unit by Inspired ADUs and CA Bear Construction. The shower has a custom glass enclosure, green hexagonal wall tile, grab bars and a bench out of view that provides a stable place to sit. Large-format light gray porcelain floor tile has a slip-resistant matte finish.
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A curbless shower designed for aging in place is the focal point of this bright contemporary bathroom in a multigenerational Berkeley, California, accessory dwelling unit by Inspired ADUs and CA Bear Construction. The shower has a custom glass enclosure, green hexagonal wall tile, grab bars and a bench out of view that provides a stable place to sit. Large-format light gray porcelain floor tile has a slip-resistant matte finish.
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3. Sunny Retreat
An easy-entry circular shower with sunny yellow wall tiles creates a warm embrace in this Studio City, California, bathroom by The Warren | Interior Design Studio and Analog Construction. The cheerful tile, clerestory windows and a vertical band of glass blocks (out of view) fill the shower with light, improving visibility for aging eyes. A bench sits within easy reach of a handheld shower, and custom marble mosaic floor tile provides grip and style underfoot.
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10 Aging-in-Place Features Pros Swear By
An easy-entry circular shower with sunny yellow wall tiles creates a warm embrace in this Studio City, California, bathroom by The Warren | Interior Design Studio and Analog Construction. The cheerful tile, clerestory windows and a vertical band of glass blocks (out of view) fill the shower with light, improving visibility for aging eyes. A bench sits within easy reach of a handheld shower, and custom marble mosaic floor tile provides grip and style underfoot.
Read more about this bathroom
10 Aging-in-Place Features Pros Swear By
4. Room to Move
A curbless shower in this elegant Louisville, Kentucky, bathroom by Bethany Adams Interiors was created for a retired couple, including a wife with limited mobility. The spacious shower has a wide reinforced glass door that comfortably accommodates a wheelchair and, if needed, a caregiver. A floating teak bench gives the homeowners a comfortable place to sit. An adjustable-height shower bar within easy reach of the bench doubles as a grab bar. Radiant floor heating in the shower and throughout the bathroom helps the floor dry more quickly, reducing slip hazards.
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A curbless shower in this elegant Louisville, Kentucky, bathroom by Bethany Adams Interiors was created for a retired couple, including a wife with limited mobility. The spacious shower has a wide reinforced glass door that comfortably accommodates a wheelchair and, if needed, a caregiver. A floating teak bench gives the homeowners a comfortable place to sit. An adjustable-height shower bar within easy reach of the bench doubles as a grab bar. Radiant floor heating in the shower and throughout the bathroom helps the floor dry more quickly, reducing slip hazards.
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5. Chic and Curbless
An open curbless shower adds style and functionality to this bright Kitsap County, Washington, basement ADU created for aging in place by McCabe by Design. The easy-access shower includes multiple grab bars, a fold-down bench and a handheld sprayer. Mosaic porcelain floor tile with abundant grout lines provide added traction underfoot. A heated shower floor helps reduce slip hazards while discouraging mold and mildew.
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An open curbless shower adds style and functionality to this bright Kitsap County, Washington, basement ADU created for aging in place by McCabe by Design. The easy-access shower includes multiple grab bars, a fold-down bench and a handheld sprayer. Mosaic porcelain floor tile with abundant grout lines provide added traction underfoot. A heated shower floor helps reduce slip hazards while discouraging mold and mildew.
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6. Thoughtful Touches
This curbless shower with a fixed frameless glass panel and glazed ceramic tile in varying shades of blue is part of a breezy Manteca, California, bathroom by designer Wendy Glaister, who uses Houzz Pro, and Adkins Construction. Controls at the shower entrance let the homeowners turn on the water without getting sprayed. A hand shower, wooden seat and grab bar add comfort and safety. A linear drain along the back of the shower directs water away from the rest of the bathroom.
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See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
This curbless shower with a fixed frameless glass panel and glazed ceramic tile in varying shades of blue is part of a breezy Manteca, California, bathroom by designer Wendy Glaister, who uses Houzz Pro, and Adkins Construction. Controls at the shower entrance let the homeowners turn on the water without getting sprayed. A hand shower, wooden seat and grab bar add comfort and safety. A linear drain along the back of the shower directs water away from the rest of the bathroom.
Read more about this bathroom
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
7. Open and Airy
A sleek, curbless shower with no glass or doors establishes an airy feel in this luxe Keller, Texas, bathroom with aging-in-place elements by USI Design & Remodeling, which uses Houzz Pro. A built-in bench offers a comfortable place to sit with a hand shower nearby. The door-free design makes the shower easier to access and easier to maintain. Durable marble-look porcelain tile on the bench and shower walls is easy to clean. Beige matte porcelain floor tiles slope gently toward a linear drain to help keep water contained.
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A sleek, curbless shower with no glass or doors establishes an airy feel in this luxe Keller, Texas, bathroom with aging-in-place elements by USI Design & Remodeling, which uses Houzz Pro. A built-in bench offers a comfortable place to sit with a hand shower nearby. The door-free design makes the shower easier to access and easier to maintain. Durable marble-look porcelain tile on the bench and shower walls is easy to clean. Beige matte porcelain floor tiles slope gently toward a linear drain to help keep water contained.
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8. Seated Comfort
This low-curb shower in a Scottsdale, Arizona, bathroom by Maya Axt Interiors features a built-in bench with a quartz top that provides a sturdy place to sit while showering. A handheld shower wand is within easy reach, and two shower niches keep soap and hair products close at hand. Penny-round floor tile provides good traction underfoot while coordinating with the creamy wall tile.
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11 Ways to Age-Proof Your Bathroom
This low-curb shower in a Scottsdale, Arizona, bathroom by Maya Axt Interiors features a built-in bench with a quartz top that provides a sturdy place to sit while showering. A handheld shower wand is within easy reach, and two shower niches keep soap and hair products close at hand. Penny-round floor tile provides good traction underfoot while coordinating with the creamy wall tile.
Read more about this bathroom
11 Ways to Age-Proof Your Bathroom
9. User-Friendly Upgrades
A light and airy curbless shower with a custom frameless glass enclosure gives the homeowners a spacious, user-friendly shower in this Ladera Ranch, California, bathroom by Terri Brien Interiors. A corner footrest provides a stable spot for bathing or shaving legs. The handheld shower is mounted lower for the shorter homeowner, while the shower head is positioned higher for her much taller husband. Beige hexagonal stone floor tiles add traction while creating a seamless look.
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A light and airy curbless shower with a custom frameless glass enclosure gives the homeowners a spacious, user-friendly shower in this Ladera Ranch, California, bathroom by Terri Brien Interiors. A corner footrest provides a stable spot for bathing or shaving legs. The handheld shower is mounted lower for the shorter homeowner, while the shower head is positioned higher for her much taller husband. Beige hexagonal stone floor tiles add traction while creating a seamless look.
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10. Wet-Room Wow
An airy curbless wet-room shower and striking wavy blue porcelain wall tile star in this style-forward Mooresville, North Carolina, bathroom by Melissa Rieser Interiors. A matte black shower system includes a handheld shower for added flexibility. Matte gray porcelain penny-round floor tile creates a slip-resistant surface throughout the bathroom. The shower floor slopes gently toward a linear drain to help keep water contained.
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More on Houzz
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An airy curbless wet-room shower and striking wavy blue porcelain wall tile star in this style-forward Mooresville, North Carolina, bathroom by Melissa Rieser Interiors. A matte black shower system includes a handheld shower for added flexibility. Matte gray porcelain penny-round floor tile creates a slip-resistant surface throughout the bathroom. The shower floor slopes gently toward a linear drain to help keep water contained.
Read more about this bathroom
More on Houzz
Read more stories
Browse photos for ideas
Find home professionals
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A roomy low-curb shower and warm contemporary style define this Oregon bathroom transformed for an older adult by Molly J Littlejohn Design and Kraft Custom Construction. A long matte black grab bar coordinates with other black accents while providing steady support, and a handheld sprayer offers added flexibility. Creamy white 3-by-3-inch porcelain floor tiles with a matte finish create a slip-resistant surface throughout the bathroom. A layered lighting scheme — overhead lights, an LED mirror, under-cabinet lighting and cove lighting in the shower niche — brightens the space.
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