Modern bathroom design emphasizes universal principles, creating spaces that are accessible, stylish, and comfortable for people of all ages and abilities.
Modern Bathroom Design Trends
Recently, the interior design industry has increasingly evolved with a strong emphasis on universal design. This trend ensures that bathroom designs are accessible and comfortable for everyone, including individuals with dexterity or mobility challenges. By adhering to these principles, designers create spaces that meet more diverse needs, improving the daily lives of many.
Universal design goes beyond mere accessibility. It incorporates aesthetics, usability, and functionality, ensuring that spaces are not only accessible but also visually striking. This approach is particularly important in bathrooms, where safety and hygiene are paramount.
As we round the corner into the second half of 2024, the universal design movement has gained momentum — solidifying the expectation that bath spaces should be as compliant with universal bathroom design guidelines as they are comfortable, convenient, and elegant. Additionally, accessibility is now fully embraced as a primary component of a truly luxurious bathroom remodel and is no longer viewed as a box that must be checked.
Enhancing Comfort and Independence
A significant benefit of inclusive bathroom design is the increased ability of individuals with mobility or dexterity challenges and aging adults to maintain personal hygiene with a decreased or limited need for assistance.
As people age, the desire to live independently in their homes for as long as possible grows. Universal design bathroom remodels support this goal by making homes safer and more accommodating.
Living in place is not just about safety; it’s also about maintaining a high quality of life. Products like the TOTO WASHLET bidet seat offer innovative features that facilitate ease of use. For example, the adjustable wand provides thorough cleaning, eliminating the physical exertion required with toilet paper use. This not only promotes hygiene but also preserves users’ dignity and self-reliance.
TOTO’s AERO® Handshowers are ideal for people who need to sit while showering or have trouble reaching certain areas. The flexible hose lets users direct water flow easily, while AERO-JET® air-injection technology ensures a thorough and gentle cleaning, improving hygiene and comfort for those with physical limitations.
Future-Proofing with Inclusive Bathroom Remodels
Future-proofing a home involves anticipating its occupants’ changing needs. Incorporating universal design principles is a wise investment for those planning to remodel their bathrooms. It prepares the home’s inhabitants for any future, often unpredicted, changes in mobility, ensuring ongoing comfort. For homeowners, it can also increase property resale value by appealing to more buyers.
TOTO’s Commitment to Universal Design Principles
TOTO develops its products based on five fundamental principles:
- ease of use,
- simple operation,
- comfort,
- choice, and
- safety and reliability.
These principles shape the design and function of every TOTO product, confirming inclusivity.
Research and Development
Our commitment to universal design is rooted in extensive research, product testing, and user feedback mechanisms.
The TOTO Universal Research Design Center, established in 2006, is dedicated to understanding the needs of diverse users and developing products that meet those needs. Located in Kanagawa Prefecture, the laboratory combines research on users’ interactions with products’ innovative technologies and design aesthetics, emphasizing how products move and function in daily life environments.
The research conducted at TOTO’s UD laboratory goes beyond basic product testing. It includes detailed studies of user behavior, physical abilities, and environmental factors to make products genuinely accessible and easy to use.
Collaboration with Users
Our design process involves extensive user collaboration to ensure our products meet real-world needs. As real-world user feedback is vital, we often visit users’ homes to see how they interact with our products in real-world settings.
TOTO’s in-depth usability studies allow us to identify potential issues and make necessary adjustments. Surveys and focus groups provide additional insights into user preferences.
By involving users directly in the design process, we tailor product design to meet our customers’ diverse needs.
Once understood, we incorporate users’ needs into our products’ design. For example, TOTO WASHLET bidet seats include innovations like remote controls with illuminated touchpads, making them easy to use and allowing for simple water temperature and volume adjustments. Heated seats with adjustable temperature settings guarantee maximum comfort. These features, among many others, make WASHLETs high-quality luxury products and perfect solutions for enhancing bathroom accessibility.
Continuing Universal Design Education
To support the evolution of inclusive design, TOTO offers a continuing education course for build-design professionals: Total Design & ADA Restrooms.
Adopting a comprehensive design approach that integrates ADA design requirements and universal design principles empowers industry professionals to design accessible, healthier restroom spaces for all users.
Beyond the Classroom
At TOTO’s Universal Design experience during an AIA National Convention, we challenged design professionals to complete basic bathroom tasks while wearing accessories that simulated movement restrictions and auditory and visual impairments.
These simulations helped designers understand the difficulties people with physical challenges must overcome to complete daily bathroom routines — like maneuvering a wheelchair to a sink to wash their hands. Everything from the height of the lavatory to its depth and placement on the bathroom counter becomes a potential hurdle.
The ADA-compliant KIWAMI® 15-3/4" Oval Vessel Lavatory is an example of a product designed to reduce these frustrations. It maintains a front height of under 5 inches to enable easy use. It also features TOTO’s CEFIONTECT® glaze technology. This innovation forms an ion barrier to prevent particles from adhering to porous ceramic surfaces, ensuring a longer-lasting clean and decreasing the need for frequent bathroom chores, which can be challenging for those with physical limitations.
When choosing fixtures to incorporate in bathroom designs, whether for public restrooms or your own home bathroom remodel, inclusivity and accessibility should be more than an afterthought. No one should have to struggle to wash their hands after using the bathroom simply due to exclusionary product design.
The Future of Design is Universal
As the population ages and the demand for accessible living spaces increases, universal design will become increasingly important.
Universal design is the future of interior design. As more people recognize the importance of creating accessible and inclusive environments, the demand for universally designed products and spaces will continue to grow.
We look forward to continuing a legacy of wellness and inclusion by providing innovative solutions that meet the needs of our diverse and evolving community.