When you think about renovating your home during retirement and need to prioritize spaces, The bathroom is usually one of the most recommended rooms. In many homes, the areas that more difficulties present For older people they are, first of all, wet areas, such as the bathroom or kitchen.
This is because in these spaces of daily use they combine slippery surfaceschanges in level, poor lighting and elements that require strength or stability to be used safely.
From La Vanguardia we speak with Florencia Luna, interior architect and interior design professor.
He currently runs a studio focused on creative design and the renovation of spaces, conceived from actual useeveryday experience and the different stages of life.
“Much of my work is aimed at design homes that accompany people over timeintegrating functionality, comfort and design”he explains.
From his experience, he shares some basic tips for those who are thinking about carrying out a renovation during retirement.
Fall prevention: small changes to avoid scares in the bathroom
As these are spaces that generally have a small surface area, they do not usually require very complex adaptations to prevent falls or accidents.
In bathrooms it is essential to replace existing floors or incorporate non-slip surfacesso much on the general pavement like in the shower area.
“My recommendation is to opt for non-slip ceramic or porcelain tiles and, in addition, add well-placed support bars that accompany natural body movements”Luna emphasizes.
Likewise, the expert advises avoiding high bathtubs or replacing them with walk-in showerswhich eliminate effort and reduce risk when entering and exiting during daily grooming.
Practical solutions to improve autonomy without major reforms
The bathroom is one of the spaces where safety can be improved the most through simple interventions. Incorporate support bars Strategically located, both in the shower and next to the toilet, they provide stability and confidence in the highest risk movements.
Another practical solution is to install floors with a porous finish or non-slip matsas well as replacing unstable curtains with screens, which offer greater visual and physical control.
“In the shower you can also add a folding seat or a sturdy benchwhich significantly improves autonomy without the need to modify the structure of the space,” he highlights.
As for the taps, Luna recommends single-lever systems, adjustable hand showers and proper organization of items for daily use, as they contribute to making the bathroom more comfortable and safer.
“They are adjustments that can be incorporated into what exists and that, if they are well thought out and chosen, they can transform everyday experience without the need for a comprehensive reform.”
Temporary adaptations vs. permanent solutions
There are adaptations that can be resolved temporary and flexible wayespecially when the needs are not yet permanent.
For example, installing removable grab bars, non-slip mats, portable night lights o rearrange the furniture They are simple interventions that can be adjusted according to each person’s life stage.
“However, there are other changes that should be planned for in the long term, especially when thinking about aging in one’s own home”Luna points out.
Adapt bathrooms with showers at floor level—ruling out bathtubs from the beginning—, design lighting with at least three layers of light per room, eliminate unevenness, opt for single-story homes or rethink the distribution of spaces They are structural decisions that provide security and comfort in a sustained way over time.
The most important advice, concludes the expert, is to think about housing from real and everyday use, and not only from aesthetics.
“Adapt a house to age safely It does not mean giving up design, but rather understanding how space is inhabited and how that space can accompany the changes of the body and the passage of time.”
Judit González Pernías
