Aging – it’s a thing we’re all going to do, and while it’s not always fun to think about planning for the future is the best way to stay happy, healthy, and hazard-free in your home. Our bathroom surfaces get wet and can become slippery. The older we get the more likely we are to suffer from a fall. Choosing the right tiles for your bathroom floor and shower makes a world of difference. Focusing on safety along with simple maintenance – and a great aesthetic that will make it feel like you live at a spa to boot – will help you feel comfortable aging in place in your current home in Austin.
Make Your Bathroom an Oasis
Slippery floors are just about the least relaxing thing you could have in a bathroom. Part of creating an at home spa-like oasis of a bathroom is choosing floor tiles that are easy to walk on even if they get a bit wet. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are both available in non-slip finishes. If you like a smooth look, choose a matte finish tile. Textured tiles also provide good traction. For max slip resistance look for tiles with a high COF (coefficient of friction) rating – that’s something we can help you with if you don’t want to do it on your own.
Both ceramic and porcelain tiles are easy to clean and resist mold, mildew, and stains. Choosing larger tiles – 12×12 inches or more – creates a smooth surface. As long as they have a high COF they’re still great for bathroom floors as well as shower walls. Fewer grout lines mean easy cleaning and less maintenance.
Slip-Free Shower Flooring
Shower floors are inherently the most likely place in your home to be a slip and fall hazard. Choosing tiles that offer the most traction is the best way to keep your shower safe, but it doesn’t mean it still can’t be beautiful, and enjoyable. Pebble style or mosaic tiles not only look beautiful on your shower floor, they offer enhanced traction. The presence of more grout lines with mosaic tiling help improve grip. The texture of pebble tiles is what makes them a good option – they also feel nice on sensitive bare feet. Either of these choices gives you a safe shower along with a luxe, spa-like aesthetic.
It’s a good idea to have contrasting colors between your flooring, walls, and fixtures. This might not seem to make much difference now, but considering possible visual impairments in the future is wise for aging in place. Lighter colored flooring mixed with darker walls (or visa versa) helps create a clear visual difference between areas. Zero-threshold showers look fantastic and are also very friendly to mobility issues by eliminating all trip hazards getting into and out of your shower. Transitions that sit flush with the floor allow for this option even if you prefer your bathroom flooring to be different from what you choose for the inside of your shower.
Any renovations you do to your forever home should take into consideration not only your needs today, but what your needs will be in the future. At Flohr, we’ve been doing this a long time. We’re here to help you navigate your flooring choices to create the space you want today that will keep serving you for many years to come. Schedule your free estimate today and we’ll talk about it.
