There are many reasons to remodel a bathroom and things to consider when doing so. Functionality, design, safety, and more are all important considerations. When it comes to a little bit of added safety, accessibility, and assistance, bathroom grab bars can be great additions to your bathroom design. Here’s what to know about bathroom grab bars, including the different types available, the overall benefits of using them, and ideas for where to put grab bars in bathrooms:

What Are Bathroom Grab Bars?

Bathroom grab bars are safety devices that are designed to help someone maintain balance, assist with standing or moving around a bathroom, and more. They are meant to help prevent falls, assist someone when getting up from a seated position or stepping over something, and be able to take some weight to lessen fatigue while moving around the bathroom.

They may also be referred to as safety rails, shower bars, secure rails, handrails, etc. Bathroom grab bars can take the form of longer bars to provide a handle and grab assistance across a wider area. They can also be smaller handles for specific actions in smaller areas.

In addition to being able to be installed in various areas, they can also be different lengths, are available with varying capacities, and can be installed at different angles for maximum support, ease of use, and accessibility. Bathroom grab bars are considered one of the key features of an accessible bathroom remodel.

5 Main Types of Grab Bars For Bathrooms

Remodeling the bathroom to be more accessible overall is popular and it is also one of the home remodeling ideas for aging in place. While more advanced bathroom grab bars may be more common in healthcare and assisted care facilities, aging-in-place is becoming more common, and more options are becoming available and accessible for residential needs.

Grab bars for bathrooms come in a wide variety of styles, types, capacities, and capabilities. It’s important to choose the right ones for your needs, and these are things to consider when remodeling your bathroom. Here are a few of the main types of grab bars for bathrooms:

1. Straight Grab Bars

Straight grab bars are the most common and basic type of bathroom grab bar. Typically made of metal, these can be a small handle or hand grip, a longer bar, or a rail that spans an entire wall. Typically, these are installed in a fixed position and in strategic places around the bathroom to assist with movement and help prevent falls.

Straight grab bars tend to be installed horizontally, but can be installed vertically or diagonally to provide a better hand grip for the function and area it is serving. For example, a straight grab bar meant to help someone stand from a toilet in a smaller area might be better served by a diagonal hand grip that is easier to reach, use, and leverage.

2. L-Shaped Grab Bars

L-shaped grab bars are installed in a fixed position on the wall and floor. They protrude from the wall a short distance and then angle down to the floor. This design offers weight support like a handrail in addition to vertical gripping options. This type of bathroom grab bar can be useful around shower/tub combos where someone might be stepping in and out or sitting and standing in order to use it.

3. U-Shaped Grab Bars

U-shaped bathroom grab bars are installed on the wall in a fixed position and protrude from it in an oblong loop. They are meant to allow for a wider range of gripping options while also not requiring someone who is using them to remain close to the wall.

These types of grab bars can be a better fit for someone who is using a wheelchair or other mobility aids that would make a standard grab bar so close to the wall more difficult to use. They can also be useful for bathrooms with more open space to allow for more support and balance while moving between areas that might require crossing an open space to get to another necessary area.

4. Support Arms

Support arms are installed in a fixed position on the wall and extend outwards from the wall. They are often installed near toilets, shower chairs, and bathtubs where there is a distance required to approach and use these areas of the bathroom. Because they stick out like chair arms from the wall, they assist with support and stability when moving toward the object they are installed around.

They can also offer support for any sitting, standing, or stepping that may be involved in using that area of the bathroom. Although they are generally mounted in a fixed position, there are models that are designed to flip up when not in use to help save room if space is limited.

Adjustable Support Arms

Flexible or adjustable grab bar systems are built onto a track that allows them to be adjusted vertically and horizontally. This allows them to be customized to different heights and sizes as needed.

Since these systems are meant for bathrooms that accommodate multiple people that need assistance, they are more common in assisted care facilities. However, if you want an accessible bathroom in your home that has to accommodate different people, adjustable support arms could be available for residential use.

5. Suction-Mounted Grab Bars

Although suction-mounted grab bars are commonplace in residential bathrooms because they can just be stuck to the right surface, they aren’t recommended for accessible bathroom remodels. They may be easy to mount and can be moved more easily, but they are not meant to be weight-bearing and cannot hold as much weight as grab bars that are installed and mounted to wall studs.

Suction-mounted grab bars are likely to slip or come away from the wall when you most need them, especially if you are trying to use them to stand or sit or grab them for stability while losing your balance. These should not be used in any weight-bearing capacity. If you need grab bars you can rely on, stick with those that are securely installed and fixed to the wall.

8 Benefits of Bathroom Grab Bars

Needing to improve the function of a bathroom, repair things, add safety features, and more are all signs it’s time to remodel your bathroom. When it comes to safety features, grab bars are at the top of the list. Bathroom grab bars can offer several benefits, including:

1. Reduce Slips and Prevent Falls
2. Maintain Balance While Moving Around the Bathroom
3. Add Balance and Stability While Stepping Up, Sitting, or Standing
4. Assistance With Lowering to a Seated Position and Standing Up
5. Additional Weight Support to Lessen Fatigue While Moving Around
6. Increase the Overall Function and Usability of the Bathroom
7. Improve the Overall Accessibility of the Bathroom
8. Safer and More Independent Movement For People With Limited Mobility

Where to Put Grab Bars in Bathrooms

Improving function, flow, safety, and more are some benefits of a bathroom remodel. Although there are some general guidelines to follow, it’s important to consider what makes the most sense for you. The same is true for where to put grab bars in the bathroom. Here are some ideas for where to put grab bars in bathrooms to get you started:

1. Shower

Shower grab bars are some of the most common types of bathroom grab bars and tend to be standard in a lot of bathroom designs. It’s common to have one inside the shower, especially in shower/tub combos.

These are often horizontal grab bars along a wall to assist with stepping in, stepping out, sitting, or standing. Depending on your needs, it may also make sense to have a vertical grab bar to act as a more convenient hand grip. This is something to consider in addition to other shower remodeling ideas.

2. In and Around the Bathtub

Whether you have a freestanding tub or a combined shower/bathtub, having some grab bars in and around the bathtub is a good idea. Even if you have a walk-in tub, it might be a good idea to have a grab bar nearby to assist with balance while entering and exiting and sitting and standing.

3. Near the Toilet

Even with a raised toilet, sitting and standing can be difficult for people who struggle with balance and mobility. Having bathroom grab bars near the toilet, even if it’s just a small hand grip, can make a big difference in safety and accessibility in this area.

For people with limited mobility, grab bars near the toilet can allow them to use it without requiring assistance. Bathroom upgrades for comfort and accessibility, even small ones like this, are popular home renovations to make during retirement and can make a big difference in convenience.

Remodel Your Bathroom With Zephyr Thomas

Thinking about accessibility and safety is one of the essential bathroom remodeling tips. This is an overview of different types of bathroom grab bars, the benefits of using them, and where to put grab bars in bathrooms.

Having the right grab bars in the right places can improve function, safety, and accessibility in your bathroom. If you’re ready to get started on a bathroom remodeling project or a renovation to add a new bathroom to your home, contact Zephyr Thomas at 717-399-4708 to schedule a free estimate!

Check out the time-lapse video below to see the Zephyr Thomas team creating a brand new primary bathroom for this homeowner!