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Many everyday activities might be challenging or even dangerous for someone visually impaired. There are many ways to make a home safer for individuals with sight loss and important adjustments that can help if you are losing your vision or are visually impaired. To maintain independence and safety, certain home adaptations for visually impaired people may be eligible for a disabled facilities grant (DFG).
Simple bathroom and home adaptations for visually impaired individuals include contrasting colours on the walls in different rooms. This post explores the top five home and bathroom adaptations for visually impaired people that can help to make daily tasks, such as navigating stairs, cooking, or taking a shower, easier and safer.
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Contrasting Colours with Light Reflectance Values (LRVs)
Painting each room in the house with contrasting colours is one of the lowest-cost home adaptations for the visually impaired. This trick can also be used for handrails on the stairs and mobility aids, such as grab rails, to make them easier to see.
Using contrasting colours is also the single most important design component of every mobility bathroom design for the visually impaired. Contrasting grab rails, shower curtains, wall cladding, and toilet seats with contrasting non-slip coloured flooring create distinct visual barriers that are crucial for people with sight loss.
You may have heard about light reflectance values (LRVs) already, but if not, you’ll certainly have noticed the use of colours with LRVs in hospitals and other public buildings. LRV is a universal value for contrast, which measures the proportion of useful light reflected by a coloured object. It represents a relative light and darkness value rather than an actual colour. Therefore, different colours can have the same LRV.
LRV is measured on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being absorbing black that does not reflect light and 100 being reflecting white (in reality, you never find these perfect objects; a bright white would typically have an LRV of 85). A minimum of 30 points’ LRV difference is advised for adjacent surfaces or for dividing areas of a room. The photo below shows how contrasting LRV colours have been used to define the shower area and the floor.
Things to keep in mind:
- Grab rails should be a contrasting colour and LRV to the wall they are fixed on.
- Non-slip flooring should always be a strong contrasting colour with a high LRV in comparison to the walls.Â
- Doors should have contrasting colours with contrasting colour door handles
- Towels in a contrasting colour will be easier to see.
The Dementia Design Accredited Product flooring guide below is helpful to refer to for a better understanding of LRVs.
How Non-Slip Flooring Can Help the Visually Impaired
Non-slip flooring is a vital home adaptation for visually impaired people. This can be carpets, non-slip vinyl flooring or non-slip tiles. Non-slip vinyl flooring is the most popular choice for disabled wet rooms and is widely considered the best waterproof, non-slip flooring. Laminate and wooden floors are best avoided as they have the least non-slip properties.
Voice Control Smart Devices
While not technically a home adaptation for the visually impaired, voice-controlled smart devices are an incredibly useful tool. They can assist with many aspects of daily life in all rooms, including a mobility bathroom, for individuals with sight loss.
Prominent stand-alone voice control smart devices include Apple HomePod, Amazon Echo, and Google Home. With these devices, you may control various tasks with voice commands.
Home adaptations for the visually impaired with voice-activated features could include:
- Switching lights on and offÂ
- Turning taps on and off
- Verifying if a product is powered on, such as determining if the oven is on or off
- Setting reminders
- Adjusting the thermostat
- Cameras for surveillance
- Locking and unlocking doors.
Recessed Storage and Built-In Furniture
Minimising furniture in a room and creating a fake wall is an effective way to create recessed storage or shelves. Built-in furniture is no longer limited to the bedroom. Built-in furniture in the living room can accommodate the TV and other electrical equipment and keep wires safely off the floor.
Creating spaces that are not impeded by furniture jutting out is a home improvement for visually impaired people that can make it a lot easier to get around and prevent falls. Including a fake wall with recessed cupboards and shelves in a mobility bathroom design is highly recommended to provide ample storage while maintaining a safe space.
Home & Bathroom Adaptations for the Visually Impaired: A Summary
Making a home safer for someone with sight loss rarely calls for dramatic changes.
As we have seen, the most effective adaptations are often the simplest: using contrasting colours and light reflectance values so grab rails, doorways and flooring are easier to make out; choosing non-slip flooring such as vinyl underfoot; and adding voice-control devices that take the guesswork out of everyday tasks like switching on a light or adjusting the heating.
Thoughtful touches such as recessed storage and self-closing cupboards keep walkways clear and prevent the bumps and falls that open doors and protruding furniture can cause.
And in the bathroom, where confidence matters most, a level-access shower or wet room removes the step that so often leads to slips, making washing safer and far more independent.
Small, considered choices like these add up to a home that feels easier to live in and, above all, safer to move around with dignity and peace of mind.
Need Support Making Your Bathroom More Accessible?
Creating a safe, functional, and welcoming mobility bathroom for individuals with visual impairments takes some planning and some intentional design. However, the results are empowering and liberating, something everyone deserves.
At Age Care Bathrooms, our goal is to make sure that people can continue to bathe in the home they love with independence and regain confidence.
Our team has over 30 years of experience in designing and installing accessible bathrooms to do just that.
If you would like more information, or to learn about our mobility bathroom solutions, and how we can help, call our team today on 0800 999 8994, or fill out the form below for a free home consultation!
