Bathrooms combine water, hard surfaces, and tight spaces — a combination that makes them one of the highest-risk rooms in the home. This checklist covers the changes that matter most.

Grab Bars

Properly installed grab bars near the toilet and inside the shower or tub are one of the highest-impact changes you can make. See our full guide to grab bar placement for exactly where they should go.

Flooring

Wet floors are one of the most common fall triggers. A textured bath mat inside the tub or shower, plus a non-slip rug outside it, addresses both the wet zone and the transition area. See our non-slip flooring guide.

Seating

A shower seat reduces the risk of a fall from standing for long periods on a wet surface. See our guide on choosing a shower seat.

Toilet Height

A standard toilet can be low enough to make sitting and standing difficult. A raised toilet seat or comfort-height toilet addresses this — see our comparison.

Lighting and Temperature Controls

• Make sure the bathroom is well lit, including inside the shower or tub area.
• Consider anti-scald valves or a water heater temperature check to prevent accidental burns from very hot water.

Bigger Renovations, If Needed

If stepping over a tub wall is becoming difficult, a curbless shower or walk-in tub may be worth exploring — see our comparison of walk-in tubs vs. curbless showers and our bathroom remodel cost guide.

Next Steps

This is the starting checklist for the bathroom — each linked guide above goes deeper into a specific fix.