The Art of Accessory Placement

The importance of ergonomics when it comes to the placement of accessories in a washroom can affect the entire washroom experience. Shweta Ramsay interacts with architects and reveals more.

Imagine a beautiful washroom but one where the shower head is too low, the soap dispenser is too high or the towel bar is far away from the shower cubicle. Hasn’t the real purpose of the accessories been utterly defeated? Thus, it is vital to understand that there is a lot that goes behind assigning a particular place for an accessory in the washroom. The placement of bathroom accessories should look aesthetic as well as serve a purpose. The power of ergonomics when it comes to accessories is underrated. A little negligence can ruin the entire washroom experience whereas precise attention and customisation of accessories can drastically enhance it.

Ergonomics is all about ensuring a good fit between people and what they interact with such as the objects one uses or the environment around one. Ergonomics are often not given enough priority early in the design process, because of commercial or time pressures. It is important to note that ignoring ergonomics can lead to designs which are likely to fail commercially – as they don’t fit the needs of the user.

When it comes to the ergonomics of accessories it is important to take into account the details of people who live in the household or people who will be using that particular washroom. Details to keep in mind are the people’s body size, body shape, strength, mobility, sensory sensitivity, mental ability, experience and culture. When applied at the earliest stages of the design process, ergonomic methods often identify opportunities for innovation.

“Bathroom accessories should complement and accentuate the overall style of the bathroom. Think about what you need, and choose functional and practical accessories accordingly. The placement of accessories is another very important factor to be considered.”

Padmini Pandey, Principal Architect, Studio Padmini Pandey claimed, “Ergonomics is very important in terms of proper utilisation and maintaining of good body posture and balance in order to have no further health hazards.” Accessories are important in any interior space. They are objects that complement the design and add to the aesthetic value of a space. Focusing on placement doesn’t mean compromising on aesthetics.

Shweta Kaushik, Principal Designer, Shweta Kaushik Interior Design said, “A well-accessorised space is one that has objects of utility as well as elements that bring in the homeowner’s and designer’s style and tastes to the forefront. Planning the positions of bathroom accessories is important and integral to the way the owner of the space moves in the bathroom. Interior spaces are very personal and it helps to understand the owner’s lifestyle to be able to provide them with a space that works for them.”

Complementing the bathroom look

A washroom can be of different sizes. The area of a washroom doesn’t determine its luxury. The size may vary and it can be really large and plush but true luxury and value come not with mere extravagance but with quality, intelligent design and thoughtfulness. While the design might take care of basic requirements, the devil, as they say, lies in the details. It is the accessories, the fixtures that are the so-called knick-knacks that actually lend grace and aura to the high-end washroom. It is wrongly assumed that at times accessories are not the real focus of interior design. While this may have some relevance, it is equally true that unless the design has envisaged accessories, fixtures and their placement, even the best of washroom designs can appear very awkward indeed.

Krupa Zubin, Principal Architect and Partner, ZZ Architects said, “Bathroom accessories should complement and accentuate the overall style of the bathroom. Think about what you need, and choose functional and practical accessories accordingly. The placement of accessories is another very important factor to be considered. Time should be spent to carefully determine where various bathroom accessories would be best placed for maximum functionality. All the accessories should be accessible by the user and should be within his reach. Apart from this there are set standards that determine the ideal heights for placements of all the accessories for maximum efficiency. Bathroom shelves should be located in a way which will allow easy access to amenities. There should be also enough quantity of them to place all bathroom essentials.”

Sneak peek at different accessories

The difficulties and challenges connected with planning a bathroom are usually small dimensions of the space, rigorous technical requirements, and practical and aesthetic needs. Today, a wide range of bathroom accessories are available for various functions. It is critical to not get a bathroom too cluttered with all that is available in the market.

Pandey elaborated, “Bathroom designs can vary from glamorous to classical, contemporary, and modern to minimalistic but one thing that is absolutely necessary in any style of bathrooms are the accessories and ergonomics. Accessories make for a comfort living and aid wood hygiene. The right choice of material or texture and placement are very important here. Accessories could be immediate accessories that aid in more hygienic utilisation of basins, WC or more ornamental or decorative which set the mood for the space such as a flower vase or photo frame.”

“Bathroom designs can vary from glamorous to classical, contemporary, and modern to minimalistic but one thing that is absolutely necessary in any style of bathrooms are the accessories and ergonomics. Accessories make for a comfort living and aid wood hygiene.”

Noted below are some essential bathroom accessory concerns that one must consider in a washroom.

In a Bath: Grab bars next to a bathtub, placed at the right height are a basic necessity. Soap dishes, shampoo hangers, and towel hangers today come in different shapes sizes and styles. Placing them at the correct angle is of utmost importance.

It should be ensured that the bath fillers (water taps) are reachable from outside of the bath. Attention needs to be paid to the height and depth of the bathtub – it should be easy and safe to get in and out of it. Consider placing grab bars in the bathtub.

Before installing any type of accessory it is important to think about physiological characteristics: for example, for a person with obesity a bathtub should be wider than standard size or if the person is very tall, this should be considered when fixing the shower head and choosing the length of a bathtub.

Shower Cubicle: Towel hangers should be placed near the shower in a way that makes them easily reachable. A lot of the time people can’t find a place to hang a towel in a shower cubicle where it doesn’t get wet. If the shower cubicle is small, a complementary showerhead must be fitted in considering the height of the people who will be regularly using it.

WC: The toilet roll holder should be placed slightly in front of the WC so that the person doesn’t need to turn or bend in order to get access to it.

Consider all age groups

We all know about the evolution of toilets, and we have prattled about how our modern-day toilets can be renovated into home spas. But in spite of all the progressive design plans, going to the bathroom still remains a ‘dangerous’ endeavour for most elderly people around the world. Today, in the market there are bathroom-oriented accessories with their diligent aim to make things easier for elderly people.

“Rather than go for regular ergonomic standards, it’s important to gauge the client and determine the heights and positions that would work for them – especially in homes. If it’s a public space, standard ergonomic measurements can be adhered to.”

Similarly when it comes to children in the bathroom special accessories could be fit in that makes things convenient and safe. The baby bathing area needs space and a platform that need not be built in but can be created. Safety is one aspect which should never be overlooked when planning a bathroom. This room is always in a risk area as here you have the combination of water and electricity. The accessories should be placed in a manner that it does not cause any hindrance while moving around the washroom.

Trend towards customisation

Customisation is the next big thing. Bathrooms reflect the personality of the end users. Bathrooms nowadays are considered a personal sanctuary that sets the tone for both the beginning and end of the day.

Attention to the client and planning accessories according to his convenience or activity pattern will definitely yield a better and more satisfying experience. Placing soap dishes, towel racks and soap dispensers is not just about hammering it to the wall. Attention to minor details such as the right or left-handedness of the user can make things very convenient for the user. Accessorising is thus not about simply buying stuff that looks great.

According to Kaushik, “Rather than go for regular ergonomic standards, it’s important to gauge the client and determine the heights and positions that would work for them – especially in homes. If it’s a public space, standard ergonomic measurements can be adhered to. Today, everyone wants pretty spaces and tiling forms a great canvas to showcase accessories. It’s the small things that add up to creating that ‘wow’ factor in a bathroom and it ties the scheme in together.”

Pandey said, “The bathroom is probably the smallest place in any living space, especially considering the number of functions one performs in there. Bathroom designs are very important as they are a reflection of one’s lifestyle. This is probably the only space in an urban living context where one enjoys time with themselves and one is closest to their natural form and being. One can easily say that bathrooms are the soul of a space.”

[The article was first published in the May-June 2015 issue of Washrooms and Beyond magazine.]

Tags: Bathroom Accessories, Bathroom Design, Padmini Pandey, Shweta Kaushik, ZZ Architects