The kids’ bathroom in your house can be a brilliantly colorful and enjoyable environment for the whole family — if you know the essential design and safety elements to include in such a space.
Little ones love bathing in the water until their fingers become like raisins, but bathrooms are not always the safest place in the house. They can be downright dangerous if you overlook safety basics. The potential dangers for kids in bathrooms include slipping, getting cut on sharp faucet edges or being burned by scalding hot water. With all this in mind, it takes some planning and prowess to create a kids’ bathroom that stays clean, stylish and safe. When planning a vibrant and functional bathroom for your children, don’t overlook the following basics.
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Vibrant Theme
Bright hues are the hallmark of a kid-friendly color scheme and work especially well for bathrooms. However, you don’t need to stick to primary colors. Vibrant shades of purple, lavender, emerald and teal can be paired with contrasting colors. Using white and black as accents can bring a unique sensibility to a color palate. Once you have chosen the color theme you can chose a nontoxic paint for the walls and install heavy-duty waterproof flooring, because with the kids around — you’ll need it!
Floor Mats
These are not only a style aid but a safety necessity. Invest in a floor mat that has a no–skid underbelly, preventing it from becoming a slipping danger. Floor mats can be visually appealing and accent your bathroom’s theme or you can choose an understated, but functional, mat. Kids love “fluffy” textures, and mats are available in a variety of quirky, absorbent materials.
Bathmat
Slipping in the bathtub is a real danger for kids. A quick slip while bathing can disorient a child and pose a drowning danger. Bathmats are a key safety feature, and they’re available in fun textures for kids. Some bathmat textures emulate “fuzzy grass” while others feature raised ripples that create a gentle massage-like effect.
Eco-Friendly Shower Liner
Because vinyl shower curtains can be a potent allergen for kids and adults alike, purchase an eco-friendly non-allergenic shower liner for your kids’ bathroom. Find a product that is labeled nontoxic and hypoallergenic to confirm your shower liner is vinyl free. Vinyl has been known to occasionally cause respiratory problems in sensitive individuals. A positive trait of non-vinyl shower liners is they are odor free, lacking the distinctive rubbery aroma that lingers for months.
Toothbrush Protectors
Some of the biggest dangers kids face in the bathroom are invisible to the naked eye. When toothbrushes are left out on counters, they are prone to become homes for varieties of microorganisms — and not all of them are benign. It is possible to pick up dangerous bacteria from toothbrushes that are not kept clean. A step in the safe direction is to store toothbrushes in airtight containers, which are commonly available in the oral care section of most drugstores. These come in bright, fun and novelty designs kids will enjoy using.
A Medicine Safe
Another danger lurking in your bathroom is medicine. Because many people store medicine in the bathroom, kids sometimes get their hands on dangerous prescription drugs. You can still store your medicine in the bathroom — even in the kids’ bathroom — but do so in a medicine safe. Medicine safes can be purchased at most drugstores. They are a simple, effective way to protect your children from the dangers of accidentally ingesting prescription drugs.
Two Towel Sets
A wise choice for outfitting a kids’ bathroom with linens is to keep two sets handy — one for “looks” and one for “function.” You can use your decorative linens to display, but use your “functional” linens for actual daily use. Kids put a lot of wear and tear on linens. This is a surefire way to keep your ornamental towels out of harm’s way.
Nontoxic Cleaning Kit
Because children have more sensitive skin than adults, use nontoxic cleaners that are less likely to irritate young bathers. Basic, nontoxic cleaning supplies include white vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice. Those three items take care of most basic bathroom cleaning needs and with less toxic fumes than harsh bleach or ammonia-based commercial cleaners do.
About the Author: Molly Fledman is an interior designer who writes extensively about how to create kid-friendly spaces in your home.
Jenn says
We need a bath mat!
Leilani says
Our kids have their own bathroom, but honestly, the bathroom is the last room in the house I care to decorate. Probably because we spend the least amount of time in there.
Anne - Mommy Has to Work says
I like the two towel idea!
Elaina- A Time Out for Mommy says
These are great tips! when we move the girls will have their own bathroom
Colleen says
Great ideas. I wanted to do our third bathroom for my daughter but instead my husband said he needed his own space LOL
Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins says
That bathroom looks amazing!