As they say, home is where the heart is. Having a home that’s inviting, warm and comforting isn’t enough. You also need a home that’s safe for every member of your family.
Reports suggest many people pick the bathroom as their favorite part of the home. Sometimes, it can also serve as a special hideout away from the chaos.
Are you considering remodeling your bathroom? A grab rail should be on your list. You can install it in your bathrooms to aid better movement and safety.
Here’s a guide to choosing the right one for your modern bathroom.
Why Install a Grab Rail?
Bathrooms can become challenging environments when floors and surfaces are wet, particularly for people with reduced mobility, balance difficulties or limited strength.
A correctly selected and professionally installed grab rail can provide a stable point of support for everyday movements such as:
✅ Getting in and out of the shower
✅ Lowering onto or rising from the toilet
✅ Moving between a wheelchair and shower seat
✅ Maintaining balance while standing
✅ Moving around wet bathroom areas
✅ Supporting users during transfers
Grab rails can also be incorporated into a bathroom before additional support is needed, making them a practical part of future-proof bathroom design.
1. Start With the User
The most important consideration isn't the appearance of the grab rail - it's who will be using it and what they need it to do.
Think about the movements that are difficult for the user. We recommend speaking with an Occupational Therapist who specializes in Home Modifications, they can help find the most suitable options for you and your home.
For example:
Difficulty standing from the toilet?
A toilet grab rail or support rail may provide the additional leverage required.
Difficulty getting in and out of the shower?
A horizontal or angled grab rail can provide support during transfers.
Reduced balance while standing?
A vertical grab rail can provide a convenient handhold when entering or exiting a shower.
Using a wheelchair or shower seat?
The positioning, length and orientation of the rail become particularly important and may need to be considered as part of an accessible bathroom layout.
Explore Avail's Assisted Living Collection
For public accessible bathrooms, the requirements are more specific and products must be selected and installed according to the relevant standards.
Avail's DDA AS1428.1 range has been independently assessed and tested for the applicable accessible bathroom requirements.
Explore Avail's AS1428.1 Accessible Bathroom Collection
2. Choose the Right Grab Rail Shape
Grab rails aren't one-size-fits-all. Different shapes are designed for different movements and locations.
Horizontal Grab Rails
• Horizontal rails are useful where the user needs to maintain support while moving sideways or transferring.
• They are commonly used in showers and beside toilets.
• Avail's Calibre Range uses a modular design, allowing rails to be configured to suit different bathroom layouts.
Vertical Grab Rails
• Vertical rails can provide a convenient handhold when entering or exiting a shower.
• They can also be particularly useful for users who find it easier to grip a rail vertically.
Angled Grab Rails
• Angled rails can provide support across more than one movement—for example, helping a user lower themselves onto a toilet or rise from a seated position.
• Avail's Calibre range includes angled and AS1428.1-compliant configurations for accessible and ambulant bathrooms.
Toilet Grab Rails
• Toilet grab rails are designed specifically around toilet transfers
• For accessible bathrooms, the rail configuration and dimensions need to correspond with the applicable AS1428.1 requirements rather than simply selecting a convenient-looking rail.
3. Consider the Diameter:25mm or 32mm?
One of the key decisions when selecting a grab rail is its diameter.
Avail offers both 25mm and 32mm Calibre grab rails.
32mm Grab Rails
32mm rails are commonly selected for public accessible bathrooms and applications where AS1428.1 compliance is required.
Avail's 32mm Calibre rails are designed for public and private bathrooms, with a 150kg capacity when correctly installed.
25mm Grab Rails
25mm rails can be a great option for private homes and assisted-living environments where the user's individual needs are the primary consideration.
A smaller diameter can also be preferred by some users because it can feel easier to grip.
The best diameter isn't necessarily the biggest or smallest—it should be appropriate for the person using it and the application.
4. Think About the Length
The length of a grab rail should be determined by:
• Where the rail is being installed
• How the user needs to move
• The available wall space
• The location of wall studs or other structural support
• Any applicable accessibility requirements
One of the advantages of Avail's Calibre modular system is that many rails can be cut to suit the installation.
This makes it easier to create a rail configuration that works with the bathroom layout rather than forcing the bathroom design to work around a fixed rail size.
However, rails should always be installed by an appropriately qualified installer and fixed into suitable structural support.
5. Don't Forget Installation
A grab rail is only as safe as its installation.
Before selecting a rail, consider what is behind the bathroom wall.
Depending on the construction, this may include:
• Timber studs
• Steel framing
• Structural backing
• Brick or masonry
• Other suitable fixing points
Avail recommends locating the wall structure before installation so the rail can be securely fixed.
Our Calibre modular rails are particularly useful where the rail needs to be cut to suit the location of wall studs.
Important: A grab rail should never be installed simply into plasterboard without appropriate structural support.
6. Choose a Finish That Works With Your Bathroom
This is where accessible bathroom design has changed dramatically.
Grab rails no longer need to look clinical or out of place.
At Avail, grab rails are available in a range of finishes including:
Brushed Nickel Chrome Matte Black Gun Metal
Brushed Bronze Brushed Gold Organic Brushed Brass Organic Aged Brass
This allows grab rails to coordinate with tapware, shower fittings, accessories, mirrors and other bathroom elements.
Rather than hiding accessibility products, you can make them feel like an intentional part of the design.
7. Consider Contrast and Visibility
Colour isn't purely an aesthetic decision.
For some users, a grab rail that contrasts with the wall can be easier to locate visually.
For example, a darker rail against a light tile can create a stronger visual distinction, while a brass or bronze finish can become a deliberate design feature.
The most appropriate choice will depend on the individual user's vision, bathroom environment and overall design.
8. Match Your Grab Rails With Other Bathroom Products
One of the biggest advantages of designing an accessible bathroom today is that support products don't have to be treated as separate from the rest of the bathroom.
At Avail, grab rails can be coordinated with other accessibility products including:
Shower Seats
A wall-mounted shower seat can work alongside strategically positioned grab rails to make showering more comfortable and accessible.
Avail's Liberty range includes both private and DDA-accessible shower seat options, with different cover finishes available.
Explore Avail Shower Seats & Backrests
Toilet Supports
Where additional assistance is required around the toilet, Avail also offers toilet support arms and accessible toilet grab rail configurations.
Explore Avail Supports
Tapware & Accessories
Accessible bathroom design should also consider the positioning and usability of tapware, shower controls and accessories.
Explore Avail Tapware Bathroom Accessories
The goal is to create a bathroom where every element works together.
9. Private Home vs Public Accessible Bathroom
This is an important distinction.
For a private home or assisted-living bathroom, products should generally be selected according to the individual user's needs, preferences and bathroom layout. An Occupational Therapist can help assess personal needs to determine the best options.
Assisted Living bathrooms can combine functional grab rails with other bathroom accessories like towel rails, toilet roll holders and shower shelves
For public accessible bathrooms, specific requirements apply and products need to be selected and installed according to the applicable standards.
Avail's AS1428.1 compliant collection is specifically designed for accessible public bathroom applications and includes grab rails, shower seats, backrests, tapware and accessories.
10. Accessibility Doesn't Have to Look Clinical
Perhaps the most important consideration is that accessibility and good design don't need to compete.
A bathroom can be safe, supportive and compliant while still feeling warm, modern and personal.
Avail's Calibre Mecca range is designed with a contemporary aesthetic, while the Glance York range provides an option for more traditional and provincial-style bathrooms. The current Avail site specifically positions these ranges by bathroom style.
Choosing the Right Grab Rail: A Quick Checklist
Before purchasing, consider:
☐ Who will be using the rail?
☐ What movement does the user need assistance with?
☐ Where will the rail be installed?
☐ Does the application require AS1428.1 compliance?
☐ Would 25mm or 32mm diameter be more appropriate?
☐ What length and configuration is required?
☐ Is there suitable structural support behind the wall?
☐ Would a contrasting colour improve visibility?
☐ Does the finish coordinate with the rest of the bathroom?
☐ Would a shower seat or other support product improve the overall design?
Designed for Support. Made for Beautiful Bathrooms.
At Avail Design, we believe accessible bathroom products should provide more than support- they should help create bathrooms that people are proud to use.
From contemporary Calibre grab rails to the traditional-inspired Glance York range, Liberty shower seats and complementary bathroom accessories, Avail provides solutions that combine accessibility, functionality and considered design.
Explore the full Avail range and find the right combination of support, style and functionality for your bathroom.