Human Scale:
1. Body Care in the Bathroom

03/25

The line between personal hygiene and personal care is blurred, and much of both is part of our everyday routine. Nevertheless, the decisive criterion for personal hygiene is probably the extent of the care activities that we give our bodies over and above the necessary basics - for health care, beauty care or simply because it does us good.

The most important "workplace" in the bathroom is the washbasin. The centre of many care activities in the bathroom should be optimally equipped: plenty of free space, very good, adjustable lighting, a large mirror surface and optimal, well-structured storage space. In addition to the washbasin, barrier-free access to the water and shower, a seat and a sufficiently large movement area in the bathroom facilitate ergonomic use and at the same time increase the relaxation and cosiness factor. If the bathroom is larger than 8 square metres, the integration of a bathtub or a dressing table can be a useful and convenient addition that creates added value for bathroom users.

Activity	Realisation	Bathroom planning
Cut hair	Functional lighting	Seating, mirror surfaces Integrate waste bin
Make-up	Large mirror with functional light (change of light colour desirable)	Mirror cabinet with innovative lighting system; dressing table with seat, drawer with compartments, container Cooling compartment for cosmetic products, bright light with a light intensity of up to 300 lumens per m²
Taking medication / dietary supplements	Lockable medicine cabinet	Provide a cooling compartment for large temperature fluctuations in summer Keep medicine safe from children
Lubricate hands	Free use of space	Assign containers to a functional zone Prioritise the accessibility of everyday objects
Wipe your nose	Provide tissue box	Integrated opening in washbasin worktop or separate box Integrate waste bin
Freshen up	Washbasin	Provide storage space for clothing Have guest towels ready
Refresh yourself with cold water	Washbasin fitting, hand shower	Provide sufficient outlet height for arm casts Summer luxury: Kneipp hose in the shower for footbath/knee bath
Check yourself for ticks	Functional lighting	Open space, access to natural light, seating area WC seat should not be the only seating option in the bathroom
Apply sun cream	Full-length mirror	Open space required Prioritise the accessibility of everyday objects
Apply body cream	Full-length mirror	Plan a free zone in front of the radiator, no sharp edges in the vicinity Tip: Radiator incl. mirror surface
Depilate legs	Shower/bath close to or integrated seating area	Plan a fixed place for a bench, stool or armchair The toilet seat or bath rim should not be the sole seating option
Weighing yourself	Body scale	Find space-saving & ready-to-hand storage The body scale is one of the most common items of equipment in German bathrooms*
Shower off your feet	Floor-level shower or integrated seat in bathtub	Kneipp hose or hand shower (laminar jet) within reach of the floor Option: Integrate drain in the floor
Looking at yourself in the mirror	Open space required	mirror Pleasant floor haptics with nudity
Plucking eyebrows, whiskers etc.	Mirror, magnifying mirror	Reduce distance between mirror and person, high quality of light Magnifying mirror integrated in the mirror cabinet
Applying / removing nail polish	Seating, storage surface for arm & hand	Ideally: separate dressing table/place Ventilation option makes sense
Wash, condition and blow-dry your hair	Washbasin: high tap spout or tap with spout	Large washbasin, easy access to the hand shower by the bathtub Socket outlet not in protection zone 1
Make-up, applying make-up	Mirror, magnifying mirror	Short distance between mirror and person, high quality of light
Make-up removal	Mirror, magnifying mirror, washbasin, good lighting	Small storage space in the immediate vicinity of the washbasin; hooks/shelves for reusable pads Small rubbish bin, regular replacement of towels to avoid bacteria
Using a curling iron	Enable power supply	Plan utilisation zone Socket outlet not in protection zone 1
Apply hair gel or hairspray	Mirror on the washbasin	Three-part, folding mirror for rear view
Hairdressing	Mirror on the washbasin, power supply	High light quality, multi-door mirror (cabinet), possibly a drawer for brushes Mirror cabinet with different light
Cleansing bath	Large bathtub	Consider the height of bathroom users Setting the water temperature to the exact degree makes sense
Disinfect hands	Disinfectant dispenser	Standardised design of accessories makes sense Disinfectant dispenser not available in every accessory series
Skin care, scrubbing/removing calluses	Seating	High light quality, floor should be easy to clean Moist skin care is usually carried out after a shower/bath
Apply deodorant, perfume	Secure storage for flacons	Possibly representative display cabinet / shelf Possible damage caused by glass bottles falling into ceramic washbasins
Combing hair, styling hair	Comb / brush within easy reach	Good lighting Note the colour and texture of the floor; small waste bin
Cutting nails, filing nails	Freedom of movement	Seating, easy to clean, good lighting Manicure set within easy reach
Apply face mask	Large mirror, washbasin	Good lighting at the washbasin Seating for relaxation
Using scrubs	Washbasin, large mirror	Good lighting at the washbasin
Take a foot bath	Water tank, bathtub, possibly integrated seating	High tap spout, water hose on shower or bath mixer tap Provide extra storage space or choose an aesthetic container
Using a massage roller	Freedom of movement	Stool, possibly lounger, bathtub cover as lying surface Option: Infrared cabin or infrared radiator
Apply body oils	Freedom of movement	Possibly lounger, cover for bathtub as lying surface Possibly plan for additional storage space for towels
massage	Freedom of movement for 2nd person	Lounger or seat Lighting: controllable light temperature
Using extensions	Large mirror plus hand mirror	Good lighting, multi-door mirror (cabinet provide for the possibility of a rear view
Braiding plaits	Large mirror plus hand mirror	Good lighting provide for the possibility of a rear view
Customise your wig	Large mirror plus hand mirror	Good lighting Possibly provide fixed storage space (to ensure privacy)
Hair colouring, hair conditioner	Washbasin; good lighting, ideally natural light	Good ventilation (windows); easy-to-clean materials Choose a particularly durable washbasin material for regular colouring
Hair colouring	Washbasin, possibly bathtub with hand shower	Fitting with extendable hose Check the chemical resistance of the washbasin and bath in advance
Cut fringes	Large mirror	Good lighting
Washing with a physical disability	Easily accessible, low-barrier washbasin	Provide space for carer to move around also applies to shower, WC etc.

*Source: VDS bathroom baseline study #germanbathrooms 2024