15 Bathroom Modifications That Cost Under $100

Pick them up. If you want something underfoot, replace them with mats that have heavy rubber backing. But the free version is just removing the ones that slide.

Move the hamper, the wastebasket, the magazine rack. Anything you might clip with your hip in the dark at 2am gets relocated. This sounds obvious. Do it anyway.

Shampoo off the tub floor. Towels off the high hook. Toothbrush off the top shelf. Every time you reach up or bend down on a wet surface, you're adding risk that doesn't need to be there.

Older skin burns at lower temperatures and heals more slowly. Most water heaters ship set to 140°F. The dial is usually on the front of the unit. Turn it to 120°F or the setting marked "hot" (not "very hot").

Textured strips that stick directly to the surface. Peel, press, done. They last about a year before needing replacement. A pack of 20+ strips covers most tubs.

Plug-in models turn on when you walk past and shut off after you leave. Put one in the hallway between the bedroom and bathroom, and one inside the bathroom near the floor. Night trips to the bathroom become visible.

After 60, your eyes need roughly three times more light to see the same detail. Swapping a dim warm bulb for a 5000K daylight LED is one of the highest-impact changes on this list. Look for 800+ lumens.

If you want something soft underfoot when you step out of the shower, get one with a heavy rubber backing that grips the floor. Not a decorative rug. A mat designed to stay put when wet feet land on it.

If you use or plan to use a shower chair, mount a caddy where you can reach everything while sitting. The standard height was designed for standing. Adjust it to match how you actually use the shower.

This is the single most effective bathroom safety modification. A 16-inch or 18-inch stainless steel bar, mounted into wall studs at the point where you step in and out of the shower. You'll use it every single day.

Replaces your fixed showerhead. Lets you direct the water while sitting or standing. Useful for rinsing without twisting your body. Most thread onto your existing shower arm with no tools beyond a wrench.

Adds 2-4 inches to your existing toilet. No plumbing, no tools on most models. Locks onto the bowl. If standing up from the toilet requires effort or pushing off the wall, this is the fix. Your knees and hips will notice the difference the first time you use it.

Metal armrests that bolt to the toilet base. Gives you something to push off of when standing. Works well in rentals or bathrooms where you can't drill into tile walls for mounted grab bars.

Round knobs require grip strength and a twisting motion. Levers open with a push. Better with arthritis, wet hands, or when you're carrying something. Standard replacement, four screws.

Bows outward to give you several extra inches of space inside the shower. More room to move, less chance of bumping elbows or knocking things over. Replaces a standard straight rod.