Shower Bench Ideas For A Spa-Like Experience
A shower bench can come in a variety of designs, such as a built-in bench, folding seat, or a portable teak stool to add more functionality to your bathroom space. Shower seats can provide a place to shave your legs comfortably, help keep toiletries within reach, or offer a place to sit and rejuvenate.
Having a shower with a built-in bench has become quite trendy these days. Unlike most trends, these benches have more functional benefits than aesthetics. Adding a seat increases safety in your bathing area. This is especially beneficial to people with disabilities and the elderly, as it decreases the chances of them accidentally slipping in the shower.
If that is not particularly a concern, a bench also helps ensure you get a more thorough shower session. Hard-to-reach areas such as your legs and your feet will be easier to wash properly if you have something to sit on. Not to mention, it also decreases the chance of you slipping in the shower.
Choosing A Bench For Your Shower
If you want to install or add a shower bench, consider these factors:
- Who will use the bench? Do they have special needs or mobility issues? What is the average height of its user/s?
- Area of application – how much space do you have, and what’s the layout of your shower area?
By considering the above factors, you will be guided on your decision for appropriate shower bench sizing. If none of the users have any mobility issues and are all adults, a standard sitting height of 15″ to 19″ will work well, depending on the average height of its users. It is best to try it yourself to see which is more comfortable. However, if you have kids / small children, try to keep it low enough for them to safely go down.
Generally, a seat height of 18″ would be comfortable for most, according to ADA standards. For the seat depth, it is also best to keep it between the ADA standard bench depth, between 18″ and 24″. Again, consider the body size and stature of the users when determining the depth of the bench.
Built-in Shower Bench Ideas
Depending on the size of your shower, there are many different seat styles to choose from.
Tiled Shower Bench – The easiest and the most common. This is easy to construct with concrete, especially if you haven’t tiled your shower area yet. This is also the choice of those who want to keep their benches “incognito.”
Marble/Stone Shower Bench – Similar to the tiled bench, the only difference is the material used.
Floating Shower Bench – A faux “cantilever” is made using concrete and then clad with tiles or natural stones to create a floating effect. This is best if you want your bench to look sleek and light.
Wall-mounted Shower Bench – If you already have tiles installed, then perhaps a store-bought or custom wall-mount bench would work better. If you are a bit short on space, this would also work well, as you can purchase a folding bench.
Freestanding Shower Bench – This category includes wooden and plastic chairs and benches you can put in your bathing area, and specialized showering chairs for PWDs.
This tiled bench is placed where the showerhead wall is, which is an unusual location for seating but also makes sense, considering the length of the stall. The tiles used on the seat design match the walls, making it look clean and seamless. There are many benefits of built-in shower benches made from tile, such as being durable, low cost, low maintenance, and stylish.
This is another example of a tiled bench with a stone top. This shower is large and spacious, so the seating area is also very deep, allowing enough room for larger body types.
For those who are a bit short on space in the shower areas or those who simply don’t want the bench to occupy too much space, corner designs are a good option. See some examples below:
If you’re short on space and don’t want to construct or re-tile, a freestanding wooden seat would be the best choice. Not only is it more affordable, but they’re also lightweight and movable, so you can easily remove them if you don’t need them. A large glass shower door meets with a glass partition to complete this streamlined design.
Wall Mounted Bench
Some of the best shower bench ideas are versatile, such as a wall-mounted design that folds up when not in use. The smallest walk-in shower designs start at 30″ by 30″. The International Residential Code (ICCsafe source) mandates that showers are at least 900 square inches or 30″ by 30″ to safely add a built-in seat. A folding model may work for your space if you have a stall that is this size or larger but not large enough to comfortably accommodate a regular-sized bench.
An even more space-saving option would be wall-mounted shower benches. These can be bought in stores or online and can easily be installed in existing enclosures, as long as there is a wall to attach to. These low-profile benches can be folded, so you can easily stow them away when not in use.
Portable Bench
Portable benches are those which you can basically move around easily. You can put them in and remove them as quickly as you want. They are usually made from various kinds of wood (Teak being the most popular), as well as bamboo, plastics, metal, or a combination.
Bamboo is a new popular material used in outdoor furniture. This folding stool is made from bamboo ply, which are basically flattened sheets of bamboo. Bamboo is also known for its excellent weather resistance, so getting it wet is not an issue.
Medical Bench
A medical shower chair is helpful for the elderly those with injuries or limited mobility. The four-legged design provides a stable platform for sitting and personal grooming in the bathtub or enclosure. The aluminum frame helps prevent corrosion, and a curved seat helps offer additional comfort.
Wood Bench
Perhaps the most traditional type is a wooden stool, which was used back in the day as well. They are light, affordable, and easily move around as needed. Just make sure the legs have the appropriate grippers so it doesn’t slip on the floor!
Many opt to use seating outside the enclosure to prevent moisture from damaging the wood surfaces. They can help those with children or limited mobility to sit while undressing or dressing. They can also help keep your clean towels or clothing off the floor.
Teak Bench
Teak is a popular material for outdoor furniture and decking because of its excellent weather resistance. Teak has a natural oil that helps repel water, warping, or cracking.
Teakwood is quite hard, shrinks very little in seasoning, and possesses great physical strength. – Sculpture in Wood, Jack C. Rich
This example shows various variations of solid teak benches – a teak stool, a tub seat, and a corner stool as well. A teak stool is perfect if you have a small space but need that “sit down” area in your enclosure.
What are your favorite shower bench ideas? Let us know what your favorites are or any questions we missed in the comments below.
