If the words ‘shower seat’ make you think of ‘grandma’ and ‘geriatric’ you’re not alone.
And if you Google ‘How to Choose a Shower Seat’ you’ll be overwhelmed with articles exploring choices in geriatric shower chairs. You’ll feel like you’re stuck in a continuous loop of a Life Alert commercial and “you’ve fallen, and you can’t get up.” And if you don’t remember this iconic commercial here it is:
And while I’m in no minimizing the concern, and in some cases tragic consequences of falls (and, in fact, the largest place for falls is in bathrooms) – I also think most people (even those with balance and mobility issues) either don’t want to admit they need a shower seat, don’t want to own an ugly shower chair, or they have reasons beyond safety to put a seat in their shower in the first place.
So, while the goal of this article will be to provide you with a comprehensive look at shower seat options, that’s not all I’m looking to cover here.
I’ll also look at why add a shower seat at all. I’ll look at size, placement, and even color considerations for a shower seat. And talk about the best material(s), installation considerations, and how to make your shower seat live best for you. And at the end – I’d love your input (or questions) about which shower seat or shower chair would be right for you.
So, without further delay let’s look at 7 steps to choose a shower seat.
Step #1 – Ask, ‘why add a shower seat?’
It makes no sense to spend even ‘one thin dime’ (as opposed to one thick dime) on a shower seat – even if your bathroom remodeler tells you ‘everyone’ is putting one in. And just like your parents told you back in the day, “Just because everyone is doing it, doesn’t mean you should.” Of course, they were essentially telling you no to the fun stuff you wanted to do or ‘cool’ or ‘groovy’ clothes you wanted to buy – ha! ha! So, here’s 3 reasons to add a shower seat which aren’t because ‘everyone else is doing it.’
Reason #1 – Relaxation (and/or shaving your legs)– Showers are NOT only made for the ‘business’ of showering while sitting down. Whether you’re creating a steam shower, sauna, or just a standard shower, it can be wonderful to turn up the heat and kick back and relax in your shower. A shower seat gives you a place to sit and relax and/or to shave your legs (even guys can do this if they’d like) without standing!
Image Credits: www.wedicorp.com
Reason #2 – Accessibility/safety – A compelling reason to install a shower seat (either now or in the future) is safety. If mobility is – or might become – a challenge, the ability to shower in a seated position can be essential to age in place. And if you’ve looked at the costs recently of independent and assisted living facilities you’ll quickly see staying in your home is not only comforting, it can save you a ton of money as well.
Image Credits: Enduring Home Solutions
Reason #3 – Looks – There are shower seats which add the wow factor you’ve always dreamed of. Shower seats are NOT only about function – they can be a fashion statement which cause people to ‘take notice’ of your new or remodeled space.
Step #2 – Do not assume shower seat options are only what you’ll see in a medical equipment store. Shower seats can be cool (or purely functional), and here’s examples to prove it.
Shower seats, grab bars, and shower drains are usually the Rodney Dangerfield features of a shower system. They get ‘no respect.’ And this lack of respect exists because most owners don’t realize the huge number options in these way-too-often dissed elements of a shower.
So – let’s look at 9 options in shower seats – which will include the ‘cool’ and the ‘purely functional’ (and some will even give you ‘negative style points’). However, depending on your needs and budget the ‘functional, yet unfashionable’ may be the smartest option if it keeps a family member from falling.
Option 1- Fold down seats – I have to admit I’m a big fan of fold down shower seats. And here’s the reason. Most showers are smaller than you’d like. With a fold down seat, you can fold it down to shower while seated, shave your legs or relax, then fold it up so you’re barely losing any space in the shower for someone who isn’t going to use the seat.
Option 2 – A shower chair – Most shower chairs WILL NOT win fashion awards however this doesn’t mean they should be discounted – quite the contrary. The advantage of a shower chair (beyond it being a low cost way of getting seating in a tub or shower) is it can be added ‘after the fact’ (if you’re not looking to remodel, but need a safer tub or shower). In addition, they can be taken in and out of a shower (so they don’t eat up room for people who don’t need seating).
Image Credits: www.wayfair.com
Option 3 –Transfer bench seats – Transfer seats are perfect for a wheelchair user to transfer into the shower independently or with the help of a caregiver.
Image Credits: www.TeakWorks4U.com
Option 4 –Corner seats – Corner seats are space savers for small showers and can be mounted to the floor or hung onto a wall.
Option 5 –A shower couch – What’s a shower couch you may ask? Well, this ‘shower bed or couch’ made from an extruded polystyrene base with tile at the surface is waterproof and uber-cool. However, it’s NOT going to work in a small 5’ x 8’ bathroom (unless you get rid of your shower or tub)– ha! ha!
Option 6 –Rolling shower chair – While this product isn’t the sexiest looking, it eliminates multiple transfers and makes it simpler to help someone who needs a caregiver to roll into the shower safely.
Image Credits: www.medmartonline.com
Option 7 –A one piece shower with a built in shower seat – This option – which is only possible in new construction – is popular with production home builders, although I’m NOT a fan. The reason is (as we’ll discuss in step 3) you can’t adjust the size or depth of the seat. In addition, the built in seat gobbles up a lot of room (and can’t be folded or removed in a small shower to allow more space for those who don’t need a seat).
Option 8 –Built in bench seats – A built in bench seat can not only be a cool feature in a shower to add seating – but it can also provide storage for towels or showering products.
Option 9 –Floating seats – Floating shower seats are visually appealing and provide a modern look.
Step #3 – Determine the size and placement of your shower seat or chair
Just like everything in life, the size and placement of your shower seat or chair involves a number of tradeoffs.
First you don’t want your shower seat or chair to ‘eat the shower’ and be out of proportion. And if this happens – especially with a fixed bench seat or permanently attached floating seat – it can be hard to get in and out of the shower (and with these options they’re permanently installed so if you make it too big, get prepared to reluctantly having to deal with it for a lot of years).
Secondly, like the story of the Goldilocks and the Three Bears, you don’t want your shower seat or chair to be too small. Because if it’s too small it could cause a fall. In general, most shower seats are 15” to 20” deep and installed 17” to 19” off the floor of the shower pan (like a ‘comfort height’ toilet).
Also make sure your seat is close to a water source, close to niches for soap and shampoo, and close to a grab bar (if needed) to make it easier to get up.
Step #4 – Determine the weight requirement and color of your shower seat or chair
Most shower seats and chairs have a weight capacities of 250 to 400 lbs. However, there are units which go up to 900 lbs. Obviously the seat needs to work for the heaviest user.
In addition, another overlooked feature is the color of the shower seat or chair. You’ll see a number of shower chairs made in blue, so the color contrasts with light colored shower walls and is easier to see to ensure someone doesn’t accidentally sit in the wrong spot. Having a shower chair which contrasts with your walls can be important for someone whose eyesight isn’t the best.
Step #5 – Choose the best material for your shower seat or chair
As with most materials, you need to balance cost with function, looks, and how simple it will be to clean your seat or chair.
When it comes to shower seats, you’ll find fixed bench and floating shower seats made of granite, tile, natural stone, engineered stone, fiberglass, acrylic, and PVC. And while options like tile and stone offer a lot of creative options, you (or your contractor) need to be careful they’re properly waterproofed.
For shower chairs most are made of plastic with rubber feet to prevent them from sliding or toppling.
Step #6 – Make sure your shower seat isn’t hard to install, is properly waterproofed, and/or is sized to minimize the need for a custom shower pan
The nice thing about a shower chair is there’s ZERO installation needed AND it can be removed at any time (of course, this is also the hassle with a shower chair is figuring out where to put it when it’s not in use).
However, the permanence of a shower seat (or shower couch if you’ve got a ton of room) requires it be installed onto the wall and/or the floor of the shower. And obviously with any shower – if it’s not properly waterproof you COULD have B-I-G problems down the road.
With fold down seats, or wall mounted floating bench seats, make sure there’s ‘wood blocking’ (and no this isn’t a big offensive lineman squeezed behind your wall, but it is wood behind the seat to ensure its securely fastened). Also make sure you seal the screw holes where the fold down seat is anchored (learn more in the video below).
Or if you’re building a fixed bench seat consider possible sizes and depths of the seat (and how much room will be left for the shower pan – assuming you’re not doing a roll in or one level shower). By doing this you can strategize if it’ll be possible to buy a standard size shower pan to save money. Also make sure to use – if you’re going with a tile bench seat –a waterproof backer board system (like Wedi or Schluter) behind the tiles (and note – this isn’t necessary with solid surface wall panels and a solid surface bench cap).
Proper installation can be the difference in having a shower seat you’re glad you put in – or one you ‘rue the day’ you installed because it wasn’t done right and now the ENTIRE shower has to be removed because it leaked (and YES, this does happen).
Step #7 – Improve the ‘useability’ of your shower seat by adding the right features in the right places
While a shower seat, chair, or even a shower couch (imagine that!), can be wonderful, they can be a lot less wonderful if its hard to reach a water source, or grab your soap and shampoo, or it’s unsafe to stand when you (or a loved one) is done.
It’s for this reason you shouldn’t add a shower seat without thinking through the location of a shower niche, a corner shelf, access to a hand-held shower, or grab bars so they work well together. Seats should be planned after thinking about why you’ve added one, and what function(s) you want the seat to help with (showering, shaving, or relaxing).
So, which shower seat or chair is right for you? What questions do you have about your shower project?
After reading this article do you have a favorite shower seat, shower chair, or would you love a shower couch if only you could blow out the walls of your bedroom to make it happen– ha! ha!
I know there’s a lot of decisions in remodeling your bathroom, doing a tub to shower conversion, or choosing just the right products for bathrooms in a new home. And if there’s one thing me and my team would love to do is make this process simpler for you.
President of Innovate Building Solutions a nationwide supplier and regional (Cleveland and Columbus) remodeling contractors. Some of our product lines include glass counters, floors, backsplashes, glass blocks and grout free shower and tub wall panels
