Which Shower Bench Style Is Right for You?
Shower benches can be sturdy, floating, fold-away or movable. Read about 6 types to find one that suits your needs
Gwendolyn Purdom
22 January 2021
Lover of architecture, history, dogs, the Chicago Cubs, crowded bookshelves, and homes with a story. Former editor at Preservation mag and Culturess.com.
Lover of architecture, history, dogs, the Chicago Cubs, crowded bookshelves, and... More
A shower bench can make life easier for older homeowners who need a safe place to sit down, but it can serve plenty of other functions too. Depending on its configuration, a bench can double as a shelf, a pedestal for shaving, a wheelchair-accessible seat and more. We spoke to design pros and looked to several projects that incorporated shower benches to find out which setups work best in various situations.
1. Built-In With a Base
A sturdy seat is essential for users who’ll actually be sitting often, such as older adults or those with an injury. In the bathroom shown here, the continuous subway tile helps the solid, built-in bench blend in seamlessly with the rest of the walk-in shower.
A sturdy seat is essential for users who’ll actually be sitting often, such as older adults or those with an injury. In the bathroom shown here, the continuous subway tile helps the solid, built-in bench blend in seamlessly with the rest of the walk-in shower.
A blockier bench can also act as a design canvas of sorts. In this Dallas-area master bath, the team at Hatfield Builders & Remodelers topped this subway-tiled shower seat with a slab of quartz.
A shower bench is “an opportunity for a material change,” interior designer Angela Mechaley of m.o.daby design in Portland, Oregon, says.
A bench was a must-have for these homeowners, as one of them was recovering from knee surgery and showering could be a challenge. The Hatfield team removed a large oval bathtub and framed the new bench with porcelain subway tile on its base and on the surrounding walls, with basketweave mosaic marble tiles on the floor.
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A shower bench is “an opportunity for a material change,” interior designer Angela Mechaley of m.o.daby design in Portland, Oregon, says.
A bench was a must-have for these homeowners, as one of them was recovering from knee surgery and showering could be a challenge. The Hatfield team removed a large oval bathtub and framed the new bench with porcelain subway tile on its base and on the surrounding walls, with basketweave mosaic marble tiles on the floor.
Find a bathroom designer near you
A built-in bench doesn’t have to take up an entire side of a shower. Here, interior designer Laura Hunt tucked a narrower bench in a shower alcove that can also serve as a niche.
Read more about this house
Read more about this house
Things to consider. A built-in bench typically takes up more space, may be pricier than other bench options and doesn’t allow for a wheelchair to roll under it.
Custom building it, however, does allow for the bench to feel more integrated into the overall design and for some added creativity, as seen in this wavy design by John Kraemer & Sons.
New to home remodeling? Click here to learn the basics
Custom building it, however, does allow for the bench to feel more integrated into the overall design and for some added creativity, as seen in this wavy design by John Kraemer & Sons.
New to home remodeling? Click here to learn the basics
2. Floating
For a minimal, modern look, a floating bench may do the trick. This type can be made using a variety of materials. The San Francisco-area shower seen here has a bench of Caesarstone reinforced with a 1½-inch tube steel frame, according to design firm Hulburd Design. Teak and other materials are also common for floating benches. A narrow ledge like this may provide just enough of a shelf for resting one’s foot if shaving legs is the primary use.
See more shower bench inspiration photos
For a minimal, modern look, a floating bench may do the trick. This type can be made using a variety of materials. The San Francisco-area shower seen here has a bench of Caesarstone reinforced with a 1½-inch tube steel frame, according to design firm Hulburd Design. Teak and other materials are also common for floating benches. A narrow ledge like this may provide just enough of a shelf for resting one’s foot if shaving legs is the primary use.
See more shower bench inspiration photos
Because space is visible underneath a wall-mounted bench, this setup often results in an overall airier feel. It also can make a visually interesting design statement or even provide storage, as seen in this Toronto-area bathroom.
Things to consider. Depending on its height and depth, a floating bench can potentially accommodate a wheelchair user. Professional installation is particularly important with a floating bench, to ensure that the seat is strong enough for sitting. This teak bench is structurally supported by three low-profile brackets, according to Hickox Williams Architects.
3. Folding
If those using the shower won’t need a bench all the time, a folding version is a good option. And it needn’t be clinical-looking. The fold-up bench that designers Mechaley and Matthew O. Daby of m.o.daby design chose for this Portland, Oregon, guest bathroom was added with practicality and style in mind.
Wanting to incorporate accessibility as well as their clients’ sense of humor into the project — and create a sense of playful lightness in a dark basement space — the team embraced a public swimming pool motif. The folding bench was central to that vision, both because it gives off a locker room vibe and because it’s easy to tuck away when not in use. “We saw an opportunity to do something a little bit off the beaten path,” Daby says. Though the clients didn’t have children at the time, the whimsical design is kid-friendly.
The bench’s slightness in the context of the rest of the bathroom also made it a good fit, Mechaley says.
“The impact of the blue is heavy there, so I really liked this single floating wood element,” she says. “It doesn’t feel heavy, it feels lighter, versus if that was a whole bulk slab taking up that corner.”
If those using the shower won’t need a bench all the time, a folding version is a good option. And it needn’t be clinical-looking. The fold-up bench that designers Mechaley and Matthew O. Daby of m.o.daby design chose for this Portland, Oregon, guest bathroom was added with practicality and style in mind.
Wanting to incorporate accessibility as well as their clients’ sense of humor into the project — and create a sense of playful lightness in a dark basement space — the team embraced a public swimming pool motif. The folding bench was central to that vision, both because it gives off a locker room vibe and because it’s easy to tuck away when not in use. “We saw an opportunity to do something a little bit off the beaten path,” Daby says. Though the clients didn’t have children at the time, the whimsical design is kid-friendly.
The bench’s slightness in the context of the rest of the bathroom also made it a good fit, Mechaley says.
“The impact of the blue is heavy there, so I really liked this single floating wood element,” she says. “It doesn’t feel heavy, it feels lighter, versus if that was a whole bulk slab taking up that corner.”
This bathroom is equipped with two smaller folding benches, along with other accessible features such as grab bars and a curbless shower entry.
11 Ways to Age-Proof Your Bathroom
11 Ways to Age-Proof Your Bathroom
Benches are particularly useful for older homeowners, those with elderly guests and those who plan to age in place, but they can really work for anyone. Folding benches, especially, can work for those who want the feature to be low-profile.
“Accessible design always makes sense, can be well hidden and [is] beautiful,” Barbara Grushow of Barbara Grushow Designs says. “Most of the time when I bring it up, clients hurriedly dismiss the notion…. There is a lack of awareness of how easily it can be incorporated and systems can be put in place for a later time — and a genuine fear of it. People think, ‘I won’t ever need that,’ or don’t want to think about the reality if it might be needed one day.”
In this case, Grushow, who has a special interest in accessible design, got this small teak bench and its corresponding hardware on Houzz and paired it with a curbless entry, wider doorways, a wall-mounted sink and other details that would work for the home’s older occupants.
Even if homeowners are relatively young, a simple bench like this one can be smart to add for other reasons, Grushow says.
“Imagine a pregnant woman, or a person after knee surgery or a sprained ankle. Grab bars and shower benches are amazingly helpful, useful and a great safety measure in those types of instances as well, let alone for an elderly person or someone who is permanently disabled,” she says. “We all have days where a bench, and if you are lucky enough to have a hand shower, would be a very nice way to relax and bathe.”
“Accessible design always makes sense, can be well hidden and [is] beautiful,” Barbara Grushow of Barbara Grushow Designs says. “Most of the time when I bring it up, clients hurriedly dismiss the notion…. There is a lack of awareness of how easily it can be incorporated and systems can be put in place for a later time — and a genuine fear of it. People think, ‘I won’t ever need that,’ or don’t want to think about the reality if it might be needed one day.”
In this case, Grushow, who has a special interest in accessible design, got this small teak bench and its corresponding hardware on Houzz and paired it with a curbless entry, wider doorways, a wall-mounted sink and other details that would work for the home’s older occupants.
Even if homeowners are relatively young, a simple bench like this one can be smart to add for other reasons, Grushow says.
“Imagine a pregnant woman, or a person after knee surgery or a sprained ankle. Grab bars and shower benches are amazingly helpful, useful and a great safety measure in those types of instances as well, let alone for an elderly person or someone who is permanently disabled,” she says. “We all have days where a bench, and if you are lucky enough to have a hand shower, would be a very nice way to relax and bathe.”
Things to consider. Like floating benches, folding benches require substantial structural reinforcement and professional installation. It’s also important to consider where they’re installed and the type of shower head used.
“A bench attached to the wall but [with] no ability to properly point the water to the right area will be problematic,” Grushow says. “The proper placement of the bench is key.”
“A bench attached to the wall but [with] no ability to properly point the water to the right area will be problematic,” Grushow says. “The proper placement of the bench is key.”
4. Standalone
If a bench isn’t already integrated into a shower design but there’s space for one, a standalone bench can be an easy and stylish solution. This type of bench is available in a wide range of styles and sizes.
Shop for teak standalone shower benches
If a bench isn’t already integrated into a shower design but there’s space for one, a standalone bench can be an easy and stylish solution. This type of bench is available in a wide range of styles and sizes.
Shop for teak standalone shower benches
Things to consider. Many standalone designs, such as the one shown here, are teak, which requires some maintenance such as regular oiling. Also, as they’re typically not anchored to anything, there’s more of a possibility that a standalone bench could slide or move in a slippery shower.
Why Wood Works in the Bath
Why Wood Works in the Bath
5. Corner Seat
A corner seat makes great use of smaller showers, can be designed with or without wheelchair-friendly open space beneath it and can be a full seat, a leg-shaving perch or a spot just big enough for a few bottles of shampoo.
A corner seat makes great use of smaller showers, can be designed with or without wheelchair-friendly open space beneath it and can be a full seat, a leg-shaving perch or a spot just big enough for a few bottles of shampoo.
Things to consider. Again, whether the corner seat is solid like the one seen here or floating (as in the previous photo) will determine its long-term accessibility as well as cost and types of materials needed.
See more shower inspiration photos
See more shower inspiration photos
6. Double-Duty Ledge
Using the edge of a tub deck for a shower bench, as design-build firm LD&A did here, can be a sleek space-saver. It also cuts down on materials and can give the bathroom a cohesive look.
“When we do the sort of tub deck protruding into the shower, we can do some interesting shapes and play with the geometry a little bit more,” m.o.daby’s Mechaley says. “That’s what we’re always looking to do when we’re doing benches, to make sure they look like they’re part of the shower, they’re on purpose and not just added in the corner after the fact without much thought.”
How to Future-Proof Your Family Bathroom
Using the edge of a tub deck for a shower bench, as design-build firm LD&A did here, can be a sleek space-saver. It also cuts down on materials and can give the bathroom a cohesive look.
“When we do the sort of tub deck protruding into the shower, we can do some interesting shapes and play with the geometry a little bit more,” m.o.daby’s Mechaley says. “That’s what we’re always looking to do when we’re doing benches, to make sure they look like they’re part of the shower, they’re on purpose and not just added in the corner after the fact without much thought.”
How to Future-Proof Your Family Bathroom
Things to consider. A separate tub with a deck is required for this configuration, which means it might not be a great fit for smaller bathrooms but does provide an option that can grow with young children. San Francisco-area design firm Melinamade Interiors merged two young sisters’ small separate bathrooms into the one larger room seen here. The tub and shower combination with the adjoining bench keeps things flexible while still using the space efficiently.
More on Houzz
How to Remodel Your Bathroom
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More on Houzz
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Arriving late to this forum. Bogusnot, if you're still out there, can you tell us what sort of curtain you used for your shower enclosure in your aging-in-place wet room master bath? It looks like a metallic mesh of some sort. I like all the glass used for these shower enclosures. They look great. But I don't relish the thought of having to keep the mineral deposits off of them. Squeegees can help ... when they're used reliably. But hubby can't be bothered with them, and he showers daily. As we prepare for our own MB remodel, I am keeping my eyes open for alternatives.
I'm a big fan of shower benches and made sure there was one in my latest reno. I don't like suspended or temporary benches, due to the added difficulty with cleaning and possible (irrational?) fear of it moving or collapsing. I also don't understand benches miles away from the actual shower, like it's some sort of waiting room to use the shower. And I know benches are often promoted for old people, people with disabilities or shaving your legs but for me its perfect for sitting under the rainshower and relaxing, or having a bit of intimate time ;)
That built-in 'bench-niche' looks like great seating....for gnomes.
I did a down-to-the-studs re-do of a first floor bathroom with aging-in-place in mind. Initially romanced by the idea of a shower bench, I am sooooo glad I did not go that route. Instead, I opted for a ghost acrylic stool - higher and more comfortable than any bench. The clear look is a plus and it can easily be moved (And the cost was under $75.) As for 'comfort' toilets - comfort is in the height of the sitter. I'm 5’9 and had a diligent, near interminable search to find a 20” inch toilet. Now, with my knees starting to show their age, even THAT is not comfortable to lower myself to. Enjoy your youth and agility....but never take it for granted!!