What is the best shower bench?

If you are interested in safety and stability, go to a surgical supply house for a seat.

LIke these They are not gorgeous but are safe and can be hidden when you have company, if you want.

Just buy a nice Rubbermaid bench or stool. Maybe check out a spa store, they also make benches and steps.

What a very kind idea.

There are basically three options:
Plastic It’s cheap and easy to clean. It doesn’t look elegant. It’s not the most sturdy.
Wood They tend to run at a higher price range and look classy. Even treated, wood will eventually deteriorate. The care instructions need to be followed. It can be taken out and still look nice just sitting in the bathroom. They are sturdy.
Plastic seats/metal legs (see @gailcalled‘s link.) They run about the same price or lower than a wooden one. They are more sturdy than just plastic. They are easy to clean and typically adjustable to different heights. They also come with the stigma of someone who needs medical assistance in order to bathe.

Personally, I’d go with a wooden bench. They look nice, and it’s not like a bunch of people will be using it (I hope) They can be found at any local chain, such as Bed, Bath & Beyond and probably even at a Walmart or Target. While not an expert, I don’t think that a brand makes much difference, as long as it is sturdy and will hold up.

Good luck, and please let us know what you get!

Do not buy redwood. Their splinters are toxic and can cause abscesses, not good for your backside. Teak will stand up to water and last a long time.

@Pied_Pfeffer:

Plastic seats/metal legs: They are more sturdy than just plastic. They are easy to clean and typically adjustable to different heights. They also come with the stigma of someone who needs medical assistance in order to bathe.

A small white plastic and metal bench in the shower, with no one who needs medical assistance sitting on it, is a perfectly neutral object.

I had hospital-quality grab bars installed in one shower in 2004, after I took a bad fall and broke 2 ribs. My guests all enjoy using them (grab bars and not ribs). None of us is stigmatized.

I had the same problem in my shower. I got a teak 3-leg stool from, of all places, SkyMall. I liked it so much that I got a teak shower caddy from Bed, Bath and Beyond to match it. I guess a plastic stool would do, but I like nice things.

Here is my bench, except mine doesn’t have the basket on the bottom or the little round thing by the floor. Mine was the older model, I guess. I have had it for 7 years.

http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=204406688&c=&cm_sp=Search-Suggested-204406688

^^^ I have to admit, that that is pretty cute, particularly if you are hoping for Architectural Digest to feature your bathroom one day soon.

@gailcalled The stigma comment comes from years of dealing with hotel guest complaints about being checked into a handicapped room when they didn’t request one. Almost every complaint came down to the grab bars and bench, be it in a tub or shower.

Here is what we found out: The plastic/metal legged benches are affiliated with hospitals, rehab centers and the elderly. Apparently, that turns some people off if they don’t need it for medical reasons. A smattering of guests said that they were concerned about using a wheelchair accessible room should another guest need it.

You and I may be fine with the quality of this type of stool; others aren’t.

^^^I certainly believe you but the question was about a shower in someone’s condo.

Exactly. And that’s why my guess is that most people would prefer a more decorative bench, that while still sturdy, doesn’t look institutional, nor for the disabled or elderly.

Thanks for the answers.

As asked, still looking for wood. Like I said, I figure it has to be water resistant like teak or redwood. Got the message about redwood. So who makes a nice teak shower bench. Good quality, nice design etc. Maintaining the material is not a problem.
Thanks again.

I like mine, but since I bought it, I have seen other styles that I also like:

http://www.wayfair.com/popups/media_viewer_images.php?sku=QSU1003

Sorry, I do tend to have a champagne appetite. This is a gorgeous stool, but not cheap.

I like the one that @Skaggfacemutt linked in her second post (not to be confused with the one directly above). It has four legs, which makes it sturdier. The front-most leg with the footrest is ideal for shaving legs. The seat is curved for comfort.The basket underneath the seat is handy for for accessing supplies while sitting down.Plus, it’s a wire basket, so it’s not going to hold water.

@Pied_Pfeffer The one drawback to that one, is it is actually a 3-leg stool, so if you aren’t careful, it could tip over. But I needed to have a corner stool in order to fit in my shower, so I am just careful.

@Skaggfacemutt Good to know. From the link, it looks like four legs from the photo: 3 regular ones in a triangular shape and one in front for the foot rest.

@josie Two other items to take into consideration: Size of the bench to the shower shower and the return policy.

Unless you have some secret to aging gracefully you may as well have a handicap rail installed it the shower because you will probably need it. They are handy and you can rest shampoo and conditioner bottles on them as well. Then if you get one of those seats from Walgreen’s for the shower it will fit right in. Like whats been mentioned already, they are portable enough to hide away if you want to have a seat free shower.

One the most useful things I have done in my home was to redo my shower and put a handicap rail in while I had it torn apart. Sooner or later we all will want one. And the little shower chair. Sitting down while showering…it’s easy to get used to.

Right now I only use my stool to prop my foot up to shave my legs. I can’t imagine sitting down to shower.

@Skaggfacemutt try it, you might like it!

@woodcutter I don’t have the secret, but then again I am no more thinking about the possibilty of using a handicap rail than I am thinking that I will ever see any money from Social Security. But thanks for the heads-up!