The 12 Best Shower Chairs For People Who Want To Keep Their Bathroom Stylish

For many of us, shopping for a shower chair can be a sudden and alarming experience. As our parents get older, or as we lose mobility ourselves, slippery showers can quickly become a very dangerous proposition. Accidental falls are the main cause of injury-related death among people older than 65, and since many of these falls happen in the bathroom, shower chairs and grab bars are among the more popular ways to make your home more accessible without renovating. If you suddenly find yourself looking at shower chairs, you're likely to find a wide range of benches, transfer seats, and other specialty chairs that come in an even wider range of sizes and finishes. Truth be told, although they are functional, a lot of them are made from stainless steel and hard white plastic, which just isn't attractive. Fortunately, from space-saving teak designs to tiled solutions that sparkle, we've found a dozen shower chairs that can help keep your bathroom stylish.

Before making the investment in a freestanding shower chair or installing a built-in one, there are three important things you need to consider. Stability under wet conditions is the most important factor. This will be influenced by the intended user's weight. The overall width and depth of the seat should also be taken into consideration, both in terms of comfort and personal hygiene concerns. Finally, make sure you pick a shower chair that's easy to clean. 

Wall-mounted seats are a chic choice that provides a stable and secure place to sit while bathing. They can be ideal for people who want to bathe independently but can't stand for long periods of time. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant wall-mounted options like the Moen Old World Bronze Teak Wood Folding Shower Seat look striking against basic white, marble, or colorful mosaic shower surrounds while supporting up to 400 pounds. The highly rated seat also folds up when not in use. 

There are many ways to decorate with stools in your home. Whether you have an outdoor shower or just want to bring a little nature into your bathroom, garden stools like the SAFAVIEH Daphne Glazed Ceramic Decorative Accent Stool can do the trick. Available in white, cream, orange, or light blue, the fine ceramic piece can hold up to 195 pounds. Your local garden center will likely have a wide selection with higher weight capacities if needed. Opt for a smooth finish on top and minimal texture on the sides to ensure the most comfortable experience. 

If your shower stall is super tiny, a corner seat like the Palisade Vinyl Waterproof Corner Shower Bench is a space-saving solution. Although there are some excellent freestanding corner options out there, the legs can take up precious standing room. Even if you don't need to sit down for your entire shower, a corner seat can help you stay balanced while washing, exfoliating, or shaving your legs. This bench has a durable lacquered PVC material that comes in 18 different stone-like finishes. And, despite its small size, it's capable of holding up to 500 pounds.

When some family members absolutely need a place to sit while showering, but others would rather stand, a folding seat like the Kenley Floating Fold Down Shower Bench is a great compromise. Hundreds of users have given the product a five-star rating, calling the teak and stainless steel design sturdy and practical for everyday use, yet discreet and unobtrusive when folded up. Teak doesn't just look beautiful. It's also one of the types of wood that will hold up to the humidity in your bathroom.

Built-in shower seats offer more stability and security than any other kind of chair or bench on our list. Because they are permanently fixed to your shower walls and floor, there is no chance of a built-in shower seat collapsing or moving. This can help to provide a more relaxed experience since the risk of losing your balance or falling is greatly minimized. An added bonus? A built-in shower seat can be covered using the exact same tiles as the rest of your shower, which provides a sleek and contemporary look.

Speaking of sleek bathroom styles, if you simply hate the thought of an unsightly shower chair cluttering up your bathroom, consider a transparent option that practically disappears instead. The LFTYTUO Modern Acrylic Shower Bench is made of a thick, clear material capable of holding up to 350 pounds. A drain in the middle of the seat prevents water from accumulating, and handles on either side are easy to grip when you need a little help standing up in your slippery shower. Reviewers say the small foot grooves keep this see-through shower seat firmly in place.

The Transolid Preston Flip Up Shower Seat is one of the more expensive options on our list, but reviewers say the dramatic black and champagne bronze design makes the investment well worth it. The seat is cushioned and covered with watertight vinyl that's nonslip and easy to clean. When not in use, it folds flat against your shower wall, thanks to the rust-resistant brackets that are easy to install. If you prefer different finishes, the Preston is also available in white vinyl with matte black, polished chrome, or brushed stainless hardware.

The Fun Memories Teak Shower Chair packs a lot of punch into a familiar chair design. Made of a lacquered teak body, stainless steel hardware, and non-slip rubber feet that protect your floors from scratches while also providing stability, this shower chair is capable of holding up to 350 pounds. Although it features a heavy-duty stainless steel handle designed with senior users in mind, reviewers say the beautiful look helps remove any embarrassment about needing to use a medical-grade shower chair. A shelf below the seat and wooden towel rack help to keep essentials right within reach.

When looks are as important as function, a contemporary shower stool is a very chic choice. Reviewers almost universally gave the ALFI Arched Stone Resin Vanity Stool a five-star rating, with one calling it "a beautiful work of art." Made of a smooth composite material and clocking in at 25 pounds, the bench is extremely sturdy and heavy-duty, making it capable of holding up to 330. It's only 17 inches tall, so keep the height in mind if you have bad knees or other mobility limitations. Positioning it near a grab bar may help.

Ideal for users weighing up to 440 pounds, the Violet Art Folding Wall Mounted Shower Seat with Backrest combines a sophisticated-looking design with sturdy construction. Although this chair mounts to the wall and opens to create a spacious seating area with both a backrest and legs, it can also be closed to a depth of just 5 inches when not in use. The stainless steel mounting system provides enough strength to hold seniors, disabled individuals, and pregnant women who need both comfort and peace of mind while sitting in slippery areas.

Bamboo can be an excellent choice for a sustainable bathroom, because of its natural water resistance and antibacterial properties that help prevent mold growth. The Bamfan Bamboo Corner Shower Bench combines these material characteristics into an ergonomic shower bench design that only takes up a little space but provides ample seating and storage. Over 600 reviewers gave this bench a five-star rating, although several mentioned that spraying it weekly with distilled white vinegar and drying it after use are necessary mold prevention maintenance steps.  

Are you bored with your bathroom? Whether you installed white subway tile everywhere or your Carrara marble has you feeling gray, adding a colorful accessory like the LUE BONA HDPS Shower Bench Seat can quickly liven things up. Available in sky blue, navy, and several other colors, this seat has hundreds of five-star ratings from reviewers who say it's attractive, easy to assemble, and extremely low maintenance. Capable of holding up to 300 pounds, this shower bench seat also has adjustable rubber feet that make it steady even when your shower has a slight slope.