Aesthetics have not been at the forefront of home disability aid manufacturers’ minds, but that might be about to change.
Home disability aids are often beige or white with hints of blue and the designs are reminiscent of hospital equipment – all things that don’t particularly scream ‘stylish’. But disabled people shouldn’t have to neglect style in this area.
More brands are seeing this gap in the market and are creating home accessibility items that are both practical and beautiful. One of those brands is IKEA, who have recently released their BÄSINGEN range, a collection of stunningly designed home aids for the kitchen and bathroom.
“The products were created to bring great functionality together with a beautiful design, as they have a minimalistic expression that is rooted in our Scandinavian design tradition.” Sarah Fager, Senior Designer of the BÄSINGEN series, said in their press release about the new collection.
“It was one of my most challenging design projects because it was about meeting needs that were new to me. But this also made it one of my most enlightening projects.”
What’s Included in the New Accessible IKEA Collection?
The new line includes six items: a shower chair, a towel rail, a toilet roll holder, two different step stools with handrails and a shower shelf. All of the items in this collection come in a matte black colour, which IKEA says “is not just for a beautiful design but also to ensure that the products are well visible in their environment.”
A stylish shower chair with drainage holes, non-slip feet to keep the seat in place when showering and easy-to-grab armrests to hold onto when sitting down and standing up.
The towel rail not only acts as a place to put your towels, it can also be used as a grab rail. Rounded edges prevent accidents from bumping into sharp corners.
A toilet roll holder, mini shelf and grab rail all in one. The rounded design allows for an easy grip to help you go from sitting to standing and the shelf is perfect for storing small items.
The shower shelf offers a stable, easy-to-grab handle and a tray with drainage holes to keep your soap from going soggy.
BÄSINGEN Step Stool with Handrail
This step stool has non-slip feet, drainage holes and a sturdy handrail to keep you stable when transferring into a bath or reaching for things high up. The stool comes in two variants, the 1-step stool and a stool that has 2 steps.
All of the items included in IKEA’s new range are priced below £40, making them much more affordable than many home disability aids out there. According to the Disability Price Tag Report from Scope in 2024, disabled households need an additional £1,101 a month to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households.
By Abby Moorcroft, ADJ CFJ Alumni
https://abbymoorcroft.substack.com/