Ikea has launched Bäsingen, a range of inclusive design products to give a helping hand at home.
Designed for anyone who has, or encounters, challenges at home, Bäsingen consists of six products designed for convenient support in the bathroom, kitchen and more.
So what's in the range? A shower chair, toilet roll holder, towel rail, shower shelf and two different step stools with a rail. The products are all finished in a dark anthracite colour (a chalky grey-black), not just for aesthetics, but also to ensure the products are well visible in their environment.
'Bäsingen should blend in regardless of your style and shouldn't be something you need to put away or hide,' says Sarah Fager, senior designer at Ikea of Sweden AB. '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.'
This accessible home collection is multifunctional too. For example, the step stool with handrail can be used to reach the top shelf of a kitchen cabinet. There are two options (a stool with one step or two steps) but both can be easily placed under a cabinet or stowed away in a corner when not in use. They are sturdy too, and the non-slippery feet and holes for drainage also make them a great solution to use in bathrooms to aid in getting in and out of the bath.
Meanwhile, the soft edges and thick diameter of the tubes on the shower shelf, toilet roll holder and towel rail offer a comfortable grip.
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'I started this project by wanting to learn more about the needs and wishes of people with physical limitations. 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,' explains Sarah. 'I hope people will enjoy Bäsingen products throughout different stages of life. Maybe they will use the products a bit less during certain periods, but they are always close at hand, ready to provide support.'
Wâtte Zijlstra, product design developer at Ikea of Sweden AB, comments on how the collection came to fruition: 'There are many people who experience impactful and common circumstantial changes that can make something as simple as taking a shower challenging. Yet, we see that the home environment is often not equipped for change. The starting point for Bäsingen was a clear need for specific product functions. Then, we widened our scope through design to ensure the products are for the many, as Bäsingen is created to support anyone in their daily life.'
This isn't Ikea's first accessible design collection. The Swedish furniture retailer launched the ergonomic Omtänksam collection in 2020 to add comfort, functionality and safety in all areas of the home.
'About 15 per cent of the world's population live with some form of disability. With the Omtänksam range – developed in collaboration with ergonomists, physiotherapists and researchers – Ikea is helping people overcome obstacles that make it difficult to enjoy an independent life by adding extra comfort and functionality,' Ikea said at the time, noting that 'hardly any other company in the home furnishing business is addressing these issues'.
Prices in the Bäsingen collection start from £8 (for the shower shelf) to £29 (for the shower chair). The range is available to buy online and in Ikea stores.
