Commode chairs date back to the ancient Egyptians. There is evidence that both indoor and outdoor commodes were very common during this period. While many early colonial homes owned a commode chair, it wasn't uncommon for wealthier residences to add commode chairs to other common areas and guest bedrooms, such as the parlour. It's important to keep in mind that even when a family member was suffering from a serious illness, one of the first rooms on a bottom level would often be treated as a Sick Bedroom.
One of the earliest designs for commode chairs was a simple basin designed to fit atop a small platform. This type of commode chair was built much like the standard toilet seat that we use today. The basin would have a hole in the centre for the commode nozzle to sit in and a backrest to prop the occupant up onto the seat. When people used the commode chair for hygienic purposes, it would most likely be made of metal with a porcelain lint filter to catch any dirt before it fell into the toilet.
A similar design available for commode chairs during the colonial era was the drop arm bedside commode. This design called for two wheels on either side of the commode to assist in pushing or pulling down the occupant onto the seat. This was done with the same purpose of a commode, except that the lid was in the form of an Ottoman rather than a commode. The sides of the drop arm bedside commode would swing outward to push downward on the commode. These types of commodes were most commonly used in wealthy homes rather than in public bathrooms.
Another variation on commode chairs was the pedestal commode. These chairs had a built-in platform that could be pushed or rolled over to reach the bottom. In addition, it had a hinged lid that could be pulled down or opened. In the latter case, the chair's wheels were typically located on the bottom of the platform. These chairs were often seen in public restrooms where water could possibly be spilled. They were also found in children's bathrooms as they provided more effortless mobility for children to urinate or defecate.
The final type of commode chairs that we will discuss were the toilet armrests. These armrests could either be attached to the commode or the bottom of the bowl. Armrests are placed directly under the user when not in use. For this reason, this type of commode chair was not used for hygienic purposes but rather for supporting the arms while the person defecated.
Today, commodes are still used as such in public restrooms. They are used to provide ease of access and hygiene to disabled individuals, the elderly, and babies. Some even incorporate the armrest feature to make further it user friendly and ergonomic.
