One of the most challenging aspects of outfitting a bathroom is that you often work with a minimal amount of space. You can’t move a toilet or bathtub without a major redesign of the room. Bathroom walls are often short and broken by objects that can’t be moved: medicine cabinets embedded between wall studs, a single window for light and ventilation, doors that must remain permanently where they are.
When it comes to bathrooms, you need to be open to design compromise. A variety of bathroom accessories can help you make your bathroom with its unique design challenges work for you.
Cleaning is the main activity in any bathroom. Essential to that job is drying off: where do you put the towel and how do you keep it clean, dry and handy for when you need it?
One solution to save space is to hang a towel rack. It only requires a small space to be placed on the outside wall of the bathtub or shower. And if you have little space next to the bathroom sink, you can also install the towel rail there. If you have a pool in your yard, you can even set up some towel rings on your patio to keep pool towels close at hand.
You have options when selecting a towel rack for your bathroom. The design is pretty basic: a ring, about six inches round or oval; closed or an open one like the letter “C”. The ring has a bracket attached to hang it on the wall.
With the abundance of matching bathroom accessories available in stores, catalogs, and online, you can choose a towel rack that perfectly matches your bathroom décor. A wide range of finishes are available: classic polished chrome and brass, today’s popular brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze can give you a designer look.
When you’re outfitting a kiddie bathroom, pool bath, or investment property, you may choose to find inexpensive options: an unfinished wood ring or a simple plastic and chrome ring can work just as well as higher-end versions for a fraction of the cost.
Consider some guidelines for placing the towel rail. Typically a towel is hung lengthwise so inspect a towel you would normally use in that space. If you’re installing the ring next to your shower stall and like to use extra-long bath towels instead of a traditional bath towel, consider that length when attaching the ring. A good rule of thumb is to make sure the towel, when folded in half lengthwise, clears the floor by 18 inches.
If you’re installing a towel rack next to your bathroom sink, be sure to hang it high enough for your hand towel to hang down and clear the counter. If you are placing this in a bathroom for children to use, take their height into account and place the ring at a height that is convenient for them.
A towel rail comes with a mounting base that screws into the wall. Try to locate a wall stud where you want to place the towel rack; Finding solid wood, whether on the wall or on the back of a door, ensures a secure installation. Place the mounting base against the wall and mark the screw holes with a pencil. Drill pilot holes, align the mounting bracket and check its location with a short level. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to secure the bracket to the wall with the provided screws. Make sure the mounting bracket is secure and slide the towel rail into the bracket.