Ideas for Storing Towels in a Bathroom

Are you struggling to find space for your bathroom towels? We’re here to help with some handy bathroom towel storage ideas.

Whether your bathroom is small in size and features just a toilet and basin, or is large and open complete with a luxury whirlpool bath or a wet room shower, one thing is for sure, a bathroom simply isn't complete without a towel to hand.

 

But sometimes, it’s easy to get lost in a world of bathroom redesign, and many lose sight of the practical everyday features over aesthetics, design and colour scheme.

If you’re in the process of giving your bathroom a makeover or are finding yourself frustrated with towels being left everywhere around your home or on the bathroom floor, this article brings you some creative ideas for storing and displaying towels in your bathroom.

From rolling racks to wall-mounted baskets, we’re bringing you the best of style and convenience, whilst providing a long-term solution to keeping your towels organised.

Read on as we explore all the different options that will help maximize space in any size bathroom.

 

What sort of towel storage do you need?

The first step to getting your towel storage right is deciding what towels you need to store, and how you’d like to organise them.

Organising your bathroom towels

For the towels that are used daily, you need to be able to place them in convenient places in your bathroom. We’re talking about small hand towels, as well as larger towels ready for use when you hop out of the bath or shower.

No one wants to use a smelly, musty towel, so ensuring that there is enough airflow to these types of towels will ensure they can dry between uses, without building up a damp smell.

Next, you have the ‘fresh towels’. These are the towels that are clean and ready to be used. They need somewhere to live where they are easy to handle, yet out of the way, without cluttering the room.

Similar to the ‘fresh towels’, you also have the ‘tatty towels’.

We’re certain that everyone has some of these. Tatty towels are clean old towels, perfect for drying the dog after a bath or cleaning up spills and leaks. These towels are for when you need a towel but you don't want to stain or ruin your fresh towel collection. These all need somewhere to live.

And finally, you have the ‘dirty towels’. Whilst some people will put a dirty towel straight into the washing machine, if you like a fresh towel every day, then you’re going to need somewhere to store dirty and damp towels. These can go back in with the clean ones, and they can’t be lifted around with the everyday towels, so they need somewhere to live until they are cleaned and placed back with the fresh towels.

Working with your space

Bathrooms come in all shapes and sizes. One of the most important things to decide when redesigning a space is storage, and that includes towel storage.

In a large bathroom, you’ll have more wiggle room, in terms of the types of storage you choose.
This could include a stack of rolled or folded towels as a decorative spa-like feature with a functional purpose or perhaps even a large storage cabinet.

However, in a smaller space, you need to be careful that your storage choices do not make the room feel overcrowded and overworked.

To cut back your storage demands, consider how features could double up on functionality, such as a vanity unit with a basin and space to store towels. You could also consider smaller features such as a slimline cabinet, or even hooks and towel rings that can be slotted into nifty spots, such as behind doors or in corners.

It may sound obvious, but you could consider having a sort-through of which towels do need to be stored in your bathroom, and which don't.

And, this doesn’t just go for smaller bathrooms! Chuck away those ancient tatty towels that are never used, or store them somewhere else in your home where they are more useful.

Bathroom towel storage ideas

Easy-to-reach towel storage

For towels that need to be in every-day reach, here are a few storage ideas to try.

Hooks

There’s nothing more frustrating than jumping out of the bath or shower and drenching the floor because your towel is out of reach. Hooks are a great way to keep your favourite towels in an easy-to-reach spot, without taking up too much space.

Not only are hooks a great spot to store and dry your towel, but they also provide a somewhere to hang your dressing gown or clean clothing.

And, whilst this small bathroom feature may seem like a relatively understated addition, be sure to pick a style that matches your bathroom interior when choosing from a range of chrome, matte black and brushed brass designs.

Towel rings

Who says hand towel storage has to be dull? Let's break from the mundane and brighten up your bathroom with eye-catching towel rings for hand towels!

Your small hand towels deserve somewhere stylish to hang, and our selection of unique options will make any small bathroom look stunning. Whether you choose a classic chrome ring or a bold matte black design, choose from a range of styles available to suit your bathroom decor needs. Many people choose to match their towel storage colour with taps, door handles and other fixtures and fittings around the bathroom.

This handy piece of hardware will have your hand towels neatly and conveniently stored out of the way, allowing you to keep your bathroom looking tidy and organised. Towel rings can be attached to walls and even cabinets, giving you the freedom and flexibility to make this simple and cost-effective towel storage solution work for you.

 

Towel bars and shelves

Towel bars are an excellent way to get the most out of bathroom storage space. They offer a nifty and efficient solution for stowing bathroom towels in style.

Not only do towel bars keep bathroom towels neatly organized and within reach, but they can also be used for drying wet towels in a much more hygienic way than leaving them bunched on the bathroom floor!

A well-designed towel bar is both stylish and practical, merging form and function to ensure bathroom towels look their best while remaining easily accessible.

They can be placed anywhere in the bathroom, including inside of a walk-in wet room shower or above a bath as well as in out-of-the-way spots such as above the toilet or behind a door.

Choose from a selection of styles, including simple one-bar designs, as well as bared shelves, perfect for storing rolled towels or drying multiple towels at once.

 

Heated towel rails

You can’t beat the feeling of wrapping up in a toasty warm towel after stepping out of the bath or shower on a winter’s day.

Heated towel rails provide an all-in-one heated bathroom storage solution. Not only are they incredibly stylish and modern, but they also serve a dual purpose by providing both drying space for your towels and offering an additional heating source for your bathroom.

With heated towel rails, you have the freedom to mix and match styles to seamlessly tie into any bathroom aesthetic, while also having the option of customising the temperature of your heated rail.

What’s more, towel rails are the ideal way to add an essence of luxury in a smaller bathroom.

This slimline storage solution works well in ensuites and small bathrooms where space is premium, and is a great way to add extra body and character to a modern bathroom without eating into the space.

Choose from a variety of colours, including chrome, white and matte back, as well as a selection of sizes.

 

Fresh towel storage

Love that fresh towel feeling? Whether you’d like your clean towels on show to the world, or stored away for another day, there are plenty of different ways to store your fresh-off-the-washing line towels.

Wall cabinets

For clean towels that need to be stored away, why not opt for a wall cabinet?

This solution provides you with plenty of space to organise your towels, keeping towels stored away will help to reduce clutter across your space.

Because bathroom wall cabinets are available in a huge range of styles and colours, including white, satin blue, green and orange, this is also the perfect excuse to add a dash of character and a bold twist of colour to your bathroom.

What’s more, you can match these handy towel storage compartments with other bathroom furniture items such as WC units, vanity units and even bath panels.

If you're short on space and worried that a cabinet may be too bulky, why not try a slimline bathroom cabinet or a wall-hung design which conveniently fits into tight spaces - proving good things do come in small packages!

Whether you need more towel storage or just like the idea of livening up your bathroom with stylish furniture, a bathroom cabinet is an excellent choice.

Shelving

If you’ve ever visited a spa or luxury holiday resort, you may have noticed a pile of fresh towels beautifully rolled and stacked ready for use. If you want to replicate the spa-like vibe in your own bathroom, why not store fresh towels in the same way?

A shelf is a fantastic spot to showcase your fresh stack as an aesthetic feature, whilst providing an easy-access spot to your supply of clean towels. This is a superb addition to a guest bathroom or a main family bathroom.

With lots of different shelving styles to choose from, you can find something that complements the style of your bathroom, whilst creating a characterful feature that stands out.

For the industrial look, choose a concrete-style bookcase shelf. Or if you’re all about merging together rustic and industrial with a modern twist, why not choose floor-standing metal shelving or a display of geometric wall shelves?

For a traditional look, choose boxed shelving or a simple glass shelf. And, if you’re tight on space, why not create recessed wall shelves, or use a window sill or ledge as a shelving spot for towels?

 

Vanity unit towel storage

When space is premium, you may be looking for space-saving towel storage hacks that limit the need for more furniture, and more clutter. Instead of a standard basin, why not opt for a vanity unit?

Double up on functionality when choosing a stylish and sophisticated vanity unit, complete with shelves or drawers, ideal for storing away clean towels, sponges and flannels.

Vanity units are available in a huge variety of styles and colours. So, whether you’re opting for the rustic shabby chic look when choosing a shaker vanity unit paired with a sleek countertop vessel or, a modest and modern look with a black vanity unit paired with a large basin, you’ll be sure to find a style that fits in with your bathroom interior.

What’s more, there are lots of small-space-friendly designs to choose from. For smaller cloakroom bathrooms, why not choose a slimline vanity compartment for towels? Or for your en-suite or family bathroom, why not take a look at these wall-hung designs?

Just like cabinets, these are another fantastic way to add a little bit of colour to your bathroom or create a rich contrast between the walls and the features.

Dirty towel storage

Tired of your bathroom towels making the washing basket smell damp? Or are you sick of finding wet towels slung on the floor, on the bannister or over doors? We’re here to help.

Baskets

Whilst a towel may be ready to wash, your clothing washing pile may say otherwise. When damp towels get flung in the laundry basket, it can make the other items in the basket, such as clothes, smell musty and damp. So instead, why not create a laundry basket specifically for wet towels?

Storing your dirty towels in a basket just makes sense! It doesn't take up a lot of space, it looks functional and stylish, plus it can fit right in with the theme of a bathroom.

And, most baskets are made from natural or aerated materials that can handle moisture without becoming damaged.

If you’re looking for accessories that add a flurry of colour, choose a basket that features multi-coloured or unique patterns. This is a superb way to upgrade a relatively mundane storage need and turn it into something that adds to your bathroom’s look and style.

Final thoughts

When it comes to storing towels, whether you want to showcase your colourful collection of linen, or keep your bathroom looking fuss-free with tucked-away storage compartments, there are plenty of options to choose from.

Remember that every day hand towels and shower towels should be kept in easy-to-access spots where they can dry. Towel hooks, rings and heated rails are dynamic solutions that work for bathrooms of all shapes and sizes.

Many towel storage solutions also offer a way to add more colour and personalisation to your bathroom. Choose from a vast range of storage cabinets and vanity units available in a choice of colours, styles and sizes.

And, if you’re looking to save cost, or prefer to create beautiful rolled or stacked arrangements with your towel collection, why not keep them out on show with a shelf or rack display?