Soak Up 16 Stylish Ways to Display Towels
Sure, you can just fluff and fold. But you can also hang, roll and even tie your towels for lavish and accessible displays in the bathroom
It's hot outside as I'm writing this, and humid weather mixed with high temperatures can mean more — or longer — showers every day. If you're lucky, the summer months enable you to spend an extra half-hour lingering in the pool. All this bathing, sun worshipping and cool-water wading can only mean one thing: a spike in towel usage. Give your home a boost in style and practicality by showing off your terry cloths fashionably while keeping them accessible — and, more important, fresh and clean.
Scattered hooks. This colorful industrial-modern abode has five kids, which means hooks and bars abound in the bathroom. A line of hooks placed directly outside of the shower doors ensures that towels are always within reach. The red, purple and blue hues of the towels reflect the bright paint colors of the exposed ducts, creating a cheerful mood in an otherwise very neutral space.
On a rung. Add a bit of country chic to a modern eclectic bath with a ladder, and use the rungs as towel bars. This blue ladder is right at home in this setup and a fitting complement to the orange bench cushion.
Quilt racks. Blanket or quilt racks make perfect freestanding towel racks. You can move them around the bath and hang towels flat or folded; they're definitely a versatile towel display option. Quilt racks also save space and, as shown by this image, can hold numerous towels on a single bar.
Side-by-side hooks. The lovely apple green and blue striped pattern adds loads of color play to this area; it also repeats the beach theme of the house. Hanging towels side by side on hooks lets you store more of them in a small space and gives each towel a chance to dry properly when unfurled.
Tip: Add a cup of white vinegar (which removes excess detergent) to the rinse cycle once a month to restore towels' absorbency.
Tip: Add a cup of white vinegar (which removes excess detergent) to the rinse cycle once a month to restore towels' absorbency.
Tiers. A modern urban loft switches things up in the bathroom by taking the spine tower shelf from the living room to the bath.
Overhead racks. The tone-on-tone layering of neutrals on this towel rack goes so well with the buttery tones of the window dressing, wall treatment and tub color. Notice how the towels' way of sticking out from the tiers mimics the lean of the plant leaves.
Vanities. The rolled and hung towels in this eclectic bath reinforce its color motif. Combined with the splashes of color and texture of the pink wall and artwork, they also brighten up a bathroom that would otherwise feel staid.
In baskets. This coastal-traditional bath's white and aqua color scheme is reinforced by the rolled towels peeking out of the basket. Everything about the space is cooling to the eye — right down to the liquid hand soap. Consider repurposing a tin bin or a ceramic bowl if you don't have a basket handy around the house — it will serve the same purpose of artfully displaying your towels on the ground.
Open shelves. There are so many things to love about this eclectic bath, starting with the towel stack. It's neat, colorful and completely accessible.
Cabinets and chests. What's great about storing towels in a vintage piece like this cabinet is that the towels are protected from dust and dirt. Keep them smelling fresh by tucking a bar of triple-milled soap in between the folds.
By the tub. Nothing makes neatniks shudder more than a dirty towel on the floor, but an unfurled, stylishly placed white towel by the tub oozes luxury and decadence in the home.
Tip: Save energy and hang your towels on a clothesline. The sun will keep them crisp and fresh and will naturally kill bacteria.
Tip: Save energy and hang your towels on a clothesline. The sun will keep them crisp and fresh and will naturally kill bacteria.
In cubbies. Give your bath a spa-like feel by rolling towels in tight coils and storing them in cubbies.
Hotel rack. Up the elegance of the space above your toilet by installing a rack and a towel bar. The neat and crisp display of towels overhead is sophisticated and relatively easy to pull off.
On a stool. This modern, minimalist bath would make a frequent bather out of anyone. Use the stool for a rolled or unfurled towel, or simply take a seat and relax while you draw yourself a bath.
Tip: A single towel rack (instead of a tiered hanging rack like in this picture) would also work in a minimalist bath. Consider dressing up the display by placing a freshly cut flower on the rolled towel or tying the towel with a ribbon.
Tip: A single towel rack (instead of a tiered hanging rack like in this picture) would also work in a minimalist bath. Consider dressing up the display by placing a freshly cut flower on the rolled towel or tying the towel with a ribbon.
A mix of styles. If you can't commit to a particular display style, why not pick a few? This contemporary bath has stacked and rolled towels overhead and gives the option of using hooks as well.
Houzzers, tell us: How to do you store your towels at home?
Houzzers, tell us: How to do you store your towels at home?
Tip: We all love fluffy towels and often tumble dry for this effect. But Charlotte Riley from the Turkish Towel Company recommends using a lower heat setting and alternating between low heat and air drying to avoid damaging the integrity of the cotton.