Your Bath: Hotel-Style Towel Racks
Get the Great Look of an Upscale Hotel's Wall-Mounted Towel Shelf
Debbie Snider
July 8, 2011
Houzz Contributor.
Have you noticed that almost every line of bath accessories includes a compact wall-mounted shelf for open towel storage? These are called hotel shelves or train racks, and they are a great option for accessible towel storage without taking up much space. These clever shelves add the look and the convenience of an upscale hotel bath right in your own home. Let's take a look.
A chrome hotel shelf includes two bars below for hanging towels. The straight lines work well in this contemporary bath. A few of the linear patterns here: bar wall sconces, square sink and subtle tile mosaic stripes in the shower.
Tip: A good place for your shelf is over the toilet, around 5' above the floor. It will be out of the way and you won't have to worry about walking into it.
Tip: A good place for your shelf is over the toilet, around 5' above the floor. It will be out of the way and you won't have to worry about walking into it.
The profile of this shelf has a nice angle. These fluffy white towels look great against the charcoal walls.
The reflection in the mirror reveals two sizes of shelves for storing small stacks of towels. The racks, towel bar, magnifying mirror and glass shelf above the vanity make this a very well equipped bath.
Here is another view. The towels are accessible from the shower.
Most hotel shelves are around 24" wide and 11" deep. Be sure to measure your space before you shop. Rolled towels can be decorative when they're stacked on the shelf.
This is a shelf you might see on an old-style train as a place for passengers to put their hat and coat, hence the name train rack. In the bath, the upper shelf holds towels and the lower bar has handy hooks for towels and a robe. It has a pewter finish and is suitable for traditional and vintage-style baths.
Here is another train-rack style shelf in chrome. See how well it works in a classic bath?
Although this is not technically a hotel shelf, you might see it in a cute B&B. In painted white wood with corbels and hooks, it has the same purpose as the others, but has a cottage-like look.
A simple shelf is all that is needed to store a stack of extra towels. You could also hang a towel on one of the horizontal crossbars.
If you look past the gorgeous glass wall, you'll see a hotel rack. Aren't they easy to tuck into a small space?
See more open storage ideas for towels
See more open storage ideas for towels
This is a nice basic shelf which is suitable for all styles.
This shelf is great for a vintage style bath.
This rack is suitable for all traditional or contemporary baths. I like that this rack comes in two sizes and styles — 20" or 24" and with or without a towel bar.
I like the straight clean lines of this shelf and would use it in a contemporary or minimalist bath.
More: Browse bathroom storage products
More: Browse bathroom storage products
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do you put the bottom or top of rack 5' from floor?
Beautiful and space-efficient. The towel bar goes 5' from the floor. Please close your toilet lid before you flush: your towels will thank you no matter where in your bathroom they're hung...
Heated Towel Shelf
AMBA