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Towel bars are essential bathroom accessories for any bathroom design. Whether it is in a guest bathroom or master bathroom, a towel bar always proves to be an important factor in both the comfort level and accessibility of the bathroom design as a whole. Used to hold all sorts of towels, towel bars need to be in appropriate locations in order to maximize both of these factors. Each bathroom will be slightly different, so it is important to know the specifications of your particular bathroom design in order to install your towel bars in the optimal locations. This guide will go over the best locations for your towel bars in any situation.
Placing the Towel Bar at the Correct Height
Before you decide on any final locations for your towel bar, you should first know how high up from the ground your towel bar should be. This could vary depending on personal preferences or certain limitations, but there are general standards that can be followed. For example, the standard height of a towel bar will be about 48 inches from the ground. This is the best height for a towel bar due to the accessibility it offers for the average person. This will mount the towel bar at around chest to waist height, making it very easy for anyone to grab a towel comfortably. There are reasons as to which your towel bar may be mounted higher or lower however. For example, a kids bathroom may warrant a slightly lower height. On the other hand, if you are taller, you may prefer a slightly higher towel bar. Although the height of the towel bar may vary, it should stay with the 48 inch realm in order to create consistent comfort.
Importance of Determining the Perfect Towel Bar Size
The size of a towel is dependent on a variety of factors. For starters, a towel bar needs to be big enough to fit your bath towels, while still being compact enough to fit comfortably in your design. If you are dealing with a master bathroom, you will have essentially all the freedom in the world to choose a towel bar that is exactly to your liking. If dealing with a smaller bathroom, such as a guest bathroom, you may be facing slightly more restrictive circumstances. The size of a towel bar should be proportional to the design while being big enough to be used comfortably and conveniently. The standard length of a towel bar will generally fall between 18 inches and 30 inches. They can also be longer or shorter, but most will fall in between these two lengths. The three standard lengths of a towel bar are typically 18 inches, 24 inches and 30 inches. 24 inches is typically enough to hold a standard folded bath towel comfortably. These three lengths are generally good enough for most bathroom designs, due to the variations and lengths designed to fit various different situations. In addition, it is also quite easy to match towel bars of different lengths throughout the different bathrooms in your home, and they work especially well when used in the same bathroom.
Best Locations for a Towel Bar
Area With the Most Space
Most of the time, the most comfortable place for a towel bar will simply be the area with the most space. Open wall space is incredibly useful for a variety of different reasons, and if you are looking for somewhere to mount a towel bar, this will be the perfect spot. Open wall space in a bathroom will generally be opposite of the bathroom vanity, or in some cases next to the bathroom vanity. Your open space may also be on the wall perpendicular to your bathroom vanity or sink. Your towel bars should be mounted comfortably on your open wall space and positioned in a manner that makes it the most accessible for you.
Shower Door Towel Bars
One of the best places for a towel bar, if your shower allows it, is on the shower door. This is one of the most convenient ways to access and hold a towel. Of course, this can only be done if you have the right shower situation. If your shower has some kind of door, a mounted towel bar can be just what you need to create a cohesive and accessible design. In some instances, a towel bar can be pre-built into the shower door, eliminating the need to buy a separate one. This is definitely something to consider for smaller bathrooms that do not necessarily have enough wall space. However, this is an effective and amazing location for a towel bar, no matter what the size of your bathroom is. One thing to note is that many shower doors will only be able to accommodate one single towel bar.On a Wall Next to the Shower
This is one of the most common locations for a towel bar for various reasons. First of all, this is one of the most accessible and easy to reach when coming out of the shower. Remember to mount your towel bar at about 48 inches above the ground in order to achieve maximum accessibility and comfort. Most bathroom designs will have enough wall space to hold a horizontal towel bar. However, if this is not the case for your specific design, consider a vertical towel bar. Vertical towel bars are incredibly useful for limited wall space, making it a perfect option for bathrooms that are smaller than most. If you are unsure where to mount your towel bar in your specific bathroom design, consider mounting it on the wall next to your shower. This is the standard location for most towel bars, giving you a safe and accessible location for your preferred towel bar.
Towel Bars Attached to the Bathroom Sink
For a more unique location for your towel bar, consider a towel bar mounted on a bathroom sink. In most cases, a towel bar will come pre-installed on the bathroom sink. This is definitely something to remember if this is an option you want to consider. For example, it is much safer for the bathroom sink if the towel bar is installed by the manufacturer. Because most bathroom sinks are not made to incorporate a towel bar, you could run into issues with damages and other problems if you try to do it yourself. Because of this, you should buy a bathroom sink that comes with a towel bar already. Another thing to note is that these sinks will generally be either wall mounted bathroom sinks or pedestal bathroom sinks. Other bathroom sinks may be able to accommodate a towel bar, but these two sink styles are the most common and effective.
Inside a Walk-in Shower
If your shower is large enough, you may also be able to install a towel bar inside of your walk-in shower. This should only be done in large walk-in showers that have plenty of space to spare. If you put a towel bar in a small walk-in shower, your towel will surely get wet and unusable. This is something that should absolutely be avoided. If you want to install your towel bar in your walk-in shower, install it on the opposite wall of your shower head. This will ensure that your towel will not get wet from the shower head or sprayer. Although this is not a common location for a towel bar, it can be one of the best if you have the right situation. Having a towel bar inside of your walk-in shower will keep the surrounding area clean by keeping the water inside of the shower area. You will no longer need to reach out of your shower or completely step out of your shower in order to reach your towel bar. This installation location is absolutely something to consider if you have enough space for it in your walk-in shower design.
On a Bathroom Vanity
Much like some bathroom sinks, a towel bar can also be mounted on a bathroom vanity. A bathroom vanity will typically have much more surface area that can accommodate a towel bar. This is a great solution for small bathrooms, allowing you to optimize the space in your bathroom design. This can be done in small and large bathrooms alike, being convenient and accessible locations. One of the best ways to utilize this idea is by using a smaller hand towel bar. This gives you a very easy to reach hand towel for daily use, in both guest bathrooms and master bathrooms. In addition, it will be somewhat hidden, if that is something that is important to you. You can also use this as a location for bath towels, although it may be better to install them on a wall somewhere.
Towel Bars for Small Bathrooms
Because there is less wall space in a smaller bathroom design, locations for towel bars can be pretty creative. Of course, you can mount your towel bars or bar on the wall, but there are certain areas on the wall that will work best. The first thing you need to take into consideration is the proximity of your towel bar to your shower. This is especially important for comfort and accessibility in a bathroom design that centers around a high quality shower area. Mounting a towel bar next to a shower is very common in small bathrooms, mainly because it is one of the only places to mount it. For smaller bathroom designs, you may need to incorporate a towel bar shorter than 30 inches. This will not always be the case, however, due to various determining factors. For starters, if you are only using one towel or this is a single person bathroom, you may be able to fit a 30 inch towel bar in the design comfortably. If your bathroom is being used by two people at any given time, two towel bars may be the better option.