Turning an ordinary bathroom into a sanctuary starts with the small details. One often-overlooked opportunity is creatively displaying your hand towels. Rather than relegating them to boring rings or racks, you can showcase hand towels in clever ways that complement your decor.
This guide shares dozens of distinctive ideas to inspire you to confidently display hand towels. From repurposing vintage finds to specialty folding techniques, read on for stylish and practical hand towel display concepts to elevate your bath.
Creative Ways to Stylishly Display Hand Towels
Whether in your home bathroom or at a hotel or spa, hand towels are essential for drying hands and keeping things tidy. But basic hand towel racks or rings can be boring. With some creativity, you can display hand towels stylishly to elevate your bathroom decor.
Here are unique ideas for decoratively showcasing hand towels while keeping them accessible and functional.
Use Interesting Holders Like Vintage Finds
Instead of standard chrome or wooden holders, opt for vintage, rustic, or otherwise distinctive holders to display hand towels with flair.
- Old kitchen utensils like metal whisks, ladles, spoons, or tongs
- Vintage canning jar lids mounted to the wall
- Ancient door knockers or pulls
- Salvaged plumbing pieces like faucets or pipe fittings
- Upcycled wine bottle cages or soapstone wine cooling rings
- Antique silver trays or tiered platters turned sideways
Hunt flea markets, antique stores, or your attic for finds. Spray paint or polish them up. Then arrange your neatly folded or rolled hand towels over, on, or hanging from them near your sink. The vintage patina adds character and personality.
Use Baskets, Bowls, or Trays
Store rolled or folded hand towels in baskets, bowls, or trays on a countertop or open shelf for a collected look.
- Woven seagrass or rattan baskets
- Vintage metal trays or tins
- Pottery, ceramic, or glass bowls
- Pretty trinket boxes or jewelry trays
Group items in odd numbers like 3 or 5 for visual interest. Mix and match styles, colors, and textures for a diverse feel. Change up accessories seasonally, like pine cones or seashells. The hand towels become part of the overall styled vignette.
Get Creative with DIY Hand Towel Holders
With a little imagination and DIY spirit, you can create unique hand towel holders yourself.
- driftwood pieces mounted on the wall
- repurposed kitchen utensils like wire whisks or tongs
- plumbing parts like valves painted fun colors
- hardware pieces like gate latches or hooks
- vintage toolbox drawers mounted sideways
- ladder rungs attached to a backing
- wine cork trivets stacked and screwed together
Rustic, industrial, shabby chic, or steampunk – whatever your style, you can likely find an inspiring DIY hand towel holder project online to replicate or use as a springboard for your creation.
Use Wall-Mounted Shelves or Ledges
Installing small floating shelves or ledges on your bathroom walls provides neat dedicated space for hand towel storage.
- A row of wall-mounted boxes or crates
- A set of open cubbies built from wood planks
- A few floating glass shelves for easy wiping
- A metal rail with S-hooks for draping towels
- A mini ladder-style set of open shelves
- A repurposed wall-mounted wine rack
Store rolled or folded hand towels. Add baskets or trays to corral smaller washcloths. The hand towels become bathroom decor while still being functional.
Get Creative with Towel Folding and Rolling
Instead of folding hand towels in half or thirds, get creative with folding techniques to make rolled or sculpted towel designs for decor impact.
- Rolling washcloths into mini logs to stand vertically in a vase, bowl, or basket
- Pleating hand towels into fans
- Framing a set around a mirror tray
- Tying rolled towels with raffia or ribbon
- Folding hand towels into abstract shapes like hearts, flowers, or butterflies
There are tons of clever towel-folding ideas online. Change them up seasonally or for holidays. The funky folds make basic hand towels feel fresh and fun.
Drape Hand Towels Over Ladders, Rails, Rods
Draping hand towels over leaning ladders, caddy rods, fireplace tools, or extra-long tension rods creates an artful display.
Choose holders that complement your bathroom’s style, like:
- A copper pipe mounted on the wall
- A leaning rustic ladder in a cottage bathroom
- A sleek black rod in a contemporary space
- A wooden handrail from a staircase (remounted)
- An extra-long brass tension rod over a window or in a corner
Either neatly fold hand towels and drape them over rungs or rods. Or loosely drape a hand towel through a rung for a casual vibe. This adds visual interest while keeping hand towels handy.
Show Off Hand Towels in Open Shelving
Make hand towels part of the room decor by displaying them prominently on open shelving.
- Neatly folding hand towels and stacking them in bathroom floating shelving.
- Draping hand towels over wall-mounted wine glass holders near the sink.
- Placing folded hand towels in pretty ceramic planters on a shelf.
- Coiling hand towels and storing them in a set of wall-mounted glass cylinders.
Mix with decorative objects like candles, baskets, or trays. Roll and stack washcloths into a pyramid shape for visual appeal. The hand towels add color, texture, and a polished hotel feel.
Double Up On Traditional Hand Towel Bars
Maximize limited wall space in small bathrooms by installing two hand towel bars where you’d normally have one.
- Vertically on the wall with one bar above the other
- Crosswise, forming an X
- Parallel but offset, forming a Z shape
- Perpendicularly on adjacent walls in a corner
Use the same bar style for consistency. Or combine two different metal finishes like chrome and brass for aesthetic interest. Then neatly fold and drape different colored hand towels on each bar. The dual bars store more towels in a compact footprint.
Repurpose Items Like Coat Racks or Ladders
Before buying traditional towel racks, look for items already in your home (or found cheaply secondhand) that could be repurposed creatively instead.
- An old ladder propped against the wall
- A metal wine rack mounted horizontally
- A retro coat rack installed near the sink
- A baker’s rack positioned in a corner
- Vintage school lockers, milk crates, or mail sorters
Spray paint or stencil them to match your bathroom. Then arrange neatly folded or rolled hand towels on the shelves or hang them from the rungs or hooks. The repurposed furniture adds character and saves you money.
Incorporate Hand Towels Into Displayed Collections
Instead of relegating hand towels to cupboards or hidden storage, make them part of an aesthetically grouped collection prominently displayed. Ideas include:
- Stacking rolled towels on a tray with perfumed oils and candles
- Combining neatly folded hand towels with styled bulk apothecary jars filled with cotton balls, swabs, etc.
- Arranging folded hand towels with birdcages, plants, shells, and other eclectic items on corner shelving
The hand towels blend into the overall curated vignette, adding texture and color while still being functional.
FAQ
What are some quick DIY hand towel holders I can make?
If you’re handy and want to create custom hand towel holders, there are many possibilities.
Here are some quick DIY ideas:
- Use an old kitchen utensil like a wire whisk and attach it to the wall near your sink for a handy hand towel holder.
- Take driftwood pieces found on the beach, add hangers, and mount them in a row on the wall for rustic hanging towel storage.
- Attach an old ** staircase railing** horizontally on the wall and hang towels from the rungs for an architectural display.
- Stack and screw together wine cork trivets to make an easy countertop stand for folded hand towels.
- Mount vintage toolbox drawers sideways on the wall to create cubbies for rolled hand towels.
What are some options for displaying hand towels if I don’t have much open wall space?
If your bathroom walls are already crowded, there are still great options for creatively displaying hand towels:
- Use a freestanding ladder leaned against the wall with towels hung from the rungs.
- Repurpose a baker’s rack or small bookcase to use in a corner for folded towel storage.
- Install floating glass shelves above your toilet tank for rolling and storing spare hand towels.
- Place hand towels in planters, baskets, or trays on the countertop or corner shelves.
- Add a tension rod to hang towels across a window or in a corner.
- Mount an old mailbox sorter on the back of the door for rolled towel storage.
What are some ideas for displaying hand towels for a cohesive look?
To make your hand towels part of a coordinated bath decor, try these display suggestions:
- Roll towels upright in ceramic planters that match your colors and style.
- Order multiple hand towel hooks in the same finish and arrange them in a pattern on the wall.
- Fold towels into identical shapes and line them up neatly along the edge of open shelving.
- Choose one main hand towel color, like navy, and accessorize with contrasting washcloths.
- Dress hand towels with ribbons, flowers, or embellishments that go with your overall look.
Conclusion
With creativity, you can transform your hand towels from purely functional to beautiful decorative accents. Whether you repurpose flea market finds, try specialty folds and rolls, or incorporate hand towels into stylish vignettes, the possibilities are endless.
Review the clever concepts in this guide, then experiment with ways to display your hand towels with personality and panache. Soon your guests will be seeking design inspiration from your distinctly decorated bathroom.
