Towel storage may not be the first thing on your mind when planning a bathroom makeover, but why spend months choosing the perfect basin and taps, sourcing the most stylish tiles and poring over Pinterest for fixture inspiration, only to see your new dream bathroom haphazardly draped with damp towels?
When it comes to the everyday use of our bathrooms, efficient towel storage can be the difference between a cluttered mess and a zen, hotel-style space.
Whether your bathroom is modern, minimalist, vintage or something in between, it’s guaranteed that there are towel storage ideas out there that will completely transform not only how your bathroom looks, but how efficiently you use the space.
From folding racks to feature shelving, boho-inspired benches to repurposed crates, here are our best towel storage ideas to suit the size and shape of your bathroom, plus our expert advice on how to properly store your towels!
How to store towels
Whether you have ample floor space or a tiny shower room, every bathroom should, at the very least, have somewhere to air dry damp towels so they can stay fresh between uses.
Ideally, you can also find some space to store a few fresh, clean towels, and, if you’ve got the space for it, most bathrooms also benefit from something like a laundry basket, so you can put your used towels and clothes straight in for washing. Whatever the size your space, we’d recommend rolling or carefully folding your clean towels up tidily to achieve a clean, hotel-style vibe.
Although your choice of towel storage ideas will largely depend on the size of your bathroom, you're sure to find something to suit your space and style.
Read on to discover our pick of the best towel storage ideas!
Towel storage ideas
Bathroom trolley
- Buy now from Amazon (£22.99)
If you're looking for simple towel storage ideas, it doesn't get much easier than a bathroom trolley. As it can be wheeled around a space as you wish, a bathroom trolley makes a particularly good storage solution if you’re short on space or have a busy bathroom – simply move it next to the bath or shower when you need to easily access your towels and tuck it away in a corner when it’s not in use.
It’s worth opting for a trolley with generous sized shelves if you’re looking to store large bathroom towels and toiletries, but opt for a streamlined version if you want to display hand towels and face flannels next to your sink. The SPACEKEEPER Storage Trolley shown above is a great option - the three-tier unit includes dividers, compartments and side hooks for improved organisation, and stands on lockable castors, so it's easy to shift from place to place.
Ladder rack
- Buy now from Garden Trading (£90.00)
Whichever style you choose, ladder shelves are ideal as towel storage because they take up minimal floor space, whilst still looking totally Instagrammable. For an on-trend look, you can try styling your ladder up with a trailing plant, or add some invisible hooks so you can hang loofas or bamboo body brushes next to your towels.
Boho bench
- Buy now from La Redoute (
£75.00now £45.00)
Bathroom towel storage is as much about style as it is function, and if you've got the space, a boho-inspired bench is the perfect place to display a neatly folded stack of towels.
This sort of storage solution looks particularly good positioned under a window or styled against a tiled wall, and, if you’ve got the space, you can add a rattan or seagrass basket next to it.
If you want to take it one step further, you can always add additional accessories for extra impact. A vase with fresh eucalyptus looks great and creates a calming aroma when your shower water runs, while chic glass jars of bath salts or candles will give your bathroom a sophisticated edge.
Sloping shelf
- Buy now from Wayfair (
£79.99now £74.99)
We love the fact that the top of these shelves provide an extra surface for storing whatever you need, at just the right height – think wire baskets filled with toiletries, or even wicker baskets filled with neatly rolled hand towels. For the ultimate space saving solution, why not install a shelf over your bath for easy-to-reach towel access?
Towel basket
- Buy now from Dunelm (£26.00)
The key to creating a tranquil space is choosing storage solutions that not only make your bathroom look good, but help your bathroom to function as easily and smoothly as possible. If you're aiming to create a zen feel in your bathroom, looking to spas for inspiration can be a great way to choose what form of towel storage is right for your space.
A seagrass basket, for example, is ideal for storing neatly rolled-up clean bath towels tidily, and will give your space a relaxed, laid-back feel. A bowl of fresh hand towels also looks great displayed in a bowl beside the basin, ready for guests.
Towel rack chairs
- Buy now from Amazon (£88.70)
If you're short on space, multifunctional bathroom furniture is a game-changer. Towel rack chairs are fantastic because, as you can imagine, they combine the functions of a towel rack and a chair in one - you can use the seat, hang used towels on the tall, slatted rack at the back, and store clean towels on the shelf tucked below the seat. Genius!
Also known as ‘bathroom chairs’, these handy towel storage solutions can be found at a number of different brands, but this one from Amazon is one of our favourites thanks to its sleek, dark wood design. Try styling it with fresh, fluffy white towels for a boutique hotel vibe.
Slimline towel caddy
- Buy now from Dunelm (£30.00)
If you want to go for full Marie Kondo-inspired organisation, you can add homemade labels to each shelf, or even organise the towels in colour categories. For a spa-inspired bathroom vibe, add small potted succulents or trailing plants to dress up the shelves (check out our guide on where to buy houseplants online here!)
Folding towel rack
- Buy now from Lakeland (
£59.99now £54.99)
Traditional peg rail
- Buy now from Etsy (£62.00)
Cleverly placed peg rails are so handy in a bathroom, especially if you think outside the box. Be clever with placement and attach them to the back of doors if you’re short on space, or create a Pinterest-inspired feature wall by installing lots of different rails at different levels around the room.
If you’re feeling creative, you can dress up your pegs by hanging quirky, seasonal bathroom accessories next to your towels. You could even take it a step further and opt for one with an integrated shelf if you need the added organisation options!
Corner shelf
- Buy now from Dunelm (£22.00)
Whether you have ample floor space or limited room in your bathroom, corner shelves are ideal for utilising the areas that might otherwise go wasted. They’re a life-saver if you’ve got an awkward shaped bathroom, and great if you want to make the most of the floorspace where a traditional freestanding cabinet might go.
Opt for a floor-to-ceiling option if you have lots of towels to store, or choose a half-sized version - pictured above - to keep a few towels handy next to your bathroom products. You can add nice wicker baskets, pretty bath products and candles to your taste.
Freestanding towel rail
- Buy now from Dunelm (£40.00)
If you want to make a feature of your bath linens, a freestanding towel rail is an ideal option. It can be stored flat against the wall if you need space, or you can make it into a focal point by styling it next to your shower.
Simple, Scandi-style rails look particularly good in most homes, but if you want something really different, you can find rare, vintage towel racks on Etsy. We love styling freestanding rails with unique drawstring bags filled with bathroom essentials.
Towel bar
- Buy now from Anthropologie (£68.00)
Traditional towels bars are often forgotten in modern bathrooms, but they're definitely worth a thought when it comes to bathroom styling. They may not seem like the snazziest option, but there's a reason they are a bathroom staple - they still make a super handy addition to any space.
Nowadays, you can find towel rails in hundreds of different styles, colours and materials, but we particularly love this gold version from Anthropologie. It’s perfect for adding a touch of understated luxury to your bathroom décor!
Hanging rope shelf
- Buy now from Etsy (£14.81)
Rope shelves are all over Pinterest at the moment, and it's easy to see why. Not only are they functional, but they look amazing - particularly in a rustic, boho-inspired scheme. If you're good with DIY, rope shelves are easy to make yourself using planks of wood and some strong rope – just be sure to attach it to a sturdy ceiling or wall, and test its strength before you load it up with bathroom necessities.
But if you'd rather buy them ready-made option, you can purchase these gorgeous rope shelves online at Etsy - simply style it up with some unique trinkets, jars, baskets of face towels and maybe even some bath reading material!
Bathroom stool
- Buy now from Amara (£190.00)
If you're looking for just one piece of furniture to add to your bathroom, a stool is a great place to start. They make a versatile and affordable styling accessory, and can be used to display a stack of clean towels on top for a relaxed, farmhouse feel.
Whether you chose a rustic vintage option, a sleek metal version or a simple Scandi-inspired wooden step, try styling it next to your bath with a small houseplant, or jar of Pinterest-inspired bath salts. If you can, opt for a step that has an integrated shelf for a handy storage opportunity – on this, you’ll be able to keep your favourite bath products and avoid that cluttered look around the edge of your bath.
Vertical towel bars
- Buy now from Etsy (£41.56)
If you're looking to create a hotel vibe in your bathroom, vertical towel bars are a sleek and stylish storage option.
With some basic DIY equipment, you can simply attach them to any part of your bathroom wall – we advise a place within arm's reach when you step out of the bath or shower, but not close enough that they’re likely to get splashed with water – and stack your favourite towels against the wall to add colour and texture to your tiled bathroom.
There are lots of decorative towel rails online, but some like these ones from Etsy are our favourite on the market. They’re handmade from solid steel and super easy to assemble.
Traditional towel ring
- Buy now from Next (£16.00)
We've all seen traditional towel rings positioned next to the sink in small downstairs cloakrooms, but, with some creativity, towel rings can look great on the walls of your main bathroom and do a great job of housing your bigger towels, too.
There are so many different variations of towel rings available, in hundreds of different shapes and finishes, so there’s bound to be an option that suits the style of your bathroom. For an interesting display, why not install a few of these rings in a row? Alternatively, you could install one behind your bathroom door for additional, hidden-away storage – the possibilities are truly endless!
Cane shelf towel rail
- Buy now from Dunelm (£10.00)
Try try styling this one with more rattan accessories - Dunelm sell a matching cane caddy, a matching set of bathroom drawers or coordinating storage baskets.
Built-in under-sink storage
- Buy now from Wayfair (
£89.99now £86.99)
Under-sink storage is great for keeping your space looking tidy at all times, so if you've got the budget for it, investing in some built-in storage is a great way to ensure you'll always have somewhere to keep all your bathroom necessities, including your towels – they can be neatly folded and stacked into the bottom drawer, so you can grab one whenever you need to.
If your budget won’t stretch to built-in storage, however, there’s no need to worry - a small under-sink cabinet, like this Brambly Cottage one from Wayfair, will do the same job. Make sure to select one that’s the right height to fit under your sink!
Feature shelving
- Buy now from Oliver Bonas (£85.00)
Rounded shelves work particularly well in bathrooms with straight metro or herringbone tiles, but any shape or style of feature shelf will definitely bring a unique feel into your bathroom. We particularly love this mint green and gold one from Oliver Bonas – it would look amazing styled with a beautiful diffuser and a stack of pink pastel towels.
Repurposed crates
- Buy now from Etsy (£22.00)
If you’re feeling up to a DIY challenge, crate storage is easy to make yourself – simply upcycle with appropriate paint (check out our Frenchic paint upcycling guide here). If DIY isn’t your thing, you can find ready-made crate storage available from independent brands on Etsy, like the stylish white option pictured above!
Salon inspired storage
- Buy now from Etsy (£39.99)
Over Door Hanging Rack
- Buy now fromAmazon (£23.99)
Behind-the-door racks are a bathroom storage staple. The traditional versions with fabric pouches are great for storing miscellaneous bathroom products, but if you opt for a version with a combination of shelves and hooks instead, these over-door solutions also double up as handy towel storage.
Simply fill the deep shelves with rolled, clean towels, and use the hooks to air dry those that you’ve used in between washes. These racks are particularly good for rented accommodation as you don’t need any screws or nails for installation – simply pop them over the door and you’re good to go!
Hanging bathroom baskets
- Buy now from Not on the High Street (£19.95)
If you’re looking to introduce a bohemian vibe into your bathroom, wall-mounted woven baskets might just be the storage solution for you. To create a relaxed but organised display, either nail the base of a rectangular directly to the wall before filling it will neatly rolled towels, or find a belly basket with handles and hang it from a hook. These baskets from Not On the Highstreet are some of our favourites – they’re made from hemp and sturdy enough to store surplus toilet rolls, towels or magazines!
Looking for more practical and elegant storage solutions? Don't miss our feature on the best seagrass storage baskets, our round-up of quirky decorative wall hooks, or our pick of the most stylish food waste caddies. Find more bathroom inspiration in our bathroom section.
