A towel rack is a device that holds towels. Most towel racks hang towels so that air can easily pass over them, allowing the towels to dry and not become mouldy. There are different types of towel racks available in the market to choose from. Gharpedia brings you a guide on different types of towel racks to help you make a wiser decision.
One of the benefits of using a towel rack to dry your towels after use is that you won’t have to wash towels as frequently. Towel racks help to reduce laundry load because you can go up to a week or more without washing the towels; all you have to do is spread or dry them properly on the towel rack.
Types of Towel Racks Available in the Market
Towel racks come in a variety of styles and sizes, and are found in the majority of homes around the world. Here are some popular types of towel racks:
01. Towel Shelves
Towel shelves available can be either wall-mounted or freestanding. They are primarily used for storage and come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to store anything from a few towels to an entire closet’s worth. If you have a large family and a full-size bathroom measuring 110 – 210 sq.ft, this type of towel rack will come in handy. One popular style of towel shelf has a shelf at the top and a bar below for hanging damp towels up for drying. Many modern towel shelves in the market today are ideal for stylish bathrooms. Bamboo is a popular towel shelf material right now.
02. Towel Valets
Towel valets are standing towel racks but much larger in size. They are sometimes referred to as floor stands due to their size. Towel valets are ideal for bathrooms with at least 100 square feet due to their size. Many valet units have built-in hampers where dirty towels can be placed. Most valets have closets where clean towels can be stored. Some towel valets can be used outside, which is great if you have a pool. Due to their size and utility value, towel valets are one of the most expensive towel racks.
03. Towel Bars
Towel bars are another type of wall-mounted towel rack. These simple racks have a single bar that can hold multiple towels at the same time. If you want to save money, you should consider buying a wall-mounted towel bar, as these racks are typically less expensive than more advanced towel racks. The most common ways to install a wall-mounted rack are to screw it into place or to stick it to a wall with adhesive. It’s an excellent choice for people with a small bathroom, which has an average size of 40 sq.ft. Have a small bathroom; here are tips to make it bigger:
04. Towel Rings
Towel rings, while different from a traditional towel rack, are an excellent way to hang your towels. Rings are commonly used to hang hand towels, but they can also be used to hang standard-sized bath towels. They, too, have a single opening for hanging a towel, like the towel bars. Towel rings come in a variety of designs. The traditional circle shape is the most common. C-shaped towel rings are also in high demand. These are more modern than traditional ring shapes and are more expensive. They are ideal for any minimalist-designed bathroom or kitchen space, as they conserve space while adding a special classy touch to the overall décor.
05. Towel Hooks
If you’re looking for a towel rack that allows you to hang your towel over a tip, then a towel hook is the way to go. Towel hooks and towel rings are usually the same sizes. With this unit, as the name implies, you hang your towels on a hook. Though most people use them for hand towels, hooks can also be used to hang full-sized towels. Towel hooks take up little space because they are small and discreet. If you want to create a clutter-free design in your 35-40 sq.ft. bathroom, then you can use towel hooks. Even in a small and homey space, you can have multiple towel hooks and still keep the bathroom organized.
Many people choose to place towel hooks on their bathroom door to save space. Some towel hooks include mounting hardware to place them on the wall. Hooks are easier to install than other wall-mounted racks due to their smaller size. A variety of towel hook styles can enhance the appearance of any bathroom. Wood and matte black are two modern towel hook styles that are becoming increasingly popular.
06. Towel Ladders
Towel ladders are among the most popular types of standing towel racks. If you want to avoid wall mount installations, you can choose freestanding ladder racks. As you might expect, the racks resemble ladders for hanging multiple towels at the same time. Towel ladders are less expensive than other towel racks. The majority of standard towel ladders cost less than $100. Since towel ladders are a type of standing towel rack, they are portable, making them ideal for people who like to redecorate their space on a regular basis.
This type of towel rack is quickly becoming popular in many homes, particularly for bathroom and kitchen décor. Although they are typically found in rustic settings, some models are finely carved contemporary wood. They are also available in stainless steel and aluminum.
07. Heated Towel Racks
Wrapping yourself in a warm, heated towel is a small yet powerful luxury. A heated towel rack is great for keeping those towels warm, but it also has other benefits. It adds heat to your bathroom and dries your towels faster, reducing mildew. Towel warmers come in a variety of sizes, types, mounts, and styles.
Heated towel racks have become extremely popular in recent years. These racks significantly speed up the drying process and allow you to step out of the shower wrapped in a warm, toasty towel. Since the towels dry faster on a heated rack, they are less damp and musty than if they were drying elsewhere. They help in warming your towels which are wet after showering and drying them in winter and monsoon season when drying a towel is a difficult task.
Heated towel racks can dry more than just towels. They can also be used to dry wet clothes, and they can indirectly heat the room, which is useful in the winter. Heated towel racks are still relatively new. Most of these racks have a sleek, modern appearance. Install a heated towel rack in your bathroom renovation to match any modern look.
Many people have a misconception about the energy usage of heated towel racks. However, the fact is that heated towel racks consume very little energy. The majority of them consume the same amount of energy as a standard light bulb.
The heated towel racks can be classified as electric and hydronic, based on their heating mechanism:
Electrically Heated Towel Rack:
Electrically heated towel racks, like the name suggests, use electricity to dry and warm towels. They are usually hardwired or plugged into a wall outlet. The majority of electric towel racks have a timer or an on/off switch. They can be wall-mounted as well as freestanding. Hardwired heated towel racks are wall-mounted, whereas plugged-in heated towel racks come in freestanding style as well as wall-mounted style.
Hydronic Heated Towel Rack:
A hydronic heated towel rack, like a radiator, uses hot water to heat and dry the towels that are hung on it. They function by circulating hot water through pipes, which are typically located in your walls or floor, and cycling this hot water throughout the rack. The water is then returned to the boiler to be reheated. In some models, an internal heating element heats a mixture of water and other substances such as glycol to warm the bars.
As compared to its electric counterpart, the hydronic heated towel rack is more energy-efficient. There are no wires visible when you install it. Having said that, the installation is tedious and requires professional help. Also, once you install it, it cannot be moved and hence it is not recommended for people who live on rent or are considering moving to another location in the near future.
08. Rolled Towel Racks
If you need a new towel rack, rolled towel racks are an excellent choice. Some compact units can hold up to six towels at once. To accommodate various towels, rolled towel racks are available in a variety of sizes. Some models even have multiple storage areas on the same rack for smaller and larger towels. These racks are typically hung on bathroom doors, but many people prefer to wall-mount rolled towel racks.
09. Over-the-Door Towel Racks
Another popular type of towel rack is the over-the-door towel rack. These racks typically have hooks or bars and can hold three to five towels, though some units can hold more. Other than standing racks, over-the-door towel racks are probably the simplest to install. Choose a door to hang the rack on and place the rack on top. These towel racks are less expensive than other styles such as valets and heated racks. Most standard over-the-door racks can be purchased for less than $100. Over-the-door units are available in a variety of styles and finishes, such as wood, bamboo, brass, gold, and silver.
Towel Rack Materials
Towel racks are typically made of aluminium and mild steel. Traditionally, mild steel racks are popular, particularly in the United States, because they are inexpensive and retain heat well.
Aluminum-based racks are newer and heat up five times faster. However, they are more expensive options.
Wooden racks are not widely used, but they are ideal for making ladder racks in kitchens or bathrooms. If you want to use wood, teak is your best bet because it is highly moisture resistant. Bamboo towel racks are also gaining popularity nowadays, due to their sustainability.
Summary
A bathroom is incomplete without a towel rack. Towel racks are used not only to dry the towels, but also, in some cases heat them for a luxurious bathing experience. There are different types of towel racks in the market to choose from. Racks like towel valets incorporate a closet’s worth of items, while towel rings can be installed in a small bathroom. Hope this guide helps you make an informed decision, before purchasing a towel rack for your bathroom.
Before you leave, make sure to check out other articles:
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