It's generally not ideal but acceptable with precautions, as bacteria from toilet plume (floating particles from flushing) can settle on exposed items, and damp towels can grow mold; however, if you keep the area clean, ensure towels dry well (spread out on a bar or shelf), and ideally use covered storage like a cabinet, it's less of a concern for everyday use.
The short answer is yes. However, there are a few things you may want to take into consideration before doing so. First of all, there are no serious sanitary issues when it comes to hanging your towels above your toilet. As long as you keep your toilet area clean, your towels will be clean.
Having damp towels, linen, and robes out permanently in the bathroom is only advisable if you've got a heated towel rail to place them on. Otherwise, you run the risk of encouraging a breeding ground for moisture and ultimately mould.
Although you may not hang anything or have decor, wall treatments can add color, texture and visual interest. Wall treatments can include wainscoting, wallpaper, tile or a combination. I think adding a wall treatment is great to keep the space above your toilet feeling clean, simple, yet anything but boring.
Placed strategically near the shower, beside the washbasin or behind the door, hooks are a practical option to hang both towels and bathrobes. They are also ideal for small bathrooms with a limited amount of space.
The "bathroom towel trick" usually refers to a popular, space-saving, and decorative towel rolling method that makes towels look like spa rolls, creating tight cylinders that store neatly and look elegant in bathrooms, often by folding in triangles and tucking the end into a pocket. Another less common "trick" involves using a towel for jawline exercise, where you bite down on a folded towel to strengthen jaw muscles, or a cooling method with a wet towel near a fan.
Yes, towel bars are still widely used in bathrooms for their classic look, better towel drying, and organization, but they are increasingly being supplemented or replaced by hooks, rings, or multi-functional stands, especially in smaller spaces, with options like heated bars and vertical racks gaining popularity for functionality and design.
Plastic Accessories or Fixtures
Plastic soap dispensers, flimsy shower curtains, and thin toilet roll holders won't do your bathroom any favors. They crack, discolor, and instantly cheapen the look of the space. The same goes for plastic chrome or faux brass fixtures.
No, floating shelves are not out of style for 2025; they've evolved from a passing trend to a design staple, especially when styled with natural materials (wood, metal) and curated decor that fits with current trends like warm minimalism, eclectic styles, and functional, personalized spaces, though ultra-chunky or glossy versions might feel dated. They remain popular for their sleek, space-saving, and light-enhancing qualities in kitchens, living rooms, and bathrooms.
The open shelving above offers ample space to stylishly display items like perfume bottles, acrylic makeup organizers, and jewelry boxes. Maximize over-the-toilet storage to keep all your household towels in one place—perfect for homes without a linen closet.
You should never flush wet wipes (even "flushable" ones) and sanitary products (like tampons/pads) because they don't break down, causing serious blockages in pipes and sewage systems. Other items to avoid include paper towels, tissues, cotton buds, dental floss, hair, and cooking oils/fats, as they all contribute to clogs and environmental issues.
In the Bathroom
A towel rod works best since it allows the towel to dry faster. You can also use a simple hook on the wall or at the back of the door. The most important thing is to make sure the towel is spread out to speed up drying. So don't fold it up or leave it in a pile in the corner.
For most people, reusing a towel two or three times is safe as long as it dries completely after each use. However, using the same towel for an entire week can increase bacterial buildup, especially in humid conditions.
“On day zero, when the towels are washed and still not used, you can still culture bacteria from the towel. On day one, the bacterial count increases. On day five of use, your towel contains so much bacteria, which I'm sure some of you can smell.
You may opt for loose baskets or for basket drawers on sliders. An attractive basket, tote bag or box is a good chance to bring texture, color and an eclectic touch into the bathroom. Rolling up the towels into what I call “towel logs” is the best way to store them in a slouchy container like this.
Towels dry much better and faster on bars because they can be spread out, maximizing air circulation and surface area, which prevents mildew; hooks cause towels to bunch up, trapping moisture and slowing drying, especially in humid climates or with thick towels, making bars superior for drying, though hooks are good for robes or quick hangs.
Older appliances that are visibly worn, dirty, or have outdated finishes and colors can detract from a home and possibly decrease its value. Colors such as harvest gold, turquoise, and avocado green can be dead giveaways that the home hasn't been updated in decades.
Enduring Style Meets Modern Sensibility
Embrace the beauty of quietly colorful hues with the Color of the Year 2025, Cinnamon Slate 2113-40. A delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brown, this nuanced color brings a smooth familiarity to any design.
Open-plan kitchens are undeniably popular, but have been falling out of fashion in recent years. While open spaces promote togetherness by combining the hub of the house with adjacent living and/or dining areas, they also present challenges and drawbacks, from noise to smells to clutter.
The 3-5-7 rule in decorating is a guideline to group items in odd numbers (three, five, or seven) to create arrangements that feel more natural, balanced, and visually interesting than even-numbered groupings, making spaces look professionally styled without being too symmetrical or boring. This works because odd numbers create asymmetry, leading the eye through the arrangement, and you can vary height, scale, and texture within the group for depth, such as with vases on a shelf or pillows on a sofa.
Our Favorite Paint Colors for Bathrooms
Muted colors like gray, sage green and blush pink will create a soothing, spa-like retreat, while vibrant hues like turquoise and fuchsia will energize the space and boost your mood.
The golden rule for bathroom layouts is zoning for flow and function, creating distinct dry (vanity/storage), semi-wet (toilet/tub transition), and wet (shower/bath) areas to ensure comfortable movement, easy cleaning, and separation from steam, prioritizing clear paths, adequate clearance (e.g., 30 inches in front of fixtures), and making the toilet less visible upon entry.
These days however, an all-white or all-gray bathroom can act as an unpleasant symbol of an outdated trend, and may seem seriously lacking in pizazz. Romanoff recommends sprinkling in color and texture to make your bathroom more unique, interesting, and modern.
Baskets. You can place your bath towels in different-sized baskets with washcloths on top and bath towels on the bottom. While there are many ways to install baskets, you can mount them to your wall or place them on a ladder for more character. Baskets can be made of any materials such as wire, wicker or plastic.
Towels can be your ultimate multipurpose companion. Use them as picnic blankets or to wrap around your food containers for added insulation. At the beach, a towel can double as a sarong, a makeshift shade for your cooler, or even as a pillow for a quick nap under the sun.