The Ideal Height For Your Bathrooms Towel Bar And Hooks

Remodeling a bathroom is a lot of work, and when adding the finishing touches like towel bars, hooks, and rings, it's important to consider just where they should be installed. While these bathroom fixtures are generally placed near the sink and shower for convenience, customizing the height and location will make your bathroom perfectly suited to your needs.

The standard height used by contractors for a towel bar is 48 inches from the floor, while rings for hand towels are typically installed 20 inches from the bottom of the countertop. These measurements will allow someone of average height to easily reach the towels when taking them off the bar or hanging them back up, and will leave enough space so your towels don't brush against the floor or counter. However, if you or someone in your household has limited mobility, these heights may be too tall to comfortably reach, and if you have children, you may also want to consider how far they can reach without assistance.

If the standard seems a bit too high, you can actually install your towel bar anywhere between 15 and 48 inches from the floor. However, it's a good idea to measure your towels first to make sure they won't touch the floor, which can cause them to come into contact with bacteria. For towel bars or rings above a vanity, you'll want to install them so that the towels don't touch the top of the counter.

If you have a small bathroom that lacks wall space, another alternative is to mount your towel bars on the side of your cabinet, or use hooks beside the shower or on the back of the door. The general placement for a robe hook is 70 inches above the floor, but this can also be customized for you and your family's heights and needs. For younger children, installing the towel bar about 36 inches above the floor will help them be able to grab their towels and hang them up again without asking for help.

If your family has several members, you may need to mount more than one towel bar, in which case stacking them can save space and allow for everyone's towels to be near the bath or shower. The easiest way to make sure each bar has enough space is to measure your towel when it's folded lengthwise, add 2 inches for clearance, and install the lowest bar at that height. This ensures that the bottom towel will not sweep against the floor. When installing additional bars, make sure there are 2 inches between where the towel will hang and the bar below it.

It's important to make sure your towel bars and rings are not installed too close to light switches or outlets. If your bar is mounted above an electrical fixture, water could damage it. Leaving about 4 inches between your bar and your outlets and switches will keep them safe from dripping water. When deciding where your towel bars, hooks, and rings look best, remember that while they need to be functional, they shouldn't detract from the look you are trying to achieve.