The Toilet Paper Holder That Makes Replacing An Empty Roll So Convenient

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Anyone who shares a bathroom with others knows that not everyone in the house will always change the toilet paper roll after using the last piece, leaving the next person to find a freshly opened roll hanging out on a shelf rather than the dispenser. Enforcing minor courtesies like putting the roll on the holder is a hassle. Empowerment is so much more fulfilling, though it takes a little creativity to find ways to make the right habits easier to do. Well, now you don't have to overthink the solution, thanks to an innovative toilet paper holder that makes replacing the toilet paper roll the most convenient option possible.

The DECLUTTR Free Standing Bathroom Toilet Paper Holder for $17.99 is deceptively minimalist, with a simple post standing on a flat base. It's similar to one of the popular IKEA finds for stylish and functional toilet paper storage, the BALUNGEN, as spare toilet paper rolls sit around the post in a stack. An arm at the top extends perpendicularly to hold the current roll in use. The trick is, the arm has a hinge. When you're ready to change rolls, you just pop the old roll off and flip the arm up to align it with the rest of the post. Then, slide the next roll up to the arm, and tilt it horizontally — it couldn't be easier.

The DECLUTTR toilet paper holder is inexpensive enough, but you can also take inspiration from it. If you're in a DIY mood, why not replicate the style to boost the look and function? Get a flat base and install a screw from the bottom where you can attach an upright wood dowel. Because toilet paper rolls are roughly 1 ½ inches in diameter, an inch-wide dowel would be a perfect fit. A 32-inch-long dowel will work, as you can bisect it into a 6-inch folding arm and a 26-inch-tall support post.

You can then make a hinge like that on the DECLUTTR holder. Use two brackets, like this QSJ Black Straight Bracket, to connect the two dowel pieces on two sides. One hole connects to the support, while the other attaches to the hinged arm. The hole on the arm should be equidistant from the arm's side and the end touching the support post. You then just need to round the end with careful cutting, sanding, or routing so the arm can swing and rest at 90 degrees.

Adapt the basic design as desired. Rather than make it freestanding, for instance, this can become another DIY vertical wall-mounted toilet paper storage unit, keeping rolls safely off the floor. Paint and stain can elevate the look and tie it into the rest of the design, with a few coats of varnish protecting against moisture. In essence, this is a modified take on a classic DIY toilet paper holder, so you can easily blend it in with a relaxed, natural aesthetic.