You might think they play a small role in your bathroom, but the towel bar and towel ring are indispensable bathroom accessories. Don't think so? Try to imagine a bathroom without one or the other. That is, while you're not tripping over wet, soggy towels on your bathroom floor.
Among the many ways to beautify your bathroom, the towel bar and towel ring rank as perhaps the most overlooked. And while they may spend much of their time blanketed by a towel, it's still possible to use them as functional art in your bathroom. So, give your bathroom the look and attention it deserves and make the best of these necessary fixtures.
What's their purpose?
The job of the towel bar and towel ring is straightforward: they hold a towel so they don't decorate your bathroom floor. While the towel ring is typically just a single ring, towel bar are offered with one and two bars. Popular measurements of these fixtures are 18, 24 and 30 inches long. In addition, towel bars and towel rings are available in numerous finishes and styles to complement any bathroom décor. Any manufacturer that produces lavatory fixtures will most likely have a towel bar or towel ring in its arsenal, such as Kohler's Purist towel bars and towel ring and Delta's Victorian towel bar and towel ring. A towel bar or towel ring may seem like a no-brainer, but don't disregard it. This is your chance to complete your design statement with elegance and a keen eye for style. And like everything else in your bathroom, towel bars and towel rings have personalities all their own. Consider your bathroom a canvas to decorate and display your design acumen.
Materials needed
- Electric drill
- ¼-inch diameter carbide drill bit
- ¼-inch drill bit
- Level
- Phillips screwdriver
- Hex wrench
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Masking tape
Installing a towel bar
The following is the installation instructions for a towel bar from the Victorian collection from Delta.
Position the template on the wall, and use the level to make sure it's straight. With a pencil, indicate the screw locations on the wall.
Installation Types
If you're installing in ceramic tile
Attempt to locate the hole locations along a grout line Place masking tape on the mounting area prior to marking the location so the drill bit doesn't slide across the tile Finally, drill a hole with the ¼-inch carbide drill bit.
If you're installing on sheetrock without wood wall studs
- Drill ¼-inch diameter holes for the mounting screws
- Push the plastic anchors flush with the wall, and screw the steel mounting brackets to the wall
- Do not over-tighten the mounting screws
If you're installing on sheetrock with wood wall studs
- Drill 3/32-inch diameter holes for easy screw mounting. NOTE: Do not use plastic anchors.
- Screw the steel mounting brackets to the wall.
Do not over-tighten the mounting screws. It may be necessary to unscrew the set screws to fit the posts over the mounting brackets. Slip the unit assembly over the mounting brackets with the set screws on the body. Be sure the posts hook over the mounting brackets. Push flush with the wall and tighten the set screws. If you're installing the towel bar into sheetrock or a hollow door, you may need molly or toggle bolts, which are not included.
And, now a towel ring
Installing a towel ring should take roughly the same amount of time as, if not less than, a towel bar. Once again, let's refer to the installation of a towel ring from the Victorian collection from Delta.
Position the template on the wall, and mark the top center of the unit with a pencil. Draw a 1-3/4 inch vertical line from the mark. Measure 1-1/16 inches below the mark and draw a 1-inch horizontal line. Position the center hole of the mounting bracket over the intersection of the two lines. Once you're sure the vertical line is centered in the oblong holes, mark the screw locations in the holes' centers.
Installation Types
If you're installing on ceramic tile
Attempt to locate the hole locations along a grout line. Place masking tape on the mounting area prior to marking the location so the drill bit doesn't slide across the tile. Finally, drill a hole with the ¼-inch carbide drill bit.
If you're installing on sheetrock without wood wall studs
- Drill ¼-inch diameter holes for the mounting screws
- Push the plastic anchors flush with the wall, and screw the steel mounting brackets to the wall
- Do not over-tighten the mounting screws
If you're installing on sheetrock with wood wall studs
- Drill 3/32-inch diameter holes for easy screw mounting. NOTE: Do not use plastic anchors
- Screw the steel mounting brackets to the wall
- Do not over-tighten the mounting screws
And that's it. Now that you've installed your towel bar or towel ring, don't forget to round out your bathroom décor with other accessories, like robe hooks, tissue holders and shelves.
