Towel racks and towel racks being the finishing touch in any bathroom is definitely not an accident. While you could possibly simply place your towels on the edge of the sink or over the shower rod, these items can really turn an ordinary bathroom into something extraordinary.

When shopping for towel rails or towel racks, experts may recommend selecting styles that match your bathroom décor.

For example, towel racks and towel racks should match the color and finish of your fixtures. That means a copper grate for a copper sink faucet. Of course, you can vary this general rule, choosing a white porcelain or wood shelf or bar, which really goes with just about anything. But for those new to interior design, you can’t go wrong when these have matching colors and finishes.

Another important consideration is purchasing racks and bars that are large enough to hold the towels. Most towel bars and towel racks come in standard sizes: 7-inch, 12-inch, 18-inch, and 24-inch. Traditionally, a 7-inch bar or rack is made for hand towels and washcloths, while larger ones are made for bath towels. If you have a slightly smaller wall, you may need to cut a larger shelf or bar to the correct width. You can easily do this with a hacksaw or, if they are made of wood, a wood hacksaw.

In many cases, you will want to get a rack that can hold more than one towel. This is even more important if you share a bathroom with another person. Everyone will want a place to hang and dry their towel. Fortunately, manufacturers make many different styles of multi-level racks and bars.

Towel racks and towel racks by the sink are a bit more challenging. Space is often limited, so you may need to opt for a smaller shelf than you had planned. However, a multi-tiered rack, even a smaller one, will fill the bill nicely, allowing you to put hand towels and wash towels within easy reach.

To really hit a home run, you need to make sure they’re installed correctly. If you’ve ever tried to make the two sides of a shelf match up and look even, you know it can be difficult. In the old days you either looked at it and said it was good enough or you took a yardstick and measured from where the ceiling and wall meet and hoped the ceiling was level. Today, you don’t have to improvise. You can buy a laser level at any home improvement store that makes setting up towel racks and towel rails a breeze. All you have to do is use the built-in level to make sure the fixture is plumb, then mark the holes for wall mounting. It’s a perfect match every time. This works even if you have cathedral ceilings, where the measurement of a wall is almost impossible.

While shopping for the perfect towel rack or bar, many consumers have opted to shop online. There’s a huge selection there, much more than you’ll find at your local home improvement or hardware store, and the search feature on retailer sites makes locating the perfect ones quick and easy.