Talk to any traveling businessman and universally, they will tell you that most hotel chains have the market cornered on towel racks. From a functional one-bar towel rack (a must-have in any bathroom) to the multi-level model, even the most basic hotel room features a towel rack. Most have two racks: a place to store towels, and a place to hang the towel you’ve already used (assuming you used it to dry your clean body and not your muddy shoes). This is particularly true in the modern world, where sustainability and green living are becoming the norm, and reuse of towels is not only desirable, but required in many establishments.

Having lived with towel racks your entire life, you probably have a good idea of what your needs are. You know whether you prefer chrome or stainless steel, wood, bamboo, or wrought iron. Some consumers prefer racks that are freestanding on the wall, or those that function as a separate unit on the floor. A hybrid model can straddle the toilet for an extremely efficient use of space in smaller bathrooms or college dorms. These racks come in a variety of materials and some can feature individual drawers, doors and hooks for maximum space utilization.

Crafters, being naturally artistic and resourceful, discovered some time ago that towel racks make the perfect tool for storing multitudes of unique and useful items: scrapbooking papers, glues, stickers, and crafting tools of every kind. Designers of these racks soon realized the value of adding baskets to an individual shelf to store smaller items that might slip through the cracks of your racks. This works equally well in the average bathroom for soaps, hand towels, lotions and shampoos. Do it yourselfers and home remodelers can also take advantage of towel racks for the unending amount of tools and hardware needed to keep a home in tip-top shape.

This would be an excellent time to bring up the ultimate in comfort for those living in the less temperate zones – the heated towel rack. You don’t have to stay in a five-star hotel or upscale bed and breakfast to enjoy this decadently luxurious item – in fact, it could be considered a must for areas that truly experience the four seasons to their maximum (and Alaska). Whether mounted on the wall or a separate floor standing unit, the ability to wrap yourself in a warm, fluffy towel on a chilly morning is an experience you will never forget… well at least not until you get the chance to appreciate it again tomorrow morning! If space is a consideration, choose a wall-mounted unit. They are very easy to install and run continuously, thanks to a built-in thermostat which operates the unit at about the same cost as a light bulb, and prevents any possibility of overheating.

Towel racks come in all shapes and sizes, which means they can fit into a nook, a closet, a spare wall, pretty much anywhere you need something stored attractively. Internet shopping provides the best selection!

Author Jennifer Akre is an owner of a wide variety of online specialty shops including that offer both items and information on how you can easily furnish and decorate your space.

Towel Racks Offer Endless Possibilities is a post from: Home Design Ideas