When you buy a bathroom accessories set – towel rail, robe hook, toilet roll holder, soap dish, tumbler, the lot – it’s tempting to just start drilling. But where and how you fix them makes a huge difference to how the room looks and how comfortable it feels to use.
Here’s a simple, human-friendly guide to installing bathroom accessories sets in a way that’s both practical and aesthetically pleasing.
1. Start With a Plan, Not a Drill
Before you touch a wall:
Lay everything out on the floor or a worktop so you can see the full set.
Stand in the doorway and look at your bathroom as a whole. Where do your eyes naturally go? That’s where you want the neatest, most balanced layout.
Think in “zones”:
Basin zone (soap dish, tumbler, towel ring)
Shower/bath zone (robe hooks, towel rail, shower basket)
Toilet zone (toilet roll holder, spare roll holder, small shelf)
Planning in zones keeps everything looking intentional rather than randomly scattered.
2. Follow Comfortable Heights (And Adjust to Real Life)
Standard guidelines are a great starting point, but always tweak them for the people actually using the bathroom.
Rough height ideas (from finished floor level):
Towel rail / towel ring: 110–120 cm – easy to grab without stretching.
Toilet roll holder: 60–70 cm and just in front of the seat line, not behind you.
Robe hooks: 170–180 cm, or lower for kids’ bathrooms.
Small shelves by the basin: Around 100–110 cm, just above the tap line.
Now do the “human test”:
Sit on the toilet – can you reach the holder comfortably?
Stand at the basin – can you reach the hand towel without dripping water everywhere?
If not, adjust your markings before you drill.
3. Keep Things Symmetrical (But Not Boring)
A big part of making accessories look good is visual balance.
Centre where it makes sense:
Towel ring centred with the basin.
Shelf centred over the washstand.
Offset with purpose:
Toilet roll holder slightly forward of the pan, not perfectly centred behind your hip.
Robe hooks on the back of the door, spaced evenly across the top third.
Use a spirit level for everything. Even small accessories look “wrong” when they’re slightly crooked.
4. Stay Close – But Not Too Close
Accessories should feel naturally to hand, not miles away. General rule:
Within one arm’s reach of where you use them.
Not so close they get splashed constantly.
Examples:
Hand towel ring: beside or just in front of the basin, not across the room.
Toilet roll holder: near the front edge of the toilet, not behind your shoulder.
Shower basket or shelf: where you can reach shampoo without stretching, but not directly in the heaviest water flow so bottles don’t sit in a puddle.
5. Mark, Step Back, Then Commit
Before drilling:
Hold the accessory in place where you think it should go.
Lightly mark the top edge and screw holes with a pencil.
Step back to the doorway and look at the wall as a whole.
Check:
Does it line up with other accessories?
Does anything look too high, too low, or too “crowded”?
Don’t rush this step – two extra minutes of checking saves you from living with a wonky towel rail for years.
6. Drill Smart, Especially on Tiles
If you’re fixing into tiles:
Stick a small piece of masking tape where you’ll drill – it helps stop the drill bit slipping.
Use the correct masonry bit and start slowly.
Avoid drilling too close to tile edges or corners to reduce the risk of cracks.
Always use the wall plugs provided, or good-quality ones matched to your wall type (plasterboard, brick, etc.). Solid fixation is part of the “premium” feeling.
7. Group Accessories for a Cohesive Look
Matching accessories look best when they feel like a “set”, not seven separate decisions.
Pair a towel ring, soap dispenser and tumbler holder neatly around the basin area.
Near the shower, keep the shower basket, robe hooks, and towel rail in a visually connected cluster rather than scattered across three walls.
Think of it like styling a shelf – groups look more deliberate than isolated pieces.
8. Respect Lines in Your Bathroom
Use the existing lines in your bathroom to guide where you place things:
Align the bottom of the towel rail with the top of the vanity or the bottom of a mirror.
Match the height of robe hooks to the top of the door frame or a tile line.
When accessories follow these visual lines, the whole room looks calmer and more “designed”.
9. Don’t Overcrowd the Space
Just because your set has eight pieces doesn’t mean you must use all eight in a tiny room.
In a small bathroom, choose the essentials: one towel rail or ring, a toilet roll holder, maybe a single hook.
In a larger family bathroom, you can spread items out more comfortably without cluttering.
Empty wall space is not the enemy – it actually makes your accessories stand out more.
10. Final Touch: Style With Real Life in Mind
Once everything is fixed:
Hang proper towels, not old rags – it completely changes the look.
Avoid overloading hooks and rails; one or two neatly hung towels always look better than a pile.
Keep items like soap, toothbrushes and handwash in the holders you’ve installed – it reinforces the neat, organised look you planned for.
You’ll know you’ve done it right when the bathroom feels intuitive: everything is where you expect it to be, and nothing looks out of place.
In a Nutshell
Installing bathroom accessories sets aesthetically is all about blending comfort, practicality, and visual balance. Plan your layout, follow natural heights, respect the lines of your room, and take a moment to step back before you drill. With a bit of care, those small pieces – towel rails, hooks, holders and shelves – can make your bathroom feel calmer, smarter and far more enjoyable to use every day.
