Kitchen towels are an essential part of any well-equipped kitchen. However, finding creative ways to store and hang kitchen towels can be a challenge. With a bit of clever thinking and DIY spirit, you can come up with innovative solutions to keep your towels organized, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing. This comprehensive guide covers creative options for hanging kitchen towels effectively.
Why Proper Towel Storage Matters
Having designated homes for your kitchen towels serves several important purposes:
- Accessibility – When cooking or cleaning, you need towels within easy reach near the sink, stove, and prep areas. Storing them close by means you waste less time searching around for them.
- Organization – Neat, orderly towel storage prevents a jumbled mess of towels piling up haphazardly. It also helps you rotate and laundry towels more efficiently.
- Hygiene – Storing used towels properly allows them to dry out between uses, preventing bacterial growth. It also keeps countertop surfaces tidier.
- Aesthetics – Hanging towels attractively enhances your kitchen’s visual appeal. It looks far better than balled up or strewn about towels.
Taking the time to find creative towel hanging solutions pays off with a more functional, tidy, and stylish kitchen space.
Hanging Towels from Drawer Pulls
Installing hooks on the bottom edge of kitchen cabinet drawer pulls or knobs provides a handy spot to hang towels within arm’s reach. You can hang up to two towels per handle.
Benefits
- Takes advantage of existing cabinet hardware.
- Keeps towels off countertops but still readily accessible.
- Allows you to hang towels anywhere cabinets are situated.
- Towels don’t take up extra wall space.
Tips
- Measure first to find the right hook size for your handles.
- Adhesive hooks allow for easy installation and removal.
- Stagger the towel placement for easier access to handles.
- Prioritize high-use area cabinets like near the stove or sink.
Drawer Pull Hook Options
- Adhesive metal hooks
- Magnetic hooks
- Large size cup hooks
- Over-the-cabinet hooks
Hanging towels from kitchen drawer pulls is an easy and convenient storage solution. Just ensure the hooks adequately fit your handles and do not interfere with opening drawers.
Mounted Wall Towel Racks
Wall-mounted towel racks, bars, and tracks provide organized visual storage and allow for quickly grabbing towels when needed. This approach keeps towels up and off countertops but still easily accessible.
Benefits
- Keeps towels neatly displayed and easy to grab.
- Get towels completely out of the way.
- Available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, materials, and colors.
- Permanent installation but racks are removable.
Placement Tips
- Install near sinks, stoves, and other high-use areas.
- Allow proper clearance from appliances and fixtures.
- Place out of reach of children to prevent grabbing.
- Use studs or anchors for secure mounting on drywall.
Types of Wall-Mounted Racks
- Towel bars – Simple, often metal, horizontal bars. May hold 2-4 towels.
- Towel ladders – Ladder-like racks that hang down for rolling towels.
- Towel tracks – Horizontal tracks that allow towels to slide along.
- Tiered towel racks – Stacked shelves or perforated metal for layered towel placement.
- Tree racks – Towel “branches” extending out from a mounted base.
- Cabinet door racks – Racks that mount onto cabinet doors.
Wall-mounted racks keep towels organized while freeing up counter space. Choose racks that complement your kitchen’s existing style.
Hanging Towels from Cabinet Doors
Hanging towels from the underside of wall-mounted cabinet doors can create quick-access towel storage exactly where you need it. The doors stay completely functional.
Benefits
- Uses existing cabinetry for hanging towels.
- Provides personalized positioning of towels.
- Allows continued full use of cabinet doors and contents.
- Towels remain hidden away when doors are closed.
Tips for Hanging
- Measure cabinet doors to find appropriate over-door hooks.
- Only hang lightweight towels to avoid straining hinges.
- Stagger multiple towels across the door width.
- Check positioning with doors fully opened and closed.
Creative Hanging Options
- Hooks attached along the door’s bottom edge.
- Hanging wire baskets installed underneath the doors.
- Mesh hanging buckets which attach onto the doors.
- Rail-mounted racks that sit below the cabinet doors.
Hanging towels from cabinet doors creates handy, out of sight storage while keeping cabinets fully usable. Just ensure whatever hanging method you use does not hinder opening and closing the doors.
Unconventional Hanging Locations
Beyond typical towel fixture areas, consider utilizing other functional kitchen spaces for hanging towel storage:
- Side of kitchen island – Use vertical bar installments or hooks along the side of an exposed island. Just ensure there is adequate clearance.
- Bottom of upper cabinets – Mounted racks, hooks, or rails along the underside of wall-mounted upper cabinets. Use space efficiently since you cannot utilize this area for storage.
- Inside cabinet doors – Small over-the-door hooks to hang a towel or two on the backside of cabinet doors while closed. Keeps towels fully hidden but nearby.
- Over open shelving – Towel bars mounted horizontally above open shelving units and display cabinets provide handy overhead hanging.
- On wall-mounted pot racks – Many pot racks have extra hanging pegs or room underneath to hang rolled up or folded towels.
- Broom and utility closets – Use over-door hooks, racks, and hangers in broom closets to neatly store towels until needed again.
Get creative and identify underutilized or empty vertical spaces in your kitchen layout to maximize smart towel hanging real estate. Just double check measurements and positioning.
DIY Hanging Solutions
With a little imagination and DIY spirit, you can create your own unique towel hanging solutions:
Ladder Towel Rack
Materials needed:
- Wooden dowel rods
- Wood board for base
- Wood screws
- Sandpaper
- Wood glue
- Stain/paint (optional)
Instructions:
- Cut two equal size dowels for sides and several smaller dowels for rungs.
- Sand and stain/paint wood pieces if desired.
- Space and glue rung dowels between side dowels. Allow to fully dry.
- Glue and screw side dowel assembly onto mounted baseboard.
- Hang lightweight towels from each rung.
Pipe Towel Rack
Materials needed:
- 1/2″ or 3/4” threaded piping
- Threaded flanges for mounting
- Pipe joints and elbows
- Pipe clamps or straps (for towels)
- PVC primer & cement
Instructions:
- Plan out desired shape and cut pipe pieces to size.
- Prime and cement pieces together. Allow full drying time.
- Add pipe straps or fashion DIY towel hangers.
- Mount securely on wall with flanges.
- Drape towels over straps or hangers.
Pallet Wood Towel Rack
Materials needed:
- 1-2 wooden pallets
- Saw for cutting boards
- Sandpaper
- Wood finish (stain, paint, etc.)
- Wood glue
- Screws or nails
Instructions:
- Break down pallets into boards. Cut boards to desired sizes.
- Sand boards until smooth. Apply chosen finish; let dry.
- Arrange boards and glue/screw together into rack shape.
- Mount on wall with screws through backboards.
- Hang towels on rack rungs or down vertically.
The options are endless when creating DIY towel racks using materials like wood, pipe, plumbing parts, ladders, and more. Customize to perfectly suit your kitchen’s style.
Towel Hanging Etiquette & Care
Once you’ve creatively addressed the towel storage situation in your kitchen, be sure to follow best practices on using, handling, and cleaning them:
- Allow dish towels to fully dry out before reusing to prevent bacterial growth. Rotate usage between multiple towels.
- Wash dish towels frequently using hot water and sanitize cycles. Replace any with excessive stains, holes, or fraying.
- Fold used towels neatly or roll/bundle them up. Avoid leaving them strewn about.
- Use designated hand towels for drying hands and cleaning spills. Never use dish towels for this purpose.
- For a uniform look, hang the same color towels together or coordinate with kitchen decor.
- Avoid overloading racks and hooks to prevent excessive strain on hardware.
- Check for towels accidentally left on appliance surfaces before use to prevent fire hazards.
Proper towel storage paired with good towel usage hygiene helps keep your kitchen safe and looking its best. Coordinate your towels with the rest of the room’s style.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hanging Kitchen Towels
How many towel racks should you have in a kitchen?
Most kitchens benefit from 2-3 towel racks stationed in key areas like near the stove, sink, and prep spaces. Space them adequately apart for functionality. Too many racks can create clutter.
Where should you hang towels in a small kitchen?
In small kitchens, install towel hanging solutions on walls, cabinet doors, or shelving units near where towels get used most. Multi-purpose racks add storage without taking up counter space. Opt for sleek, space-saving racks.
What is the most convenient place to hang kitchen towels?
The most convenient towel rack placement is wherever you most frequently need to access and use towels. This includes beside the stove and sink. Also hang towels wherever you tend to prepare and plate foods.
Should you hang tea towels to dry?
It is best practice to hang up tea towels to fully dry after use before putting them away again. Allowing moisture to air dry helps prevent bacterial growth. Rotate regularly used towels.
How do you hang a towel attractively?
For attractive towel hanging, choose stylish racks and coordinated solid or patterned towels. Fold or roll towels neatly into consistent sizes. Avoid bunching towels. Spread them out on racks evenly and pull taut.
Final Thoughts on Hanging Kitchen Towels
Creative kitchen towel storage is about both function and aesthetics. Use a combination of mounted racks, hooks, and unconventional hanging spots to keep towels readily available where needed, without cluttering up counter space. Coordinate with your kitchen’s existing style by choosing racks and towels in colors and materials that complement the rest of the room. DIY racks allow for completely custom looks. Proper towel handling and cleaning will also keep your kitchen looking neatly maintained. With some simple planning and clever solutions, it is easy to create a kitchen that is prepared for any spills and messes, while still looking organized and put together.