Think of how changing your shoes, hair, makeup or jewellery can change the mood of an outfit. Bathroom accessories are just as fun to mix and match. Every bathroom has a mix of the same pieces—toilet, sink, shower, tub—and accessories are where you can make your mark. (Especially if you're renting, or have zero plans to renovate.)
“Little accents of playfulness draw the eye and show your personality,” says Lindsay Soomet, designer and owner of Sooka Studio in Hamilton, Ont. “Start by choosing one item you love, whether it’s a shower curtain or cute bath mat, art or a towel, and draw from that.”
For basics like bathroom hardware and storage containers, classic shapes and finishes will help your more playful picks pop, but you don’t have to stick to any old-fashioned design rules. “Mix metals, materials, textures, patterns, metals,” says Soomet. “These bring layers and depth.”
Turkish cotton absorbs water quickly thanks to its lightweight texture. These gorgeous hand towels—perfect for a powder room—are made with organic cotton in 10 colours (including gray, shown here). They wear well, getting softer with wash.
Teak is naturally water-resistant, which is why it's often used on bathroom accessories. We love the slanted waterfall design of this soap dish, which allows the suds to drain out so you don't get that icky soapy scum at the bottom.
These bestselling storage containers are ideal for corralling smaller items. They're perfect for makeup, nail and skincare-lovers.
Cute toilet brush aren’t words I’d usually connect, but every bathroom needs one, so why not one shaped like a cherry?
Natural fibres add warmth to a space in a simple way. This seagrass cover holds a standard rectangular tissue box and is a small detail that can help tie a theme together.
We love this marble-patterned toothbrush holder with bamboo dividers because it has enough space for wider-bottomed electric toothbrushes (signed, a parent with multiple electric toothbrushes in varying sizes).
For people who take their baths seriously, this ultimate bathtub tray has a spot for everything and expands to fit most tubs. There’s a rest for your tablet or book, a spot for your drink(s) of choice, a safe slot to keep electronics dry.
Would this not be the best message to wake up to? Available in five colours, including a variety of pinks, so we can all manifest self-confidence in the morning. (Find more of our favourite bath mats.)
This popular stainless steel set comes with a handy double towel bar, hand towel and toilet paper bars and two wall hooks, in chrome, nickel and oil-rubbed bronze finishes (the latter shown here). The sleek, cylindrical style will blend into any bathroom.
Keep your must-haves close at hand in these counter-worthy containers. We like the classic shape and style, as well as the fact that the lids are incredibly easy to open. They're also relatively shatterproof in case they take a tumble off your vanity.
Strong and made from rust-proof alloy steel, these popular wire shelves hold up to 40 pounds. They attach with adhesive to most tile materials and come in four finishes.
Enhance that showering-at-the-spa feeling with clear, oversized pump dispensers for your shampoo, conditioner and body wash. They hold a large amount so you’ll have to refill less often. When you do, a handy funnel and chalk labels are included.
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Alicia Cox Thomson has worked for 20 years as an editor, writer and content producer for some of Canada's biggest lifestyle brands. Today, she writes about culture, business and the arts for Chatelaine, the Globe and Mail and more. She also speaks about books as a columnist for CBC Radio's The Next Chapter.
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