Are you sick and tired of coming out of the tub or shower shivering? Maybe you need to add an electric towel rail to your bathroom.

Before we go into the pros and cons of having a towel radiator, did you ever wonder where these little pieces of heating genius came from? Well, the world was first introduced to the towel warmer in the 1920s by way of the bath radiator and rapidly faded out of people minds once the Depression hit. The idea was brought back to life in the 1990s and with some revamping and much advancement in technology, that bath radiator also has the ability to be a towel radiator. Adding an electric towel warmer to your bathroom will not heat up the entire room but it will warm up your towels, which will in turn surround you in an abundance of warmth when you wrap yourself in one.

There are plenty of towel heating sources to choose from. An electric towel warmer rail is available as are plug-in portables or a water-warmed (also known as hydronic) heated towel bar. What is the difference? Self-contained electric rail warmers (which are filled with oil) operate at a low amount of electricity, which makes them a safe, sound and inexpensive way to go. Plug-in towel warmers come in a variety of structures. They can either be mounted on the wall, sit comfortably in a corner or on a bathroom shelf, or stand alone on the floor. If your home is heated by water, a hydronic towel warmer is your best bet. Due to this particular towel warmer’s need to be hooked up to your home plumbing, it is limited to the wall or floor. Nevertheless, one of the great things about using electric towel warmers is that some of them come with timers. This means that before you step into the shower or tub, you can place your towel on the rack, set the timer to however long it takes you to bathe. However, do not just limit this heating towel tool to your bathroom, as it is multipurpose.

Heated towel rails are not only great for your bathroom but your kitchen as well. It can keep your kitchen washcloths and dish towels dry for the time you use them. Not to mention it is a good idea for spas and gyms as you can place a towel heater by an indoor pool, sauna, or the showers for that warm and cozy feeling. In addition, putting one in your basement can minimize mildew, moisture, and humidity while adding a small amount of warmth. They are also terrific for those cold winter nights when you need to warm your blankets or if your clothes have been touched by the snow.

Therefore, if being wrapped up in the comfort of a freshly warmed towel (as well as a warm blanket or clothing) sounds like a good idea, an electric towel rail would be a practical, affordable and well-purposed addition to your home.

If you are looking for a home improvement project that will not only add style and décor to your bathroom, but also cozy warmth, then you might want to consider adding towel radiators. These handy devices not only serve the basic purpose of providing you with an attractive  towel bars, but they also help to dry wet towels that are placed on them, making them warm and dry. The heat produced by a towel radiator will also help to warm the bathroom itself, especially in the case of a small bathroom. There is probably nothing nicer on a cold winter morning than toasty warm towels, heated up on your own electric towel warmer. Although these towel radiators feel like a luxury item, they are in fact easy to install, simple to maintain, and relatively inexpensive.

Heated towel radiators come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and they can be made out of a variety of different materials, such as stainless steel, chrome, brass or aluminum. They also vary in regards to how they are made, and include thermal fluid, water based and electric towel radiators. To protect the longevity of your towel warmer, you’ll want to follow whatever recommendations your model gives for using a corrosion inhibitor.

When choosing a towel radiator for your bathroom, you’ll want to choose one that complements your overall decorating style. You’ll find you can select between traditional models as well as sleek contemporary designs. Many heated towel radiators come in decorator designs, with eye-catching and striking visual features. You’ll also want to shop for one that is energy efficient, and you can even find models that include thermostatic options so that you can control the level of heat, although most models operate at a predetermined temperature that is automatically set.

Although the heated towel radiator models that connect directly into your hot water heating system might be something that you’d prefer having somebody else install, the electric models are quite easy for the average do-it-yourselfer to handle, especially if you choose a plug-in model. The electric self-contained models are generally oil-filled, and are safe and economical to operate because they use low wattage heating elements. If you do choose a model that connects into the overall hot water heating system, you’ll have the assurance of knowing whenever the house is being heated, so are your towels.

When installing an electric towel radiator, you will want to be sure to place it in an area that is safe. You would not want to install one in any location where there is a chance it might become immersed in water, or receive anything more than just an occasional water splash. You should also make sure that an electric towel radiator is connected to a GFI-protected circuit. However, this shouldn’t be a problem, because GFI circuits are usually required by code in bathrooms.

Towel radiators are safe around children, and are inexpensive to operate on a daily basis. They can generally dry a towel overnight, so that when you wake up in the morning to take your shower, you can dry yourself with a cozy warm towel.

A heated towel radiator or towel rail is the ultimate luxury bathroom or pool area accessory that also serves a practical purpose. Particularly popular in Europe and among European Americans, heated towel radiators do exactly what their name suggests: They radiate heat and are specifically designed to hold bath towels and bathrobes, ensuring that they are warm and dry after a shower, bath or swim.

Towel radiators exist in numerous styles, shapes, sizes, and colors, ensuring that there will be an appropriate model for every room of every home. Certain models can blend into the surrounding décor, with the appearance of wall panels, while others can provide accent design features in and of themselves. For a modern twist on this old idea, consider a chrome towel radiator, appropriate for bathrooms that feature other chrome or bright metal appliances and fixtures. For a more subdued or traditional look, select a model that matches the color and style of bathroom decorative features, such as picture frames or graphic designs.

Aside from its obvious decorative potential, and its primary purpose of heating towels, a heated towel radiator can also be a practical addition to a bathroom or to any other room that may require an additional heat source during cold months. In a bedroom such a radiator could serve to heat blankets before bedtime or clothes for dressing in the morning, or it could simply be an attractive and innovative space heater that is relatively energy efficient and functions silently. With multiple designs that are either mounted on the wall or floor, or that are portable, installation is simple and can occur virtually anywhere, so not to be an obstruction.

Depending on how you choose to heat your home, you may choose between a hydronic model, which functions with a closed circuit of hot water, similar to traditional radiator heaters, and an electric towel radiator model, which is far more convenient for portable models and minimal installation requirements. Concerned about the additional consumption of energy? The website runtalnorthamerica.com states that a large towel radiator uses half the energy of a good hair dryer, an appliance used daily in many households.

One final practical advantage to this comfort-providing appliance is that it maintains the freshness of bath towels between washings by ensuring that they dry quickly. It also helps to prevent the growth of mold or mildew that can so often occur in rooms with high moisture levels, such as bath or shower rooms.

Imagine an appliance that is stylish and complements the decor of the room, while providing warmth and added comfort during the cold months. Imagine stepping out of a shower or bath into the cold surrounding air, but then quickly being wrapped in the dry and comforting embrace of a towel that has been heating while you bathed. This scenario is now a possibility, thanks to the innovation of the functional, energy-efficient, and luxurious towel radiator.

Have you ever visited a home improvement store and passed a bathroom accessory section that included heated towel rails? This new luxury bathroom trend, which is particularly popular among Europeans, is rapidly becoming a popular addition to American homes. You may ask why; you may argue that bathroom heated towel rails are an unnecessary luxury in today’s challenging economy, where most people are struggling to meet their basic expense bills. It is true that they are a luxury, but they need not serve only as a means of providing warm, dry towels after a shower. In fact, a heated towel rail may prove to be an invaluable addition to your home.

Electric heated towel rails, or radiators, can essentially be viewed as space heaters that serve multiple functions. Their principle is simple. They provide surfaces that are heated and that also radiate heat, in countless different styles, designs, and colors, on which towels can be placed or hung, in order to ensure that they are warm, dry, and cozy after a shower, bath or swim. To serve this main purpose, they would logically be installed or placed in the bathroom or pool area, and homeowners that experience cold evenings or entire seasons will attest to the added sense of comfort that such an appliance provides.

Due to its capacity to radiate heat however, the usefulness of an electric heated towel rail does not need to be limited to the function that its name implies, or to just one room in the home. Consider using a towel radiator as an additional space heater in a bedroom or sitting room. It provides quiet and consistent heating properties, and is safe enough to drape with blankets or clothes when you wish to have an added layer of warmth on cold evenings or chilly mornings. Used as a space heater in the kitchen, it could be used to hang dish towels and cloths, ensuring that they dry efficiently and remain fresh between uses.

Used to heat towels in the bathroom or kitchen, electric heated towel rails do not only ensure that they are warm and dry for each use. The rapid drying properties of such a rail will also help to prevent the formation of mold or mildew, a common problem with damp and steamy areas and with towels that are used frequently and may not be given the opportunity to dry completely. It will also keep the towels fresh and odor-free between washings.

Due to their increasing popularity, towel heaters and radiators are offered in multiple sizes, shapes and designs, and colors. This variety of selection ensures that you will be able to find a towel that perfectly matches the existing decor of your home. Accent colors, designs, and styles with a modern twist, such as a chrome heated towel rail, can even provide additional decoration, and once again shows off their great versatility within the home.

It is true that heated towel rails are a great luxury addition to a home, but with their multiple functions and applications, you may begin to wonder why you didn’t think of having one in your home before now.

An essential part of bathroom design is the lighting and fixtures it boasts. Installing bathroom lights are a major part of redesign work and can make all the difference in the look and feel of the room. This article will offer tips on installing bathroom lighting fixtures to best accommodate the look and feel you are aiming for.

Bathroom lighting is available in various shapes and types. Choosing the best type to work with your bathroom design requires you to know the theme you are aiming for intimately. Designs can be based on specific purposes, for instance, if your bathroom is mainly used for grooming, then installing bright lights that illuminate your face and body is a good choice. However, if the main purpose of your bathroom is for relaxation, then you should consider installing subtle bathroom light fixtures that provide ambience. Installing accent lights will also help to highlight design features and enhance the aesthetics of the room.

Regardless of the capacity in which you will use your bathroom, every bathroom must be adequately illuminated. An area of special importance is the vanity area and near mirrors. The best options here are using bathroom vanity lights or bathroom wall lights. The size of your bathroom will dictate the amount of lighting required to illuminate the room properly. The size of your lighting should coincide with the size of your vanity or mirror, which will in turn have the effect of providing just the right amount of bathroom lighting needed. For bathroom accent lights, try installing some small lights in corners or consider track lighting.

However, it is important to understand that over illumination should be avoided. You want to avoid potential glare and you can accomplish this by installing dimmer switches that controls the lights. This also makes bathroom lighting more versatile, so you can have enough lighting for grooming or as little lighting as possible for relaxation.

Of course, all bathroom lighting fixtures come in different shapes, shades and designs. You can instantly change the look of your bathroom by changing your lighting fixtures. Sconces and wrought iron are good for that cozy, rustic feel and chrome and sharp angles are great for a modern look. Whatever your design choices, you can be sure that there are bathroom lights to suit your particular taste.

Installing bathroom lighting can be a tricky issue if you do not have previous experience. If you plan to do the installation yourself, be sure to read the manuals that come with the lighting fixtures. It is important to cut all power to the bathroom before disconnecting and/or reconnecting any electrical fixtures. Once your installation is complete, do not restore power to the bathroom until all wires are connected or capped off. If your lights do not work after power is restored, be sure to go systematically through the installation again, to find any crossed wiring that may have occurred. Overall, be careful!

The easiest and best change you can make to the design of your bathroom is installing new bathroom lights. Visit online retailers or local hardware stores to find the best deals available.