Often added in at the last minute, the toilet roll holder is just as important to locate correctly as the towel rail and other fittings, possibly more so. While your choice of toilet roll holder is unlikely to draw crowds, it's a good idea to think of it as another part of the overall design of your bathroom. A small touch, perhaps, but fine details can make a substantial difference to the look of your bathroom. There are plenty of different toilet roll holder designs to choose from, including two main styles of toilet roll holder.
Horizontal toilet roll holders
The horizontal toilet roll holder is the most common. These often incorporate a retractable bar that is held by two brackets, mounted to the wall. When the roll is finished, you retract the bar and load on a new one, then insert the bar back into the sockets on either side. Other variations on this theme allow you to lift the whole bar out of the brackets to replace the roll. Some horizontal holders also include a lifting cover which hides the roll, and provides a hard edge to tear against. This can be of benefit in areas where the paper is likely to get splashed, as it is highly absorbent.
Vertical toilet roll holders
The other styles hold the paper vertically, and can either be wall mounted and hold a single roll, or be freestanding on the floor and hold several at once. This latter type needs to have a thick base so that the paper is kept off the ground, where it might otherwise soak up water.
Style and position
Roll holders can be made of a wide range of materials and come in lots of different colours, so matching with your fittings and look is quite easy. Make sure that you have a good think about where you're going to place the toilet roll holder. Ideally, it should be positioned within arms' reach at about waist height, in front of where you sit. Nobody likes having to stretch and contort to reach for toilet paper!
