As modern bathroom design focuses on neutral palettes, monochromes and daring combinations of materials, the visual influence of bathroom accessories and linens rises. As these elements are easy to re-imagine and replace, the flexibility of the design itself allows you to create several looks for one room, and so that it is easy to transition between them.
This year, the onus is still on creating an impression of coziness and a sense of luxury in the bathroom. This is achieved both through the quality and the design of the towels themselves, but also through the way they are presented as the trend of open storage continues.
Spa-inspired towels
Having plenty of large, soft, fluffy towels close at hand is essential to creating the relaxing atmosphere of a spa at home. And since no one can get enough of that snug feeling, this trend looks like it is here to stay. While the focus is on quality and functionality rather than appearance, the go-to colors are white, beige and occasionally gray. Wild patterns and often any patterns at all are avoided, so that the towels themselves do not disturb the clean simplicity and tranquility that is crucial to producing the visual effects of a spa-inspired room.
Hammam Turkish towels
One towel trend that is not going anywhere is the widespread appreciation of Turkish bath (hammam) towels. These towels are thinner, yet they have long cotton fibers that are incredibly absorbent. Turkish bath towels take very little time to dry, which prevents the mildewy smell that often occurs with regular towels. They are perfect for traveling as they take up less space than a regular towel, while being versatile in their use. A hammam towel can serve as a blanket, a beach towel or even a long scarf. Not only are they durable and practical, but also stylish and charming. The elegance of their traditional design can easily fit into most designs, whether we are talking vintage or modern minimalist bathroom design.
Bold accent towels
The well-defined, unobtrusive look of modern bathroom design allows for some additional playfulness when it comes to towels. This has inspired a number of towel design ideas that are bold in both pattern and presentation. Building up on the color scheme of the overall design, accent pieces break up the dreaded monotony that is often one of the dangers of trying to get all the design elements to match. Geometric patterns are a popular, classic choice for an accent towel, but there is also a demand for florals, fruit patterns and intricately embroidered or even bejeweled accent pieces.
The bottom line with these bold towels is to remember that they are accent pieces and that they need to be used carefully, following the rules of harmony and symmetry. They look best in combination with their monochrome counterparts, whether they are stored on shelves, in baskets or on towel racks and hooks.

Open storage and presentation
Open storage emphasizes the effect of details on bathroom design. So it happens that the choice of accessories such as towels becomes not only a matter of functionality, but increasingly a matter of esthetics as well. This is also paired with different shelve designs which come in more flavors than just horizontal shelving– they can be X shaped, or even round (like wicker basket shelves for example).
This is one of the reasons spa-inspired towels are so popular. Their often uniform and clean look becomes a building block of spa-inspired design as they can be stored in a variety of ways and still maintain a sense of simplicity and order. They can be kept in wicker baskets, on vanity shelves, or rolled up neatly and stacked in geometric shapes. They allow the designer or owner to freshen up the appearance of the bathroom in no time when they feel like it.
Open storage also creates opportunities for lovely combinations of different colors and sizes. Playful contrasts between light and dark colors, patterns and monochromes liven up the room. One of the most successful combinations seen on towel racks across the Internet includes dark larger towels, contrasted with a classic white towel, topped with a patterned hand towel. In any case, the presentation of towels and their design go hand in hand, so if you are designing a modern bathroom, remember to keep both factors in mind.