We’ve recently completed a major renovation of our home and now we’re slowly decorating as we go along. We’re adding all those little bits that turn a house in to a home. One of the things I’ve needed desperately for a while is a towel rail in our small en-suite bathroom.
Having a black and white bathroom, I wanted to soften it with a bit of copper. I couldn’t find a small enough towel rail in copper so I was reconsidering when I spotted the Ikea Hjalmaren towel rail and knew with a bit of a hack, it could be exactly what I wanted. And besides, who doesn’t love a good Ikea hack?
I especially liked the Ikea Hjalmaren towel rail because you can easily hang two towels without having two separate rails. For our small bathroom, that was exactly what we needed. Also, as one part of the rail is further out than the other, the towels don’t touch so don’t end up wetting each other. While I am all about adding style touches to my home, I always try and go for style that is practical too.
This Ikea towel rail hack is a simple DIY so I wasn’t sure I should share it but I decided to as it’s an easy and very inexpensive way to get yourself a minimal copper towel rail. And most of all, it’s so perfect for a small bathroom.
Materials:
Ikea Hjalmaren towel rail
copper spray paint (UK readers find it here)*
Tools to fix the towel rail to the wall
I’ve used the Ikea Hjalmaren towel rail that comes in black however I removed the white panel at the back and just kept the metal rails. You’ll know what I mean once you take a look at it. I sprayed the rail with copper spray paint, flipped it around and screwed it to the wall.
*Note: I tried a few copper spray paints and finally settled on this one as the colour wasn’t orangey copper. Its kind of a cross between a dark rose gold and a light copper which is far nicer than orange copper. If you want the same, US readers can find it here and UK readers here.
Do you love a bit of copper too? If you do, why not give this easy Ikea towel rail hack a go!
Fancy some more Ikea hacks? Here’s a quick, easy and handy Ikea hack to make for under a fiver. And here’s some DIY hanging bedside lamps made with the help of £1.50 ikea coasters.
So so simple and clever, I love your DIY hacks. That part about the towels not wetting each other is key too, so this would be a great addition to any bathroom. Yours looks fab x
Thank you! The towels not wetting each other is a huge bugbear of Richards. And we didn’t have space for two towel rails so it took us forever to find a solution. But should have checked Ikea sooner – they always have such clever ideas. xx
Love the copper with the monochrome and as you know I adore your home and style, it’s like being on a movie set, please let me come live with you guys, ha! Love this and yes to towels not wetting each other. Beauty with practicality x
Thank you – you are always so complimentary about out home – thank you so much. Come, move in with me – all four of you – imagine that! ?
Nomita you’re SO CLEVER!! You know I’m stealing all your ideas when I renovate my house later this year, right??? 😉 xx
Thanks Jax. Go right ahead and if you need any help, you know where to find me. Good luck with the renovations 🙂
hi, is the hjalmaren towel rail only sold in the UK?
Hi Isabel – I had found the Hjalmaren range in the US too but I just looked again and seen that the range is available but not that specific towel rack. Hopefully it will come soon. It is available in many of Ikea’s European stores – not sure where you are from?
Love the simplicity of your bathroom! Stunning photos and a fab ideas as always x
Thank you lovely – I am obsessed with monochrome at the moment xx
Such a good hack! I immediately went to ikeas page to look for the it and it looks like its not available in the US as of yet.
Thank you. And oh no, thats a shame. I had checked that the Hjalmaren range was available in the US but I took a look and you’re right. The range is available but not that specific towel rail. Hopefully it will come soon.
Why is this a hack? I can’t figure out what was done to it other than spray painting it in a different color
I’m sorry you don’t like it.
Love it! So clever…….Thanks so much for sharing it! No Ikea Hack is too small to share.
Thank you! I love my ikea hacks so there will be more coming soon I’m sure.
Love it! I need to know where you got that faucet though would you share your source?
Thanks!!
Hi Ophelia – of course I don’t mind sharing. I bought it at a shop in London. Where are you based? However I searched high and low, far and wide for black bathroom fittings. I found one brand but the designs weren’t nice and it was frightfully expensive. So I bought a regular chrome shower I liked and I had everything sprayed black. I’ve done the same with the sink taps etc. feel free to drop me an email if you need more info. My email address is on the ‘work with me’ page. Hope this helps!
Thanks! I was just visiting London in February! I am in the US…..I have had a really difficult time as well. You’ve had luck with spray painting though? It’s worth a shot! I do love the profile of the shower and actually wouldn’t mind it in chrome either! Do you know the brand of the fixture?
I didn’t spray paint myself, the bathroom shop did it for me and they opened every bit of the shower and sprayed all the parts. It all still looks fine. Now to answer your question on which brand it was – I have no clue! We did a massive house renovation from 2015-2016 and so it was part of that. However I will have a root around and see if I can find the invoice which will list the brand.
Hi. You’re in luck – I found the invoice and the brand is crosswater. Not sure it’s available in the US though. Anyway here is the link to the site and the shower we have: https://www.crosswater.co.uk/product/showering-shower-valves-valve-collections-belgravia-exposed/belgravia-thermostatic-shower-valve-bel-exp-shower/
Hope you fin it 🙂
I love your decors! I will have to find the same rail!
Thank you. Unfortunately Ikea told me it’s sold out in USA but still available in Europe. Hope you find it 🙂
So disappointed that it has been discontinued, but found one in “As Is!” Yay
Hi Gail – so glad you found it. I’ve also spotted some on Amazon but that was a little while ago.
I want this so badly but I can’t find it on Australian Ikea! Such a shame because now I’ve seen it I won’t get it out of my head.
Oh no, thats such a shame. It may be sold out in Aus as I know it is in Ikea US. Have you tried amazon or ebay? One of my readers found it on amazon apparently.
I can’t find this towel rack at IKEA.
Hi Jean – unfortunately they’re now sold out. I have spotted it in Amazon but that was a little while ago. But maybe have a search around as I know another reader found it somewhere in the US.
Where did you get the towels???
Hi Grace – They are linen towels that I got from Analogue life. They are great because they dry really quickly and never stink! But of course they aren’t fluffy like thick cotton towels. Here’s the link: https://www.analoguelife.com/en/products/doublegauze-linen-bathtowel