We may earn a commission from links on this page. Ugh, towel hooks. Where do we even start with the problems? They’re terrible at actually holding onto towels, so they end up on the floor constantly. And even when your towel does stay put, it’s usually still wet the next time you grab it because it can’t dry right when it’s all bunched up. Plus, you’re stuck with just one towel per hook. If you’ve ever dealt with towel hooks, you’ve definitely run into at least one of these issues. A towel bar is way better if you want to spread things out and actually let your towels dry properly. But we’re not just talking about any boring towel bar here. Let’s get fancy and go vintage with a sleek Lucite bar to display your bath towels in style. Lucite is a fancy acrylic resin that popped up in the early 1900s from a company called DuPont, and it’s totally one of the good ones. Here’s something cool: during World War II, it was everywhere—they used it for airplane windows and submarine scopes. After the war, Lucite became the must-have material for jewelry, fashion, and home decor. Beauty icon Helena Rubinstein reportedly filled her entire house with Lucite furniture. We’re taking notes from this vintage legend and adding a Lucite towel bar to every bathroom. Paired with that glamorous Hollywood Regency vibe, it’s exactly what your bath towels need to level up.
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How to score that vintage Lucite look in your bathroom
If budget isn’t a concern, you can grab this stunning bar with brushed nickel details for $475. Or go with this one featuring brass attachments for $105. You could even add a smaller 12-inch Lucite bar as an extra touch. Either option brings instant style to your bathroom and is super simple to install—just mount the brackets to the wall with a couple of screws using a screwdriver or drill.
Want something totally custom and a bit easier on the wallet? Go the DIY route like creator Laura Gummerman did. Hunt down a 1-inch Lucite rod in whatever length fits your space from an online store or your local craft or hardware shop. You might see it labeled as an acrylic round rod or Lucite dowel. You’ll also want a pair of mounting brackets like these that are wide enough for the Lucite rod to slide through. Grab your tools (screws and a drill), and you’re ready to head to the bathroom.
Screw the brackets to the wall so they’re level and spaced right for your Lucite rod length. If you want the rod ends to stick out a bit, you can place the brackets an inch or two closer. Slide each end of the rod into a bracket and tighten the set screw to lock it in. If things feel a little loose, Gummerman suggests a tiny bit of super glue to make sure everything stays put.
