The Best Ways to Incorporate Towel Storage Into Your Pool Design
With summer fun comes the necessity of having plenty of dry towels on hand, especially on breezy days when the water feels warmer than the air. Short of laying dry towels out on a lounge chair - only to be blown into the pool by a gust of wind or splashed on - how can you make sure your towel will stay dry until you are ready to use it after a swim? Here are the best ways to incorporate towel storage into your pool design.
Whichever solution you choose, here are a few tips:
Make sure dry towel storage is easily seen and convenient (so that it’s not more convenient for the kids to run inside the house sopping wet).
Use different towels around the pool than you use in your home so there’s less chance of someone leaving your “nice” towels wadded up outside for days on end. The key to success is having pool towels accessible so there’s no temptation to run indoors and grab a towel.
Add a wet towel basket that gets taken into the house and laundered every day, before mildew grows on your pool towels.
Attractive and Practical Outdoor Towel Storage
Storing towels outdoors doesn’t have to negatively impact the aesthetics of your backyard. The following ways beautifully blend aesthetics and function.
A Towel Cabinet
Outdoor storage cabinets can be found in attractive wood or wood- or wicker-look varieties that complement your decor. Storage cabinets are waterproof, durable, and resistant to fading from strong UV rays. Outdoor storage cabinets can also do double duty in storing pool toys and patio cushions. Getting a pair of cabinets could give your pool area a wonderful “put together” finished look.
An Outdoor Storage Box
A simpler storage option that doesn’t look like furniture but is still stylish, an outdoor storage box is waterproof and easily holds plenty of clean, dry towels for extended periods of time. Again, you might consider getting two if your poolside fun involves toys and inflatable floats. Many outdoor storage boxes feature a place for a padlock, so you can keep your belongings safe while you’re away.
A Wall Mount Rack for Rolled Towels
Give your pool a spa-like feel by rolling towels and storing them on a wall-mount rack. This is a good solution if you have a poolside cabana or pavilion where the towels can be stored out of the rain. Even if they don’t get wet, you’ll want to change them out regularly as blowing dust can make them appear dingy and dirty.
A metal wine rack (where the bottles lie sideways against the wall) is an option for smaller towels, but probably won’t fit oversized beach towels. A wooden towel rack with pegs that extend outward from the wall, could be customized to fit large towels.
Heated Towel Rack
The ultimate in luxury is a heated towel rack, which can be located under a solid roof. This may make the towels a little bit less convenient, but the reward is a luxuriously hot towel that will take the chill off faster than anything.
Folding Towel Rack
A sturdy folding towel rack can be set up at the poolside for convenience. It won’t keep your towels dry in a sudden shower but it’s quick to pick up and move; and the towels won’t stay dry if they are so close to the pool that towels get splashed. Clean, folded towels can be stored on a shelf at the bottom, and used towels can be hung on the top of the rack to dry.
Outdoor Benches with Storage
Double up on practicality with a dual-purpose furniture item: outdoor benches with built-in storage. Many outdoor benches are comfortably soft with weatherproof cushions; just lift the bench seat to find water-resistant storage underneath that’s perfect for storing towels and pool toys.
Choose Your Size
Before you decide on which towel storage solution is best for you, know how many towels you go through in a typical week; and then choose a storage solution that can accommodate that quantity.