Toilet accessories buying guide

Storage units are absolutely essential for optimising space in bathrooms. Used to tidy away unsightly odds and ends like cleaning products and spare toilet paper, above-toilet units, storage racks and cabinets are all very practical options. If you want a space-saving storage solution, freestanding storage towers can prove particularly useful.Depending on their design, toilet storage units can be made of:

• chipboard - good value with a range of decorative options and dimensions available, contemporary in style;

• powder coated steel - lightweight and affordable, compact in size;

• stainless steel - like powder coated steel versions, these units can be compact; coating offers longer service life but the material can be more expensive;

• exotic or painted wood - heavier and bulkier, this material is chosen for its natural look.

This essential accessory is used to distribute or tear toilet paper with ease. Whether wall-mounted or freestanding, toilet roll holders come in a variety of forms:

• open, with or without a cover;

• closed, cylindrical;

• attached to a toilet storage unit or combined with your toilet brush.

Toilet roll holders are also available in a range of materials (wood, cast iron, stainless steel, etc.) and styles (patterned, minimalist, traditional, etc.).

Essential for keeping your toilet clean, toilet brushes make the process more efficient. Choose a model in a material that suits you:

• PVC - affordable and available in different colours;

• wood - for a natural look;

• stainless steel - durable and modern looking.

Fitting your toilet with a support bar (or grab rail) will be essential if your toilet is to be used by elderly people or those with reduced mobility.

This accessory makes it easier for less mobile users to sit down and stand up and limits the risk of them falling. Support bars can come with adjustable arms, integrated toilet roll holders and floor fittings (with rawlplugs) to suit all needs.

To find out more about bathroom design, follow our editors' advice and check out their other guides:

Toilet fixing frame buying guideMacerator toilet buying guideGrab rail buying guideToilet roll holder buying guideToilet buying guideHow to drill a wallWall tile buying guide Close-coupled toilet buying guideHow to furnish your bathroom