Unlacquered Brass Bathroom Accessories: Where to Place Every Piece

A brass faucet and shower set the tone, but it is the small pieces that make a bathroom feel finished. When every accessory is unlacquered brass, they all age together, and the room looks like it was always meant to be that way.

The checklist

For a complete brass bathroom, plan for:

• A towel bar (or two) near the shower or tub
• A towel ring beside the sink
• A toilet paper holder
• Hooks for robes and towels
• A sink drain, and a trap if the plumbing is visible
• A shower floor drain

Towel bars

Place the main unlacquered brass towel bar within arm's reach of the shower or tub door, not on the far wall. A common mounting height is around 48 inches from the floor, so a folded bath towel hangs clear of the baseboard. Choose a bar at least 24 inches long for bath towels.

Towel rings

A brass towel ring belongs right next to the sink, typically about 20 inches above the vanity top on the side wall or beside the mirror. It is touched many times a day, so it will develop one of the deepest patinas in the room.

Toilet paper holders

The most common placement is about 26 inches from the floor and slightly in front of the toilet bowl, on the side wall. Accessible-design guidelines put the center of the holder 7 to 9 inches in front of the bowl. Choose a style that matches your other pieces:

• Vintage wall-mount toilet paper holder for a traditional look
• Solid brass toilet roll holder for a simple, minimal arm
• Toilet roll holder with storage to keep a spare roll in reach

Hooks

Robe hooks are usually set at about 66 to 72 inches high behind the door or near the shower, a little lower in children's bathrooms. A multi-use brass wall hook also works for hand towels where there is no room for a ring.

Drains and traps: the most overlooked pieces

A chrome drain in a brass sink breaks the whole look. Swap it for an unlacquered brass pop-up drain. If you have a console or pedestal sink where the pipes show, a brass bottle P-trap or S-trap turns plumbing into a feature. In the shower, finish with a brass floor drain with removable strainer.

Will the accessories age at the same speed?

Not exactly, and that is part of the appeal. Pieces you touch often (the towel ring, the toilet paper holder) darken faster than a towel bar that is mostly left alone. If you want them to look more uniform, polish the darker ones lightly every few months; if you love variety, leave them be.

Installation tips

• Fix accessories into studs or use proper wall anchors; a towel bar takes more force than you think.
• Mark heights with painter's tape and live with them for a day before drilling.
• Install accessories after tiling and painting, never before.

Frequently asked questions

Do brass accessories have to match my faucet exactly?

They should be the same finish. Mixing unlacquered brass with lacquered or PVD "gold" pieces looks fine at first but drifts apart within months, because only the unlacquered pieces change.

How do I clean unlacquered brass accessories?

Wipe with a damp cloth and dry. Use a brass polish only when you want the shine back.

See every piece in our unlacquered brass bathroom hardware and accessories collection, and pair them with an unlacquered brass bathroom faucet.