Choosing a Bath Caddy
Our guide for selecting the right style and size bath caddy for your bathroom
While much of this topic will rely on your own personal preference and style, we have compiled together some thoughts taken from the many years we have had designing and handcrafting bath caddies (bath shelves, bath boards) and working with customer for all sorts of custom requests. With all the options out there, including the many we offer in our bathroom range (see here for details), it can be a little overwhelming. Different sizes, different styles, different timbers. We hope you will find the below observations helpful for when you are shopping for the right bath caddy for you.
Modern / Contemporary - The sleek lines and simple design of the bath shelf paired with elegant styling make for a refined choice for this bathroom.
A very aged piece of Persian Walnut timber was selected for this clawfoot bath in a traditional farmhouse style bathroom. The aged appearance and character in the timber complimented with a few antique styling pieces look right at home in this context.
Bath Caddy Style
This is probably the most defining characteristic of a bath caddy and will likely be the easiest and first thoughts that come to mind. Why? Because we often already have a ‘feel’ or ‘vibe’ for our bathroom and we ideally want to find a bath caddy that works with the space already. So what style do you like, and what style is your bathroom?
Modern / Contemporary - you might like to opt for something that is minimalistic in design. Not too many frills and details. Sleek lines and timber that doesn't have pronounced features in the grain.
Farmhouse / Country - character in the timber is the ideal option for this style. Something that is earthy and really highlights the story of the timber. Look for timber features such as knots, small holes, gum vein lines, fiddleback markings etc along with lots of colour variation in the timber. You can also look for something more rustic and unique.
Luxury / Spa Resort - when creating a bathroom oasis in a bathroom a luxurious style calls for a bit of drama. So a larger bath caddy with striking features could work in this space, combine this with warm timber tones to give that connection to nature and relaxation.
Beach / Boho - lighter timber selections would be more relevant and connected to driftwood timber that is associated with these styles. Even finding something with a natural edge, or with raw and rustic finishes to give the vibe that is is unique and not too “new” looking.
Oriental / Japanese Spa House - again lighter timber options with dark accents work for this style. Clean simples lines of design with functionality also at the core. We have really enjoyed using Hinoki timber for bath caddies in this style as not only is it visually appealing and connected to this style, it gives off the most amazing smell so your bathroom will also smell like a Japanese Spa House!
Timber Type
In some ways this choice can also be determined by existing cabinetry in the bathroom or other spaces around the home, especially if you are wanting a cohesive style throughout your rooms. However, there are still many things to consider when selecting the timber for the bath caddy, along with understanding that each piece of timber is completely unique!
Dark or Light Timber?
Keeping a consistent tonal palette may be the easiest option, for example, you have light oak timber cabinetry so you want to opt for a light oak bath caddy to tie in. However, using your bath caddy as a statement piece also provides options for contrasting timber choices. If your bathroom is mostly dark hues, then opting for timber that is warm and rich can provide striking visual interest as well as making the space feel more homely and relaxed. See below for a photo of our Deluxe Bath Board with feature grade Victorian Ash timber in a moody bathroom by Hatch Design Studio for the ultimate example of an accent timber piece transforming an entire space.
Likewise, if you have an all white space, adding some depth with the timber tones can prevent the space from feeling too clinical and washed out. We love how Blok Design Co have used on of our Bath Caddies in the modern white a bright bathroom space to give the space depth and warmth. They have also opted to use a Round Side Table as a little shower stool in matching Victorian Ash timber for both functionality and character.
Timber Variation
Along with dark or light timber, as general categories, there are many different timber types to choose from. Below are just a few of the timbers we have worked with, but is by no means an exhausting list. When selecting the variety of timber, along with stylistic reasons, the cost factor can also be an important point to consider.
Victorian Ash - our timber of choice for most of our bathroom products, it is local, sustainably-sourced, hardwood (so it will wear well), has a lovely warm timber tone with a good deal of variation in character and colour. It is a reasonably priced, high quality timber and currently is in good supply.
Walnut - much darker in tone to Victorian Ash, but is a rich warm brown that echoes class and sophistication. Another hardwood that is dense, yet light, and is one of the most beautiful timbers to work with. It is an imported timber, however is still sustainably-harvested and more expensive than Victorian Ash.
Hinoki - this is the most interesting timber species that we have worked with to date as it not only looks amazing, but has the most wonderful smell that is the aroma of a forrest. It is usually light, yet its fine grain and durable core means it is a perfect choice for humid environments such as a bathroom. As it is a speciality imported timber, it is rather expensive, yet there is nothing else like it!
American Oak - this is another lovely timber to work with and has a similar colour palette to Victorian Ash, however the grain pattern can be quite different. Victorian Ash tends to have a straighter grain whereas the American Oak has a wavy pattern alongside feature-filled swirls. It is slightly more expensive than Victorian Ash, but again the quality is often a premium.
Blackwood - again this timber is ideal to work with as a lovely polished finish can be achieved. It has a deep and lustrous grain, often with pretty fiddleback markings, making it ideal for furniture use. The only downside for this timber is the price, with it sitting in a similar price bracket to that of Walnut.
Features
For me, this is what a bath caddy is all about. What will the experience be using this bath caddy when soaking all my troubles away? Is it functional, and do I enjoy the specific features that each design offers? This will be more of a personal point of consideration, as some may love the thought of drinking a glass of wine in the bath, where others couldn’t imagine the thought. Many people now enjoy binge watching TV on their tablet or phone for ultimate relaxation and others wouldn’t dare take their devices near water. But no matter where you sit on these things, here are a list of features with some pros and cons to consider when making your decision about buying a bath caddy.
Wine Glass Slot - the first ever bath caddy that we made for a customer came with this request. And at the time I remember thinking, what a strange request. But little did I realise what a lovely and luxurious addition a glass of wine in a tub of bubbles would make! And logistically having a wine glass balancing on a bath caddy can easily tumble, especially when wet! So now we often recommend this option and is our best-selling feature in our bath caddy range. It can also have the romantic gesture when gifting a loved one, with some customers even asking for two wine glass slots on their bath caddy!
iPad/Tablet/Phone Slot - again this was requested by a customer when they were after a great gift for their partner who enjoyed watching Netflix when taking a bath. We chose to go with a minimalistic slot, with just enough depth and groove to hold a tablet or phone at an optimal watching angle when soaking.
Book Holder - there are some bath caddies that have additional pieces, such as a wooden book back rest, or twisted wire back rest that can be folded down and up to hold a book when you are taking a bath. With more and more people now also reading using their tablet, it is a less requested option, however still a necessity for some!
Tea-Light Candle Holder - this is not as common, but does exist. For those who love to set the ultimate bath time relaxation vibe with candlelight, this feature provides an aesthetic place for your tea-light candles as well as the functionality of holding them in place if the bath caddy were to be knocked.
Soap Dish - having a spot for your bar of soap to drain is also a feature you may be after. For many the introduction of body wash has meant a bar of soap is not a feature of their washing routine, however, if you are partial to a traditional bar of soap, or love the beautiful organic and natural soap bars that are now available, this might be on the must list for you!
Size
Lastly, while not as fun to think about, is the size. But it is not just the one dimension of length to think about; there is also the depth of the caddy that is important to think about, and also the thickness of the timber.
Length
This one is important, because if you don’t get this right, it might be too small and not make it from one side of the bath to the other, or alternatively it could stick out from the bath too far! There will be some situations that require a completely custom length if your bath has uneven sides (a lip on one side and not on the other if against the tiled wall), or for where the bath caddy is in a tight situation! However, generally speaking, we usually recommend that you buy a bath caddy that will hang over the edge of either side of the bath by 2-4cm as it looks balanced, and also provides a little bit of extra wiggle room if the bath caddy is accidentally knocked it is less likely to topple into the bath.
Depth
There is not usually a good deal of difference between the depth of most bath caddies on the market. The greatest difference we have is between our Bath Caddy that is 18cm deep and our Deluxe Bath Board that is 28.5cm deep. You may want to consider how you are going to use your bath caddy when working out how deep you would like it, for example, do you want it to fit a magazine on top, or do you want it to hold particular decor items or towels.
Thickness of the Timber
Our bath caddy range is between 2.4cm and 3.5cm thick. Although it makes very little difference to the functionality of the bath caddy, the thickness of the timber does make a difference aesthetically. The thinner the timber the more minimalist and refined it can look. A thicker piece of timber can either look more industrial, or rustic and bold.
Final Thoughts
So hopefully you have not been too overwhelmed with detail, but as we have been selling and making bath caddies for many years now, we hope to have shared our experience with you. We know there are still many many other options and ideas out there for bath caddies, and if you have a particular style, design and timber you would like us to work with in crafting you your own unique bath caddy then please reach out to us!
