Let me first confess that this is my current paper towel holder. The reason I’ve sought out the best paper towel holders on the market is because mine, hanging off the side of my fridge, is such a daily aesthetic irritation that I went in militant search of better-looking options. Much to my chagrin, they do exist. No, they’re not magnetic, they’re freestanding and they demand some counter space, but boy, are they a visual upgrade. As far as I’m concerned, anything that insists on taking up counterspace (in my very small New York apartment) needs to work for it. These 9 takes on paper towel holders supply just that.
Their design sensibilities run the gambit—space age, contemporary, classic—meaning the paper towel holder of your dreams is out there. Possibly, even, on this very list…
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Inside the Article
The Fancy Favorite
Morris & Co. x Williams Sonoma Bluebell Paper Towel Holder
Williams Sonoma’s prolific collaboration with Morris & Co. extends even to paper towel holders. Yes, the Arts and Crafts movement has made its way from the great minds of the 19th century to your marbled countertop. The ornamental Art Nouveau style and gold trim make an elaborate stage for your paper towels—suddenly the lowly kitchen necessity becomes a star.
Most Unique
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Fredericks and Mae Paper Towel Holder
For a Space Age-y touch, try this chrome-plated and wall-mounted piece from Fredericks and Mae. The Brooklyn-based design duo is borrowing here from the ball-and-rod hardware vocabulary of midcentury fixtures, while the chrome leans a bit ‘60s mod.
A Beautiful Ceramic
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TT Ceramic Turkish Floral Paper Towel Holder
This ceramic piece uses cobalt floral motifs to beautify your countertop (much the opposite from the basic style of paper towel holders). It also makes a nice, and necessary, transition to tabletop for wings night. The weighted base is a particularly helpful addition so the ceramic doesn’t go flying in the process of tearing.
Best Marble Option
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H&M Marble Paper Towel Holder
A sophisticated, low-impact choice that still outranks the landfill-bait you might otherwise reach for when looking for a simple and practical paper towel holder. Make it a set with these equally classy salt and pepper shakers. These freestanding picks are particularly helpful when you’re a believer in jumbo rolls.
Best Designer Option
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Neospace Objects Guzzini Chef Paper Towel Holder
A 1980s Italian relic, this Guzzini piece instantly signals good taste down to the last detail. It comes in yellow, too. Fans of the bygone lighting company scan the secondhand market furiously to find remaining Guzzini pieces, and this one will only set you back $71.
More Paper Towel Holders We Love
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Georg Jensen Alfredo Paper Towel Holder
If it exists, Georg Jensen has made a version of it: bottle openers, pitchers, pill boxes. Paper towel holders are no exception, and the bubbling shape of this one keeps the (rustproof) chrome elevated and tactile where it can otherwise read as chilly.
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Bloomingville Stainless Steel Paper Towel Holder
This is the countertop version of Fredericks and Mae’s paper towel holder. Chrome meets those same midcentury bulbs, but reaches for a cream color over the vibrant green. It brings a playful touch to the countertop.
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HAY Porter Paper Towel Holder
The Scandi-style or minimalist kitchen is always in need of a color-saturated moment. This one does so artfully, in a deep red (though the oak and black still embody the bold geometry and practicality of Scandinavian design). A rotating horizontal bar can keep the roll in place and double as a handle when need be.
