What should you consider when choosing a towel dryer for your renovation?

15.9.2026

A bathroom renovation involves many decisions that will affect everyday life for years to come. Choosing a towel dryer is one of them. The right dryer keeps towels dry, adds comfort and completes the look of the bathroom, while also fitting the building’s technical systems and your intended use.

Whether you are planning a new build or renovating your home, there are a few things worth considering early in the design process.

Think about your everyday needs

Choose the size and model of your towel dryer based on how much you need to dry and how much space you have available.

In a family home, several towels, children’s clothes and other textiles may need drying at the same time, making a larger drying area a practical choice. In smaller bathrooms, a narrow or vertical dryer makes efficient use of wall space. Accessories such as REJ hanging hooks and Pivo shelves add versatility even in compact spaces, allowing you to dry clothes on hangers, shoes and mittens.

An electric or water-heated towel dryer?

It is worth deciding early on whether an electric or water-heated towel dryer is the best option for your home.

An electric towel dryer is often the most practical solution for renovations and smaller bathroom updates. It has its own electric heating element and does not require a connection to the water system, giving you greater flexibility over its placement. It can also be used all year round, even when the building’s heating system is switched off. Equally, an electric towel dryer is easy to switch off whenever it is not needed.

A water-heated towel dryer is most commonly connected to the domestic hot water circulation system. This is a relatively economical solution, as the dryer warms up as part of the hot water circulation. However, a towel dryer may only be connected to this system in properties where a towel dryer or, for example, a panel radiator has already been connected to the same circuit. This is naturally not the case in new builds, making an electric towel dryer the most straightforward choice.

A water-heated towel dryer can also be connected to the central heating circuit. However, bear in mind that it will not heat up outside the heating season – where will you dry your towels and small items of laundry then?

Make the towel dryer part of the overall design

A towel dryer should be considered part of the bathroom’s overall design, rather than simply an individual accessory. Planning its position, size, installation method and appearance early in the renovation helps ensure a result that works both technically and visually.

A well-chosen towel dryer will serve you for years. It keeps towels dry, makes the bathroom more convenient to use and complements the space in a way you will appreciate every day.

Plan the installation method early

Plan the position and installation method of your towel dryer well before work begins on the wall finishes. This allows electrical or plumbing connections to be placed correctly without unnecessary alterations.

Depending on the model, REJ Design’s water-heated towel dryers can be connected from the top, bottom or side. A concealed installation connects the dryer to water pipes hidden inside the walls. In a surface-mounted installation, the dryer connects to pipes running along the wall surface.

For the cleanest look, an electric towel dryer can be hardwired so that no cables remain visible on the wall. In this case, it is particularly important to decide on the dryer’s position early, so the electrical plan allows for an MMJ installation cable or a suitable fixture cable to be routed inside the wall to exactly the right location. For hardwired installations, the REJ Pro® installation system saves the electrician time and helps the renovation progress smoothly: the electrical connections can be completed during construction, while the dryer itself is fitted once the finishing work is complete. This protects the dryer from damage during construction and ensures a neat result. The electrical connection must be made by a qualified, authorised electrician. Once this is complete, the dryer itself can safely be mounted by anyone, such as a furniture installer or the resident.

If hardwiring is not possible – for example, during a minor bathroom update where the wall surfaces will remain intact – a plug-in connection is a simple, practical solution. REJ Design offers optional power cords in various lengths, in both black and white. A plug-in installation, also referred to as a surface-mounted electrical installation, does not require an electrician.

Read the installation instructions for your chosen electric or water-heated towel dryer during the planning stage to avoid surprises later. Discuss your renovation plans with a plumbing or electrical professional early on. REJ Design’s customer service team will also be happy to help with any questions about towel dryers.

Finnish design and quality, backed by decades of expertise

REJ Design has been manufacturing towel dryers in Finland since the 1950s. Today, its water-heated and electric towel dryers are handcrafted in Järvenpää. The dryers carry the Key Flag and Design from Finland labels, recognising their Finnish manufacturing and design.