The subject of whether the toilet paper should go “over” or “under” the roll has been a debate since time immemorial. But social media has put this issue to rest with the discovery of the original patent. The 1891 patent showed illustrations that the paper goes up and over the roll.
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Seth Wheeler invented the toilet paper and owns the Albany Perforated Wrapping Paper Company which sold toilet paper on a roll. He also owns patents for a multiroll toilet paper holder, a toilet paper fixture, and even a process for ornamenting toilet paper.
Type
Residential
Source: Etsy
If you are looking for toilet paper holder for your home bathroom, you will be able to choose from a number of smaller toilet paper holders that are designed for residential bathrooms.
These work with smaller size rolls and while they do not have the same high level of construction of commercial toilet paper holders when installed correctly and carefully used, they will last for a very long time.
Commercial
Source: Hayneedle
Commercial toilet paper holders are going to be able to hold much larger rolls of toilet paper. This is because the business owner does not have to spend a lot of time worrying about changing the toilet paper.
They are going to be significantly heavier and sturdier and construction so that the toilet paper holder can stand up to a large number of people using it without falling off of the wall or breaking.
Mount Type
Recessed
Source: Home Depot
Unlike other types of toilet paper holders, recessed toilet paper holders are often a little more difficult to install and may require the help of an expert. That’s because instead of being attached to the wall, a hole is cut in the drywall and the recessed toilet paper holder fit inside this hole.
This means your toilet paper will be stored out of the way inside the wall and you will not have to worry about accidentally knocking your toilet paper roll. This is a great option if you have a small bathroom and the toilet is located in a tight area where there is a wall on both sides, but there is not enough room for a wall mounted toilet paper holder.
Because this type of toilet paper holder is more permanent than others, it’s important to make sure that this is a change you want to make to your bathroom before insulation.
Suctioned
Source: Houzz
A suction cup toilet paper holder is probably the easiest type to install in a new bathroom, as it will simply suction onto another surface. There are some suction toilet paper holders that will attach to the wall, but most commonly they will attach to the shower wall or door.
This means you can easily take off your toilet paper holder and move it to a new location if it is hard to reach or if you are going to be cleaning. Of course, the cleanliness of your toilet paper relies on the strength of your suction cups as you do not want it to fall on the floor.
Freestanding
Source: Hayneedle
A great option if you have a large bathroom and there is in no wall nearby your toilet for you to install a toilet paper holder, freestanding toilet paper holders allow you to keep your paper nearby, but do not have to be permanently installed.
The downside of this type of toilet paper holder is that it does take up much more floor space, so if you do not have a lot of extra room in your bathroom, this may not be a great option for you.
Tank-Mounted
Source: Wayfair
Just because you don’t have a lot of space in your bathroom for toilet paper holder doesn’t mean it has to be difficult to keep your toilet paper nearby. When you rely on a tank-mounted toilet paper holder, your toilet paper will be within easy reach all the time.
These toilet paper holders have a hook on the top that slips inside the water tank on the back of the toilet tank. When the lid is placed on the water tank, the toilet paper holder will not be able to fall off or move around.
Wall-Mounted
Source: Etsy
Probably the most common type of toilet paper holder, wall-mounted toilet paper holders are easy to find and fairly easy to install. They come in a number of sizes, colors, finishes, and materials, and as long as your toilet is near a wall, you’ll be able to easily reach your toilet paper.
These toilet paper holders are also often mounted on the side of the vanity, which ensures that you have easy access to your toilet paper at all times, but have to be installed at the correct height.
Capacity
Single
Source: Home Depot
Generally speaking, in a home, people only want to have one roll of wallpaper accessible at a time. This makes it possible to keep toilet paper in your toilet paper holder without taking up a lot of room.
Unlike other types of toilet paper holders that have the capacity to hold more rolls, you do have to be willing to change your roll on a single toilet paper holder more often. As long as you’re willing to do this, you don’t have to worry about a lot of space being taken up by textual being stored in your bathroom near the toilet.
Double
Source: Amazon
A great way to ensure that you always have a backup near the toilet is to opt for toilet paper holder that will hold two rolls. These are a lot less common in residential bathrooms but are fairly common commercial ones as it means the employees do not have to spend as much time paying attention to how much toilet paper is available.
If you do choose a double roll toilet paper holder, it is important to make sure you have enough space in your bathroom so that the person using the toilet does not feel cramped because of the size of your toilet paper holder.
Multiple
Source: Houzz
It is very rare that a homeowner will use a toilet paper holder that can hold multiple rolls unless their bathroom is large enough to support the size of this holder. This is a wonderful way to make sure that you never run out of toilet paper in your bathroom, but if your bathroom is particularly small, then this type of holder can feel very overwhelming.
Of course, for the right home, the benefits of this type of toilet paper holder making an obvious choice due to the fact that you do not have to worry about where you will store your extra rolls or if you will run out in the bathroom.
Feature
Shelf
Source: Amazon
As more and more people bring their cell phones to the bathrooms with them, it is becoming very popular to find toilet paper holders that have a shelf. This feature makes it easy to put your phone or other items such as your keys or wallet on top of the toilet paper holders so you do not have to worry about accidentally dropping them while in the bathroom.
While some people may see this feature as superfluous, it’s a great way to make sure that you do not drop an expensive piece of electronics in your toilet. These toilet paper holders will obviously take up a little more room than one that does not have a shelf attached to them, but they provide a safe and secure place for items while you are using the bathroom.
Singing
Source: Amazon
This type of toilet paper holder is very popular around the holidays and will begin to sing and play music when it is spun for toilet paper to be removed. They usually require batteries that can be replaced so they will last year after year, and some homeowners find them a fun and festive way to decorate and celebrate certain holidays.
Scented
Source: Amazon
People are regularly trying to combat bad smells and the bathroom, and one way to do that is to buy a scented toilet paper holder. These have a scented bead or potpourri inside the actual holder that goes through the toilet paper roll. When the roll stands, it will release some of this scent into the air, which can help ensure that the bathroom smells better.
Lid
Source: Amazon
If you are going to be storing more than one extra roll inside your bathroom near the toilet for easy access, then it can look very nice to have it in a completely enclosed container. In addition, a toilet paper holder that has a lid will also keep anything from accidentally being dropped on your extra rolls of toilet paper.
Bejeweled
Source: Houzz
If you want to add a special touch to your bathroom, then a great way to do that is with a toilet paper holder that has been bejeweled with Swarovski crystals. This is not something you will see in every bathroom, so it is sure to draw the attention of people coming to your home and will always make you smile.
Pedestal
Source: Amazon
Pedestal toilet paper holders tend to look very classy when used in the right bathroom. You do have to have enough extra space around the toilet itself for a pedestal toilet paper holder to fit or else the person on the toilet may feel very cramped.
These hold the roll of paper at a comfortable height without requiring any sort of hardware to hold them into the wall or vanity. When you opt for a pedestal toilet paper holder, you will most likely enjoy that they look a little airier and open then bulkier types of toilet paper holders.
This will ensure that your bathroom does not look weighed down or filled with extraneous items.
Flap
Source: Hayneedle
A toilet paper holder that has a metal flap that comes down over the front of the roll will not only create a more streamlined look in your bathroom but will also serve to help protect a roll of toilet paper from drops of water.
This is very beneficial if you have children who tend to be messy in the bathroom and you do not want your toilet paper rolls to be ruined by water. The flap is slightly curved to fit the roll of toilet paper for an attractive look and does a great job at ensuring that your toilet paper is not damaged.
Novelty
Source: Amazon
Novelty toilet paper holders are a fun way to bring a little interest and fun to your bathroom. It’s easy to find ones that fit with the theme of your bathroom, and these can be either wall-mounted or freestanding.
Some of the most common types of novelty freestanding toilet paper holders have animals with very long necks or tails on which you can stack your toilet paper rolls. Wall-mounted novelty toilet paper holders come in all types, including Egyptian pharaohs, skulls, and animals.
Kids
Source: Amazon
If you have a dedicated bathroom for your kids, then installing a toilet paper holder that will appeal to them is a fun way to make spending time in the bathroom a little more enjoyable. These come in bright colors, fun designs, and even have familiar characters that your children are sure to love.
They generally install the same way as regular toilet paper holders, which means replacing them will be easy to do when your children are older and do not want a cute toilet paper holder in their bathroom.
Material
Ceramic
Source: Amazon
Ceramic is a very popular type of material for toilet paper holders as it is incredibly durable and can be painted as long as you use the correct product for the job.
When you choose a ceramic toilet paper holder, you will have to worry about it easily being damaged, chipping, or breaking, which is important because it means that you will not have to spend extra money replacing your toilet paper holder in the near future.
Bamboo
Source: Amazon
Bamboo is a sustainable resource, making it a great choice for common objects around the home such as toilet paper holders. If you want to make sure that your bathroom is eco-friendly, then buying a toilet paper holder that is made out of bamboo is a great place to start.
The natural wood color of these toilet paper holders can look great in most bathrooms, especially if you have taken care to choose a color palette that appears very natural. Bamboo does a very good job at standing up to moisture and humidity without molding, so you won’t have to worry about mildew or mold forming on your toilet paper holder.
Jute
Source: Etsy
Jute, or rope, is not a very common material used for toilet paper holders, but in the right bathroom, it can really make quite a statement. It’s important that if you do use a jute toilet paper holder that there is enough air circulation in your bathroom after hot showers are baths so the air does not remain humid for a long period of time, as this can negatively affect your toilet paper holder in the long run.
If you are decorating your bathroom in a nautical theme, then this type of material will fit right in and ensure that you have not missed any details in your decorating.
Wood
Source: Wayfair
While not as popular as other types of materials for toilet paper holders, wood is still fairly common and easy to buy. You can paint and stain your wood color paper holder easily, which is a great feature if you love to update your bathroom décor and design on a regular basis.
It’s important that your wood is protected against humidity so you do not have to worry about it being damaged by water in the air.
Metal
Source: Amazon
Metal toilet paper holders look very classy and upscale and for that reason are incredibly popular. While they will cost a little bit more than some lower-quality toilet paper holders, you will not have to worry about your metal toilet paper holder breaking, cracking, or denting.
This means that while you are spending a little bit more money now purchasing your toilet paper holder, it’s an investment that will last you for a longer period of time.
Wicker & Rattan
Source: Houzz
In the right bathroom with the correct décor, wicker or rattan toilet paper holders can look great. It’s important to make sure that you choose one that is high-quality and has been coated with a protective material so that water will not be able to get into the cracks of the wicker and damage it.
Just like wicker furniture, you can paint your wicker toilet paper holders in the future if you decide to change the style and color of your bathroom.
Acrylic & Plastic
Source: Amazon
If you are on a budget and need toilet paper holders, but don’t have a lot of money to spend, plastic toilet paper holders are probably your best bet. These are incredibly easy to come by, fairly easy to install, and as long as you take care of them, will generally last for a long period of time.
The downfall of plastic toilet paper holders is that they can easily be damaged and break, which means that you may spend more money and replace them in the future than you saved by buying a plastic toilet paper holder. This is going to take into consideration before buying plastic.
Because of that, plastic toilet paper holders are not generally used in bathroom remodels and are most commonly found in new constructions.
Concrete
Source: Houzz
You won’t ever have to worry about your toilet paper holder becoming damaged when you opt for one that is made of concrete. This material is incredibly durable and will last for a very long time, but does have a few considerations that you need to think about before buying and installing it in your bathroom.
Due to the increased weight of the concrete, it’s important that you only use the included hardware for correct installation. You also have to make sure that you install your new concrete toilet paper holder into studs of the wall and don’t try to rely on the strength of the drywall to hold the weight of this holder.
Incorrect installation can be dangerous as the concrete toilet paper holder could come off of the wall if anytime and if it were to land on a person could cause them some sort of injury.
Finish
Oil-Rubbed Bronze
Source: Houzz
One of the most popular finishes for toilet paper holders is oil-rubbed bronze. When your toilet paper holder matches other fixtures in your bathrooms such as faucets and door handles, you will find that your bathroom looks very cohesive and put together.
One of the reasons why so many people opt for this finish in their bathroom is because of the way it looks. It’s very dark and attractive, and when you update the rest of your bathroom to complement this color, your bathroom can look taken care of and very attractive.
Painted
Source: Etsy
One fun way to add a splash of color and interest to your bathroom is by using a toilet paper holder that has been painted. There are a number of different materials that can be painted, and this is often an unexpected place in the bathroom to have a splash of color.
If you do decide to go this route when decorating a bathroom, make sure the paint job is high-quality so it will not chip.
Chrome
Source: Houzz
Chrome is a very popular finish for toilet paper holders because it is such a clean look. When you choose this finish, you will not have to worry about it appearing dark or showing a lot of dust.
Nickel
Source: Houzz
Nickel is popular for toilet paper holders because it is light in color, but not as shiny as chrome is.