Pro Handyman Blog

Installing a toilet paper holder or a towel bar is virtually identical and is an easy handyman job. It is a matter of selecting the location and securing it. For a towel bar, it will typically be installed in drywall, whereas the toilet paper holder will be installed in either drywall or the side of the bathroom vanity.

Both use the same mechanisms to attach the fixture to the surface. For the toilet paper holder, since it is so small and doesn’t support any more weight than a roll of toilet paper, you can install this wherever is convenient. You might even sit on the toilet and mark an area that will work. This is very effective for small spaces.

Once you have the area chosen, screw the brackets to the surface. The flat portion of the brackets will mount to the wall and the ends of the bracket will angle away from the wall. When both brackets are mounted, place the arms of the holder on the bracket and tighten the set screw until it grasps the bracket and tightens. Then you can install the spool and roll of toilet paper.

The only different consideration for the towel bar is that you may want some larger screws to hold the brackets to the wall, and preferably into the wall studs. You can use a large screw and screw at least one side into a stud, but the other side likely won’t match up. For the other side, you can use a large wall anchor such as a butterfly bolt or an EZ anchor.