How to Fold Towels for a Luxurious Hotel Experience

Have you ever noticed how the smallest details can make a big difference in your home? A picture hanging on a wall, or a plant in the corner, these little things can bring everything together. The same is true in our bathrooms, a place typically styled with hard and sleek surfaces, and where a note of softness to mix up the textures can work wonders. 

Learning how to fold towels the right way is a simple touch to bring a luxury hotel-level feel. A towel on a rail, or stacked neatly, is the key to this visual depth and dimension, as well as offering a very practical kind of comfort.

In this guide, we'll reveal some easy folding steps to give your bathroom a sense of orderly calm and set you up for the ultimate bathtime experience. As the traditional towel experts, with 175 years in crafting luxury bath towels, bath mats and more, we know all the tips to help you get the most from yours.

The Art of Towel Folding: A British Legacy

When we say we've been folding towels for almost 200 years, it's true. Our history informs everything we do, from Henry Christy returning from Turkey with a sample of terry cloth and developing the first industrial loom to weave them for the masses, to the Great Exhibition in 1851, where we displayed these very towels, and Queen Victoria bought bundles of them. On that very display, we had a selection of towelling never seen before, and our Christy forebears folded, stacked and presented them well enough to catch the eye of the Queen.

So when we say we're the towel experts, we don't say it lightly. That certainly doesn't mean these tips can't be shared or learned, and that's exactly what we're here to do. Everyone should experience a little luxury every day, and this often starts with the quality of the towels you use in the morning. A truly luxurious experience is not only about how soft towels feel; it's also a visual hit. And the best way to pull off the five-star look is with clean lines and simple folding methods.

Choosing the Right Towels

Have you ever wondered why hotel towels feel so good? It's all down to the choice of weave and fabric. With our years of experience, we know what elevates the average to exceptional. Known for our quality throughout the world, we've been selected to supply towels to the Wimbledon Championships, along with five-star hotels and even exclusive glamping spots like Camp Kerala in Glastonbury.

While the endorsement of luxurious resorts and heritage tournaments means everything to us, what drives us day-to-day is the idea of bringing a notable level of comfort to every kind of home. Choosing the highest quality towels is your first step toward making your home feel special, whether your preference is for the fluffy and lightweight or thick and indulgent. A good towel sets the standard for comfort in your day-to-day life.

Essential Qualities to Look for in Your Bathroom Towels

It goes without saying that the quality of a towel starts with the choice of cotton used and the way it's woven. Not all yarns are equal, and not all products are woven in the same way, and this is what gives it a luxury appeal, not just at first, but over time. Christy's towels are built to last years, and in some cases, our customers have enjoyed them for decades. This is because we carefully select our cotton, using the right types for a specific feel, and we weave the fabric using state-of-the-art techniques in carefully managed factories with a legacy of cotton weaving.

So, when you shop for new luxury towels, look for the type of fabric used, the weight of the towel, and the type of weave (which ranges from a classic, fluffy terry weave to a modern, textured popcorn kind). For instance, there’s our Supreme Hygro towels, made with American Supima cotton, known for its long, silky fibres and absorbency, and crafted with a Hygro weave, which is a unique spinning technology that produces yarn with a 'hollow core', which allows it to stay plush and 'bouncy'. On the other hand, our Brixton towels have a special textured weave, still soft, but with a more invigorating skin feel. This kind of weave also feels extremely modern and reduces snagging.

How to Choose the Perfect Towel Feel

These are the details that make a difference, but to help guide your choice further, here are some important things and types of towels to look for:

• Absorbency: Often, varieties like American Supima cotton, Turkish cotton and Egyptian cotton offer great absorbency, but a good quality 100% cotton outside of these regions can still feel plush and absorbent, with the right weave.

• Softness: Not to be confused with plushness, the softness of the cotton generally comes down to the quality, where longer fibres allow for extra softness. Plushness, on the other hand, usually refers to thickness, which in towels is measured in GSM. While a higher GSM traditionally denotes luxury, it really comes down to what you need. Sometimes, a quality, lightweight, fluffy towel is ideal.

• Durability: Like everything else here, the quality of the cotton makes the foundation, but some weaves offer more durability than others, and finishes like bound hems act to secure loose threads.

Beginner’s Guide: How to Fold Towels Like a Hotel

Once you've selected your perfect towels, it's time to display them proudly. Neatly folded bath towels instantly bring a sense of calm, cohesion, and quiet luxury to your bathroom to make any guest feel right at home. Thankfully, the process for folding towels is easy. You need a clean, flat surface with ample room and a bit of time, plus somewhere to store or display them when you've finished.

Are you ready? Here's your easy, step-by-step way to fold your bath towels.

1: Preparing Your Towels for Folding

That neat and crisp-looking fold starts with the prep. First, make sure your towel is completely dry, shake it out, and lay the towel on a flat surface. With your hands, smooth out the towel from the ends, right to the middle. Essentially, you're aiming to remove lumps and bumps here for a clean fold, and a smooth start sets you up for success.

Here are a few starter tips to get towels ready for folding:

2: Classic Hotel Fold Technique

Now we get into the types of fold, of which there are a few. We've picked our favourites for their ease and aesthetics. We start with the standard hotel towel, giving a classic and simple finish. Here's what you need to know:

1. Place your towel on a flat surface, take one long end and bring it to the centre of the towel, then do the same thing with the other long end. Both sides should meet in the middle.

2. Next, take one short end and fold it towards the centre, and do the same with the other short end. Leave a small space of about an inch where the two ends almost touch. This gap is important because it lets you make the last fold without too much bulk.

3. To finish, take one side that's already folded and lay it on top of the other side. Smooth it down, and you'll end up with a compact towel with a clean, folded edge. Then, stack where you want it.

3: Spa-Style Rolling for Display

A spa classic, rolling your towels is an elegant and space-saving technique that's easy to master. Whether you add these to a basket or stack them on open bathroom shelves, it's a winning combination.

1. As always, begin by placing the towel flat. Fold one corner of the towel across to the centre. Make sure the short edge meets the long side. You will see a point form at one end.

2. Then, fold the towel in half along its length. This will cover up the diagonal fold, and then turn the towel over.

3. Complete the look by rolling the towel from the flat end. Make it as tight as you can. When you get to the end, tuck the pointed part into the roll. This will help stop it from coming loose. And note, this technique works for both bath towels and hand towels.

4: Space-Saving Folds for Shelves and Closets

If you have limited space, there are a few clever adaptations to the classic fold to slot everything in snugly. The flat fold is a good way to save space in your linen closet, with a neat, uniform finish that works on all towel sizes.

1. To start, fold your towel in half along its length, regardless of whether it's a bath sheet, hand towel or face cloth.

2. Next, fold the item in half from side to side, making sure the short edges meet each other.

3. A final and optional step, if you want a flat fold that is simple to stack, fold it in half again width-ways. This will give you a wide, flat, rectangular shape that fits into most shelves.

4. If your shelves are not wide, you can change the last step by folding it into thirds for extra compactness.

Caring for Your Towels

Displaying your towels beautifully has a hidden, but very important, benefit too. By storing your linens carefully, we can also maintain the integrity of the cotton fibres and keep them fresh. 

Consider things like storing them in a dry, warm place, rotating them regularly, so each towel gets even wear, and washing them correctly. Here are the headline points to go along with folding your towels, to ensure you're also caring for them at the same time.

• Shake your towels well before you dry them, again after you finish drying and before folding. This helps to lift the fibres, maintaining that soft and fluffy feel.

• Fold towels right away when they are dry (and after a shake). This reduces wrinkles and preserves plushness.

• Don’t use fabric softener. Rather than softening, it can cling to the fibres, reducing their absorbency over time.

• When you do store them, make sure not to cram them in with too many towels on one shelf. Give your towels space to encourage air circulation.

• When you take a towel from your stack, choose one from the top of the pile, and when you put clean towels back, place them at the bottom. This is the trick to even rotation.

• Consider using baskets or dividers on the shelves to keep different towel sizes and types in neat stacks.

Final Thoughts: How To Fold Towels

More than just an aesthetic twist, folding your towels has multiple benefits, from caring for the fibres to creating a spa-like, guest-ready bathroom experience. For this, it's worth remembering that small touches make a big difference, and this is the kind of tip that costs nothing. For more advice around caring for towels, head to our guides, or contact one of our team, and we'll answer your questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there special folds for guest bathrooms or luxury displays?

Layering the fold types of your towels can make a big impression. For example, place a rolled hand towel on top of a folded bath towel to give a pop of colour and draw the eye. Creating a variety of displays, including using baskets, can also elevate the room while putting towels within easy reach.

What towels should you be using to recreate the luxury spa experience at home?

Opt for a plush, high-quality cotton towel for a truly luxurious, absorbent, and warming experience. Egyptian or Turkish cotton towels often offer spa quality that elevates your routine and enhances the overall ambience of your space.

What is the proper way to fold towels?

To fold towels properly, start by laying them flat. Fold each side toward the centre, then bring the bottom up to meet the top. Finally, smooth out any wrinkles and place it neatly. This method creates a clean, professional appearance reminiscent of luxury hotels and maximises storage space.