When I moved into my apartment, I noticed a long, recessed box in the bathroom wall. I believed it was something awkward such as for soap or old razors. It felt old and out of place.
After some investigation online, I discovered it’s a built-in tissue box holder. These are popular in mid-century homes and designed to hold half-sized facial tissue boxes. A built-in tissue box holder, being recessed, usually right next to the sink, kept tissues accessible from a convenient location without occupying counter space.
Mid-Century Bathroom Utility
Typically in ceramic or metal to correspond to bathroom tile, instead of having a tissue box on the counter, mid-century homeowners used a built-in tissue box holder for keeping tissues, a clean, simple solution, while also providing a subtle method to allow bathroom tissues an element of design.
Not What You Think
Most people today confuse these for old soap holders or hearse-style blade disposal slots. If you just look at them without the original contents you might think that they are completely random—especially if the tissue box is missing from the built-in tissue box holder. However, if the shape is correct, and it was not very close to the toilet, your best luck is a tissue box.
Can You Even Use It?
Half-sized facial tissue boxes are still available, though if you want to find replacements it is less common than it once was. There may be used vintage replacements available on eBay or Etsy. If you want to utilize the holder, you will have to find the correct size of box.
Or repurpose it. Some people put cotton pads, bar soaps, or even small plants in it. I currently use mine to put away a lip balm and travel toothbrush. It is very handy.
An Element of Design that Doesn’t Seem Like Much
The built-in tissue box holder isn’t necessarily fancy, but it’s a reminder of the thoughtful planning and design details that used to go into homes. It was a clean, simple solution for a trivial item. If you have one in your bathroom, use it to its intended purpose or not. It’s useful, it gets you thinking, and it’s a quiet homage to a different time of design.
