There’s no finer feeling than being squeaky clean.
After a long, stuffy tube commute or a sweaty night out on the town, returning home to douse yourself in hot soapy suds is a stellar way to rejuvenate a grubby facade.
Soap is the most valuable occupant of our bathrooms. We religiously lather our hands in its creamy bubbles to refresh our digits, and will coat it all over our bodies during in-shower daily scrub down.
Call us old-fashioned, but we hold a candle for the time-old bar. This is apparently an increasingly unpopular opinion as a quick Google search will reveal a slew of celebrity homes that champion sleek Aesop liquid soaps as opposed to a solid alternative.
Our reasoning behind why we favour bars over dispensers is simple, because of soap dishes.
For many, the thought of a soap dish doesn’t quite conjure up feelings of exaltation. Well, we’re sorry to say, but this probably means your bathroom needs spicing up. Soap dishes are small but they can be mighty. These sinkware staples can transform a bathroom with the smallest pop of colour and creativity without costing an arm and a leg to do so.
They also make for excellent conversation starters. “Is that…a frog in your bathroom?” could be a fabulous segue into your impeccable interior design skills to save you from a drab conversation.
Tragically, minimalism is the dominant force behind bathroom interior trends at present. Pristine white walls, ivory-tone tiles and all glass everything floods our social feeds day in and day out. The trend doesn’t allow for funky bathroom accessories - and that’s a crying shame.
This is where Gigi Hadid takes the stand. Last year, the supermodel took to Instagram to share a glimpse inside her New York apartment. Much to her fans' collective delight, the star broke the golden celeb rule of posting home pictures on the internet, to reveal a beautiful, art-clad space curated by Gordon Kahn & Associates.
Her legion of followers were taken with various statement features of her home. Examples being a bowl-full of snooker balls that sat atop her kitchen counter, the expansive Missoni-style sofa or a cluster of vintage skis propped up in her living room. Our eyes, however, fell firmly on her gasoline box soap dish.
And so, our obsession with quirky soap dishes was ignited. But as with all home essentials, soap dishes must have an air of practicality about them. This is why features such as removable perforated trays are vital, as they help keep the bar dry in order to last longer.
Shop the most fun, functional soap dishes on the market and discover our picks below. A visionary bathroom awaits.
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Soho Home Thornton Carrara Marble Soap Dish
A luxury choice for luxury lovers, Soho Home’s Thornton Carrara is a soap dish that will stand pride of place on your sink for years to come. The lavish piece is inspired by the marble finishes seen in Soho House Hong Kong and features beautiful stone detailing, a wooden drainer and brushed brass accents.
Buy now £65.00, Soho Home
Ceramic Flower Soap Dish
Put a spring in your step each morning with a kitsch floral soap dish. This adorable bathroom addition will delight green-fingered guests and those with a penchant for the prettier things in life.
Buy now £5.58, Temu
Oliver Bonas Crocodile Green Ceramic Soap Dish
Snap up a scaly friend for your adventurous bathroom space. Oliver Bonas’ shimmering glazed croc dish showcases a jaw-dropping design for animal lovers and reptile enthusiasts.
Buy now £12.50, Oliver Bonas
Toast Enamel Soap Dish
A classic soap dish never falls out of fashion. Toast’s ecru enamel creation features a perforated layer for easy drainage and cleaning. Crafted in Turkey, the humble design is durable, smooth and suitable for any interior aesthetic.
Buy now £16.00, Toast
Villa Bologna Pottery Bruna Bath Soap Dish
As far as soap dishes go, this one is the most attention-grabbing. Treat dear Bruna to a soapy sud and place your bar in her bubble bath. Designed in the 1970s, the dish is a joyful buy for kitsch coveters.
Buy now £56.00, Villa Bologna Pottery
Wavy Soap Dish
Kaleidoscopic colours meet Gen Z waves in Etsy’s eye-popping pick. The dishes are handmade to order in Scotland and blend eco resin and jesmonite to form sturdy, spellbinding soap holders.
Buy now £15.00, Etsy
Ortigia Zagara Glass Dish and Soap
Invite the Sicilian sunshine into your home courtesy of Ortigia. The brand’s gift set contains a decorative glass soap dish for homing an aromatic citrus soap inspired by Italian orange groves.
Buy now £25.20, Liberty
Dreaming Girl Soap Dish
Get two for the price of one. This beautiful, handmade soap dish doubles up as a trinket tray for your bedroom, making it a versatile purchase to admire. Not only is it dishwasher safe, but the delicate design makes for a thoughtful gift for those with colourful imaginations.
Buy now £29.49, Etsy
Amara MacKenzie Soap Dish
Checkerboard tiles out, checkerboard soap dishes in. Amara’s painterly navy and cream dish is perfect for those wanting to strike a happy medium between classy and creative. Pop your soap in and watch the bubbles froth on the trendy design.
Buy now £46.00, Amara
Polar Bear Soap Dish
He might not pay rent but this friendly little flatmate will brighten each morning. Stationed on an iceberg of his own, your new polar bear pal is a unique acquaintance for even the most basic of soaps.
Buy now £20.00, Etsy
Verdict
In terms of sheer practicality, Soho Home’s Thornton Carrara Marble Soap Dish and Toast’s Enamel Soap Dish take the biscuit. However the striking details of handmade pieces such as Villa Bologna Pottery’s Bruna Bath Soap Dish and Temu's flower bed designs put the spectacle back into bathroom design and for that they come top of our list.
