Hang a bath towel on it, awaiting the next overnight guest.

Towels for a guest bath don't have to be lace-trimmed/embroidered/multicolored-jacquard nightmares.

Just place a couple plain white handtowels on there so that your guests have something to dry their hands with after washing...
...that is, of course, assuming you want them to wash their hands after using the restroom.

Some ideas that came to mind would be to hang a tapestry or pretty fabric to make it more like an art piece over a towel rack.

Turn it into shelving. Add a piece of acrylic shelving or wood and find a creative way to attach it.

Hang magazines on it for bathroom reading (open mag half way and rest it on rack)

hang frames off of it (add hooks to the frames, use ribbon, etc)

hard to think of anything else without seeing the rack and it's proximity to other areas of the bathroom.

If your rack looks like the one in the photo I think you can un screw the two bases on each side. Perhaps temporarily remove that and hang art work over the holes in the wall.

You could try to find a old fishing net of some sort to hang or the rod rather that the predictable towel. I think it could look cool.

Buy a chrome "S" hook and hang a bag of guest items (small shampoos, bath gels etc).

In keeping with the nautical theme, here are a few suggestions:
You could wrap rope around the rail, or drape a fishnet over it, or hang glass buoys from it (or all of the above, if you want to get really nautical!)

I agree with Nej...it would also be a nice place to display some picture frames.

I have a towel bar actually IN my shower, just above where the tile stops. I use S hooks and hang accessories, like wooden back brush, shower radio, etc.

Once again, needs more information.

It really depends where the towel bar is. If it's under a sunny window, you could hang some flower pots under it (even if it's not-so-sunny, some ferns). If it's near the toilet the magazine suggestion makes sense. Near the sink, hang some wire or ceramic storage bins (ikea). If it's really out in the middle of nowhere, take it down and hang a piece of art or hang a nice textile that works as a piece of art.

Or hang a nautical themed flag e.g. http://catalog.lighthouseuniform.com/yachtclub/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=216&products_id=1136

Or other nautical items like previous posters suggested!

I took mine down and replaced it with some wall mounted shelving. I kept the bar so I can put it back up before we move and I'll putty the walls where the wall anchors make holes.. but I definitely think the extra storage in my small apartment bathroom is worth the work!

I don't get it. If you're not into decorative towels why not use plain towels? Why get rid of towels altogether? What do you use instead? I'm confused.

I took mine down and screwed a wine crate to the wall (so it made sort of a shadow box). I keep soap, jewelry, folded hand towels, etc inside.

I'm not into decorative towels, but I hang one white towel there. But now that I saw the suggestions, I might just put a shelf there, they are easy to take down, mine falls off all the time so I know. Just put it back the way it was when you leave the rental.

Ikea makes some neat wall organizers that might work as extra storage space:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/kitchen/10474/

I especially like the Asker containers, which would hang nicely. You could also use them for plants if you don't want to put up a shelf.

I second the S hook idea. i have towels on S hooks on my towel rod mixed in with other items, it looks pretty cool.

Hi Guys!

I'm the original poster, and I am really liking the idea of either S hooks to hang items or hanging other nautical items from it. Sorry I didn't give more info on where the bar is located--it is next to the shower (which already has built-in towel bars that my guests use) and about five feet away from the sink, so I put hand towels on the sink for guests to use when they visit. There are plenty of places for towels to go already, so that's why I mentioned I don't like decorative towels. Thanks for the help!

Towel bars are partly a place for damp towels to dry out. I'd hang a hand towel there for the sink users.

I actually mounted a new chrome towel bar in our main bath (near our shower) when we moved into our apartment a few years back....to specifically use NOT for towels.

My idea to use it much like I did mine, is to buy a package of metal curtain hooks (to your liking) and hang metal baskets, or clear or colored plastic/acrylic ones (square or small round etc) that have a handle that can run perpendicular to your towel bar (use the hooks to hook onto the handles). I use the baskets to place lotions, special bath salts or products that I would like to use on occasion for me or for guests. You could also roll up washcloths that match your nautical decor and place one basket.

I usually find those kinds of baskets (on the cheap) at a TJMaxx or Homegoods in the bath or kitchen isles, sometimes you find them filled with bath products as a set but I buy them and use the baskets. Also bed bath a beyond or container store?

I used the other hooks in the package to hang extra bath puffs, nail brush on a string, pumice stone, loofah on a string, soap on a rope etc.

You could also use wire or rope around glass jars and fill with sand and a small candle to light as ambiance in your bath, or fill with water and fresh greenery or flowers.

Depending on how high up the bar is you could even hot glue the hooks to the back of picture frames and even glue multiple frames in a vertical string rows at different lengths....using small chains attached.

What you fill or hang decorative or for use in the bathroom are endless. Here are a few link to show some of the ideas....

http://www.thisnext.com/item/3483A199/19DF7D32/Mercer-Bath-System

http://www.ourfixerupper.com/making-the-clawfoot-functional-where-to-hide-the-soap.htm

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/mason-jar-hanging-candleholder/

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/showerTub/totes?productId=10010620&green=17008832944

http://www.kaboodle.com/reviews/rectangular-chrome-wire-basket--clear-trim-by-interdesign

Have fun!

I had this same problem in my old apartment! I ended up using it to hang jewelry on, which turned out to be a really great solution for me. But for you... I love the idea of hanging a plant on it! This might be a good place for a Woollypocket!