Why a pretty toilet brush matters: useful and beautiful tools
- Aimee Boudreaux MacIver
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
About 10 years ago, I bought a $20 very pretty toilet brush. While $20 isn't a particularly large sum (a carton of eggs in 2026 dollars?), it was ten times as expensive as the cheapest (ugly) toilet brush I could've bought. And I spent more than money—I also spent time scouring the internet for "beautiful toilet brush." You'd be amazed where that google search leads. Did you know there are $175 toilet brushes rendered of gold-plate and marble?
Some would say I wasted both time and money. Some would say it couldn't possibly matter how a toilet brush looks because of what it does.
I say there is a deep truth with which, intentionally or not, the material beauty of even our lowliest tools cooperates: the ordinary operations of life contain dignity. The human person scrubbing toilets is precious, even in the midst of the mind-numbingly mundane or the downright gross. The beauty of our tools honors both our work and our humanity.
We use tools to cook our meals, make our coffee, dust our windowsills, and yes—clean our toilets. The work matters because we matter. Our tools could be beautiful or ugly, and when they're beautiful, they help express that these utilities of life are not meaningless.
Of course, this is a philosophical point and not an absolute one. There's no prudence in throwing away something functional or exceeding your budget. But the point is that both beauty and ugliness condition us, yet only one builds us.
Bonus: When your tools are pretty, you need less closed storage and less decor because the tools can be on display and double as design elements. Here are some pretty tools we have at home and enjoy both using and beholding. Many of these tools also make wonderful gifts to elevate the everyday for those you love.
Copper measuring spoons: These fit perfectly into spice jars and also look beautiful hanging on a hook.
Wide mouth jars: We use these for everything: leftovers, homemade granola, lunches, jar salads. A pretty jar is one of the loveliest ways to pack a lunch bag.
Stainless steel French press: Makes excellent coffee, keeps it hot for hours, and is impeccably constructed. We have two: one at home and one at our New Orleans apartment.
Reusable bags: You will not believe how often you reach for these once you have them. Significantly more pleasant than a crumpled plastic grocery bag stuffed under the sink.
Glass nail file: I cannot endorse the glass nail file enough. I first bought one about ten years ago, and it functioned beautifully until I shattered it a few weeks ago. This is the replacement and I love it, too. They file your nails easily and precisely, and with a little rinse, last forever. Never hack away at your nails with a janky file again.
Ribbed glass olive oil cruet: This cruet is beautiful and blessedly functional—the elegant collar keeps every last drip inside instead of on your counter.
Teak spatulas: We swapped out our black cooking utensils for stainless and wood. These have turned out to be extremely versatile—we use them to stir, taste, scoop, and scoop everything from soup to eggs to cake. Plus, they're just gorgeous. I've also gifted this set many times.
Bamboo drying rack: You never have to choose between practical and pretty.
Duralex picardie glasses: A French bistro staple that we use for water, soft drinks, cocktails, wine, everything. They come in tons of sizes; I recommend a set of the 12.6 oz for water, tea, and soft drinks, and a set of the 5.6 oz for wine, cocktails, and liquor. We also use stacks of these at parties instead of disposable cups.
Marvy Le Pens: I’ve used these chic, smooth-writing pens for many years. How pretty is this minimalist design and that gold clip? They also come in sets of beautiful, saturated colors that are wonderful for making birthday cards and decorating your own wrapping paper. Give yourself the simple joy of a perfectly designed instrument.
Pretty toilet brush: Et voila! Bring some dignity to the dark corners of your home. I pop these stone disks into the holder to absorb moisture instantly, which helps keep everything less funky.
Tower fan: Our beloved historic home just can’t compete with Louisiana heat. It’s simply non-negotiable to supplement our AC with both ceiling fans and tower fans that we can cart around and blast against our bodies. We’ve had these tower fans stationed in bedrooms and corners for a few years now, and they’re still going strong. I appreciate that they do the job while being aesthetically minimalist (and come with remotes!).
Dustpan set: See the bonus rule above. This one lives on display (with a pretty broom and pretty linen aprons) n our kitchen.
Brass outlet covers: One of those small upgrades that makes a shockingly significant impact and helps you pretend you're living in an apartment in le sixième.
Amber soap pumps: The foaming mechanism makes your liquid soap go significantly further, which means you save money by keeping something pretty on your sink counter.
Black toilet seat: Have you heard my presentation on the extraordinary merits of black toilet seats? Among other glorious benefits, a black toilet seat adds instant character to the least stylish object in your home and fits any architectue.
Scissors: I love looking at these every day instead of cheap plastic. The weight and heft is also strangely satisfying.
Dish scrub brush: Au revoir, gnarly sponges. I pair out with this clever dish brush stand to minimize moisture and maximize brush lifespan.
Lambswool duster: Effective and adorable hanging on our kitchen hook.
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