1. Hang open baskets or boxes
Make use of all available wall space by hanging open wire baskets. Their open structure is airy and light, making them less visually dominant in the room. You will need to be thoughtful about what you store in the baskets, and styling their contents attractively, as the contents will be on full display.
Bonus: The storage has been doubled in this bathroom by slipping in a bench seat (for keeping clothes off the floor) and adding a narrow shelf beside the loo for extra bits and pieces.
Make use of all available wall space by hanging open wire baskets. Their open structure is airy and light, making them less visually dominant in the room. You will need to be thoughtful about what you store in the baskets, and styling their contents attractively, as the contents will be on full display.
Bonus: The storage has been doubled in this bathroom by slipping in a bench seat (for keeping clothes off the floor) and adding a narrow shelf beside the loo for extra bits and pieces.
Pretty as it may be, a pedestal sink offers very little surface space for much more than a toothbrush. Here, as an alternative to open baskets, a series of hanging boxes are bound together for storage. The vintage boxes are big on character and bring the space to life, while also offering a little more cover for things like toilet roll, which you may not want on full display.
2. Use space above the toilet
The otherwise wasted wall above the toilet is premium real estate, and so perfect to use for storage. Placing towels in shelves or open baskets hung behind your cistern can complement a bathroom’s colour scheme, enhancing the overall look.
Pro tip: Vintage wire shelves are hard to find, but there are plenty of cute replicas on the market to do the job. Check with a tradesperson to be sure that the screws don’t damage the water-tightness of a tile wall.
The otherwise wasted wall above the toilet is premium real estate, and so perfect to use for storage. Placing towels in shelves or open baskets hung behind your cistern can complement a bathroom’s colour scheme, enhancing the overall look.
Pro tip: Vintage wire shelves are hard to find, but there are plenty of cute replicas on the market to do the job. Check with a tradesperson to be sure that the screws don’t damage the water-tightness of a tile wall.
3. Hang buckets
A simple towel rail is easy to install and can be used for more than towels. Hang a series of small buckets from it for all the little items like tweezers and toothpaste that can get lost in drawers or cupboards. You can even get your toothbrush off the vanity if the buckets are close by.
Allocate one bucket per family member to keep personal items hygienically separated.
How buckets and tubs can help around the home
A simple towel rail is easy to install and can be used for more than towels. Hang a series of small buckets from it for all the little items like tweezers and toothpaste that can get lost in drawers or cupboards. You can even get your toothbrush off the vanity if the buckets are close by.
Allocate one bucket per family member to keep personal items hygienically separated.
How buckets and tubs can help around the home
4. Look up high
Look up to the ceiling for bonus space you hadn’t thought about calling into action. In a particularly small bathroom, mount a shelf above head height for items you don’t need to reach for every day. A floating shelf up high is a great place for storing light but bulky items, such as towels or extra toilet rolls.
The shelf might be up above eye level, but don’t let it become an ugly dumping ground. Make sure the contents are stacked prettily, or use baskets to hide little odds and ends.
Look up to the ceiling for bonus space you hadn’t thought about calling into action. In a particularly small bathroom, mount a shelf above head height for items you don’t need to reach for every day. A floating shelf up high is a great place for storing light but bulky items, such as towels or extra toilet rolls.
The shelf might be up above eye level, but don’t let it become an ugly dumping ground. Make sure the contents are stacked prettily, or use baskets to hide little odds and ends.
5. Bookcase by the bath
A built-in bath often has an extra space at the end away from the taps. Rather than wasting it, set a bookcase in the space and fill it with attractive items. Just make sure that the case is properly balanced, or find a way to attach it to the wall behind, so that it’s properly secure before you start loading it up.
Bonus: Don’t limit your accessories to bathroom-only bits. Here the homeowner has created a great display of vintage china vases and dishes that can be admired while lying in the bath.
A built-in bath often has an extra space at the end away from the taps. Rather than wasting it, set a bookcase in the space and fill it with attractive items. Just make sure that the case is properly balanced, or find a way to attach it to the wall behind, so that it’s properly secure before you start loading it up.
Bonus: Don’t limit your accessories to bathroom-only bits. Here the homeowner has created a great display of vintage china vases and dishes that can be admired while lying in the bath.
6. Choose a mirror with a small ledge
An old-school pedestal sink has virtually no surface area on which to put anything, so solve the storage problem with an old-school companion: a mirrored medicine cabinet with a small ledge on the front. You don’t need to custom-make a mirrored cabinet or a separate shelf; look around in secondhand shops or hardware stores for a mirror that does double duty for storage.
This mirror fits in perfectly with the heritage style of this bathroom, using framing that mimics the finish on the windows and ties in with the dentil decorations around the picture rail.
See more shapely pedestal sinks
An old-school pedestal sink has virtually no surface area on which to put anything, so solve the storage problem with an old-school companion: a mirrored medicine cabinet with a small ledge on the front. You don’t need to custom-make a mirrored cabinet or a separate shelf; look around in secondhand shops or hardware stores for a mirror that does double duty for storage.
This mirror fits in perfectly with the heritage style of this bathroom, using framing that mimics the finish on the windows and ties in with the dentil decorations around the picture rail.
See more shapely pedestal sinks
Even better, add lots of medicine cabinets, mirrored or not. Here a cute array of tiny cupboards provides colour, light, and plenty of well-organised storage. Just remember to keep medicines higher up, and allocate a cupboard each lower down to your family members.
7. Add a tiny shelf or two
A small shelf just above the sink is unobtrusive and very practical. This floating shelf and the little one to the side of the sink have been cut into the wall lining and glued in place.
Bonus: If you don’t want to go to this much trouble, or need a faster fix, find a small shelf with powerful suction pads at your local hardware store for light items.
A small shelf just above the sink is unobtrusive and very practical. This floating shelf and the little one to the side of the sink have been cut into the wall lining and glued in place.
Bonus: If you don’t want to go to this much trouble, or need a faster fix, find a small shelf with powerful suction pads at your local hardware store for light items.
If you have an eye for arrangements (and classy matching toiletries), then hunt for an array of boxes to create a department-store-style storage display. Decant your garish shampoos into smart bottles, and add gorgeous wallpaper at the back of the boxes and behind them, to pick up the golden shades of the perfumes and after-shaves themselves.
8. Add a ladder
A ladder in a bathroom creates instant character in what can be an otherwise sterile space. You can buy ladder shelves to lean against the wall, just be sure to attach to the wall with L-brackets to prevent it toppling. Take the time to dress it up and add decorative accents and pot plants.
A wall-hung book ladder is ideal for repurposing in the bathroom, as storage for clean towels: it provides lots of vertical space without the cluttering optics of full shelves. And it gives your inner stylist a chance to colour-block the towels, a refreshing change from book covers.
Colour-block your bookshelves
A ladder in a bathroom creates instant character in what can be an otherwise sterile space. You can buy ladder shelves to lean against the wall, just be sure to attach to the wall with L-brackets to prevent it toppling. Take the time to dress it up and add decorative accents and pot plants.
A wall-hung book ladder is ideal for repurposing in the bathroom, as storage for clean towels: it provides lots of vertical space without the cluttering optics of full shelves. And it gives your inner stylist a chance to colour-block the towels, a refreshing change from book covers.
Colour-block your bookshelves
9. Re-purpose a shelf-and-hook combo
Generally found by the back door or in the boot room, this combination storage piece can also be great to use in the bathroom. Hang the shelves above head height, stash unsightly cleaning stuff or toiletries in matching baskets, and then use the hooks for hanging towels, baskets or holding your clothes while you wash.
Generally found by the back door or in the boot room, this combination storage piece can also be great to use in the bathroom. Hang the shelves above head height, stash unsightly cleaning stuff or toiletries in matching baskets, and then use the hooks for hanging towels, baskets or holding your clothes while you wash.
10. Slot in a seat
An open vanity or an empty corner is great for creating breathing space in a tiny bathroom, but it’s not so ideal when you have excess items you need to store. Slot in a narrow box seat or two, or have a U-shaped seat like this one custom built.
The padded seat is handy for sit-down jobs like pedicures or lengthy hair-drying, and the seat lifts up for storage of towels or bath toys. Upholster with a low-plush towelling, outdoor fabric or plastic-coated fabric, and make sure the top pad can zip off so it can be removed for laundering.
An open vanity or an empty corner is great for creating breathing space in a tiny bathroom, but it’s not so ideal when you have excess items you need to store. Slot in a narrow box seat or two, or have a U-shaped seat like this one custom built.
The padded seat is handy for sit-down jobs like pedicures or lengthy hair-drying, and the seat lifts up for storage of towels or bath toys. Upholster with a low-plush towelling, outdoor fabric or plastic-coated fabric, and make sure the top pad can zip off so it can be removed for laundering.
11. Wheel it around
If you have no vanity space, and no way to build in cabinets or shelves, a cute caddy on wheels is a great storage option. It can be easily moved around the bathroom beside the sink or bath. Dress it up with flowers and your loveliest towels so that it doesn’t become a clutter magnet.
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What kind of creative storage solutions have you come up with in your bathroom? Share your ideas in the Comments.
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If you have no vanity space, and no way to build in cabinets or shelves, a cute caddy on wheels is a great storage option. It can be easily moved around the bathroom beside the sink or bath. Dress it up with flowers and your loveliest towels so that it doesn’t become a clutter magnet.
TELL US
What kind of creative storage solutions have you come up with in your bathroom? Share your ideas in the Comments.
MORE
Browse more bathroom ideas
