40 Creative Bathroom Storage Ideas to Make the Most of a Small Layout
Purchase or DIY these smart and cheap solutions to maximize space in cabinets, corners, under-the-sink areas and more.
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You've had fun decorating your bathroom — now it's time to find the right solutions to stay organized. Luckily, there's an abundance of bathroom storage ideas you can DIY or purchase online, including under-the-sink organizers and smart ways to clear counters, shelves and cabinets.
Whether it's the primary bathroom, powder room or guest bath, there's no denying that bathrooms are a high-traffic area that can easily become cluttered. To help you out, we've rounded up affordable options for nearly any design and layout. You can conceal your toiletries in storage baskets or purchase a sink skirt to hide folded towels and cleaning products. Try adding hooks throughout the space to hang robes, while keeping hair products organized with over-the-cabinet storage. If you really want to get crafty, repurpose a bar cart to display extra bedding, toilet paper and makeup organizers for easy grabbing. Even your kids' bathroom can benefit from built-in shelves and hidden cabinets for their toys, bath products and cozy blankets. Read on for more ideas.
Roll Your Towels
Let's face it: Towels can take over a bathroom if you don't have a good spot to keep them organized. Purchase a simple towel holder you can place in an empty corner of the room or go for a wall-mounted design.
Include a Makeup Vanity
Don't let a small bathroom deter you from carving out space for a makeup station. Forget scattering your beauty products all over the bathroom sink. All it takes is a small vanity with a drawer for your beauty essentials.
Use Every Inch For Storage
Prefer a minimalist vibe with understated shelving? Take a cue from this nursery bathroom and install a narrow built-in for everyday items. Products like moisturizers and body wash can be placed on lower shelves, while cleaning supplies can remain on top.
Max Out Space for a Vanity
The more drawers you have, the more space there is for your bath essentials. Even if your bathroom isn't as grand as you'd like, a wide vanity allows you to separate items by category.
Try a Toilet Paper Stand
Slip this slim cabinet into any small area — think between the toilet and sink base cabinet, for instance. Display your greenery at the top, your toilet paper in the middle and any small bath products on the lowest shelf. Then, you're left with cabinet space at the bottom for cleaning supplies or face towels.
Unclutter Your Vanity Drawers
Believe it or not, just organizing your drawers can give you more space and allow you to fit more in. Use drawer dividers to section off your products. Choose multiple sizes, one for hair ties and clips, and another for flat irons, blow dryers and brushes.
Attach Wire Baskets to the Wall
Don't let any extra wall space go to waste. Attach wire baskets to any bathroom wall to store everything from lightweight towels to bars of soap.
Corral Products on a Tiered Stand
Keep your countertop free of clutter with a three-tier stand that'll ensure everything remains in one place. Heavier items can be placed at the bottom and lightweight products, like cotton balls and Q-tips, can be on top.
Opt for a Corner Cabinet
If you're someone who loves to stock up on bath products, then you may benefit from a larger cabinet. Choose a design with glass doors, so you can easily see what you need to grab.
Install a Floating Shelf
Lean into a rustic aesthetic — and bring function to your bathroom while you're at it — with a floating wood shelf to display decorative objects, like framed art, along with a few bath accessories.
Use Bath Trays for Extra Space
Bring the spa right to your home with a simple bath tray that can hold everything from reading material to candles and body products.
Organize Your Cosmetics
Don't let your collection of cosmetics get out of control. Keep them organized and displayed on your countertop with a stand that's large enough to hold multiple products but small enough to be placed just about anywhere.
Go for Floor Storage Cabinets
When you're in a pinch, it pays to have cabinets with glass doors to quickly spot what you need. Just don't forget to spruce up the top with glass jars full of everyday necessities like cotton balls, Q-tips and bar soap.
Double Up Your Shelves
Extra built-in shelves never hurt, especially on both sides of a small bathroom. Let your bathtub serve as the focal point, then feature your knickknacks, plants and baskets of toiletries on the open shelves.
Take Advantage of the Entire Wall
Forget the floor cabinets and floating ledges. Instead, go the extra mile with built-in shelves all over the wall. You'll truly have space for everything, including your towels, ornaments, baskets of toiletries, and bins of cleaning products and hair tools.
Keep Towels by the Entrance
Instead of keeping everything in your bathroom, place your shelving unit beside the entrance so you can grab your towels and wash cloths before you go in.
Install an Alcove Shelf
Carving out space in the wall beside your tub creates a clutter-free solution that won't take up extra space in your bathroom. Use the ledge to store your bath bombs, soap bars and bath salts, so they'll be in-reach when needed.
Create a Nook for Shower Essentials
Carve out a space in your shower to store shampoo, conditioner, body wash and other essentials. Decant your go-to shampoo and conditioner in pretty glass bottles to create a more streamlined look.
RELATED: Stunning Walk-In Shower Ideas
Conceal Items in Baskets and Bins
Think up, not out: Built-in shelves don't take up any floor space, but multiply your storage space. Fill 'em with labeled bins, stack folded towels directly on the shelves or find a way to do both.
Replace a Bulky Medicine Cabinet
We get it: Sometimes, medicine cabinets are the only solution if you're short on space. But if you're smart about how you organize the drawers in your vanity (keep reading for ideas), hang a sleek light bar over a mirror that lays flush against the wall.
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
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