The Benefits of Bathroom Storage
From getting ready for the workday to freshening up for a night out to getting ready for bed, your bathroom sees a lot of your daily routines. Having enough storage — and the right storage — can help keep things organized, easily accessible and countertops clutter free. Whether you need storage for a large primary bathroom or for a smaller powder room, there are plenty of storage solutions available to meet your storage needs.
Some things to consider when shopping for bathroom storage:
- Take measurements of your space to help you determine what storage options may or may not work.
- Don't forget about vertical space.
- Think about things like having enough room to store extra products and items you go through quickly.
- If you already have some bathroom storage, think about what you could add to it to make it better suit your needs.
- Know your budget.
Before starting your search for the best bathroom storage, make sure your space is ready. You may want to take some time to go through your toiletries, hair tools and products, and any other bath items first. Sort things into what you’ll keep and what can be tossed. This will give you a better idea of the type of storage that’ll work for you. You can find some decluttering ideas in 7 Ways to Declutter Your Bathroom.
Medicine Cabinets
Medicine cabinets are bathroom mirrors with storage behind the door. They’re ideal for smaller bathrooms, like powder rooms, where you might want a mirrored surface but could also use storage space. They also work great in bigger bathrooms, offering a place to keep toothbrushes and toothpaste, floss, nail clippers, actual medicines and other smaller items stashed out of sight and off the counter. Medicine cabinets can be surface mounted or recessed into the wall, come in framed or frameless styles, and are available in different shapes including rectangular, round, oval and arched.
You can install your medicine cabinet yourself using the steps in our guide — How to Install a Mirrored Medicine Cabinet and Vanity Light.
Over-the-Toilet Storage
Designed to fit over your toilet, these freestanding units tap into unused vertical space in your bathroom. Some over-the-toilet storage units offer open shelving, and some have a combination of open shelf space and cabinets for closed storage. Consider decorative baskets for storing essentials like extra toilet paper on shelf-only models. Over-the-toilet shelves for bathrooms are great if you’re working with limited space, like in a powder room. With plenty of designs, styles and colors, you can easily find one that fits the look of your space. You can also hang a bathroom storage cabinet over the toilet if you’d prefer not to have a freestanding piece.
Bathroom Wall Cabinets
Vacant wall space is the perfect place to install a bathroom wall cabinet. These cabinets offer hidden storage to keep your things out of sight. Some have an open bottom shelf or hanging rod for additional storage. Features like adjustable shelves behind the doors make it easy to fit an assortment of items, and a wide selection of styles and colors allows you to find a look that suits your bathroom decor.
Bathroom Shelves
Bathroom shelves can be freestanding or wall mounted, giving you the option to choose which will work best in your space. If they’re narrow enough, single shelves can be hung over the sink, creating a perch for toothbrush holders, face wash and other small essentials. Tiered shelving can be hung on the wall over the toilet or beside the vanity. Some have hooks or bars for hanging hand towels. Freestanding options can be placed against a wall, next to a bathtub or tucked into a corner.
Linen Cabinets
Linen cabinets are ideal for creating storage in bathrooms that don’t already have a closet. Tall, slim cabinets take your storage upward without using much floor space. Shorter, wider options are also available and are great if you’ve got the floor space to spare. These can also be paired with wall cabinets. Many linen cabinets are designed with a mixture of cabinet and drawer storage, and some feature open shelving in place of cabinet doors. Tuck away clean towels and wash cloths, extra shampoo, toilet paper rolls and more to keep all your necessities within reach when you need them.
Drawer Cabinet Banks
If you want to add on to your existing vanity, drawer cabinet banks may be the perfect solution. Because they have drawers, they provide divided storage for your bath toiletries and other essentials. These storage units don’t come with tops, so you’ll have to fit them with one. They work great as an extension to your vanity or as a stand-alone piece, allowing you to decide the best way to use it in your space.
Other Storage and Organization Ideas
In addition to cabinets and shelving, here are a few more ways to bring storage to your bathroom.
- Towel bars and towel racks give you a place to hang up your towels to dry after a bath or shower. A rack offers more than one bar, so you can hang multiple towels.
- Towel rings are great for hand towels. Install these next to the sink so the towels are within easy reach for drying hands.
- Wall hooks are another great solution for hanging up towels. They can also work to store robes. If more than one person uses the space, hooks may be the best option to maximize hanging storage space.
- Bins and baskets can help you corral items and keep them out of site on a shelf while keeping them accessible. Some bins and baskets feature decorative designs, so they double as a storage solution and a style point. They also work well for undercabinet storage in your bathroom vanity.
- Use small bins or drawer organizers to create individual compartments inside drawers to give things like combs and brushes, makeup, face wash, personal items and more a designated spot.
- Shower caddies keep shampoos and conditioners, soap, loofas and other bathing products organized in your shower. They hang over the shower head or attach to the shower door or can be set up in the corner or your shower stall, depending on available space and what works best for you.
- Of course, a complete bathroom remodel gives you the opportunity to choose a new vanity that better meets your storage needs, as well as to incorporate other storage solutions. Our Bathroom Vanity Ideas for Remodeling article and our vanity buying guide can help you make the right selection.
For more ideas on bathroom storage, check out 6 Small Bathroom Storage Ideas and Stylish Organization Ideas for a Child’s Bathroom.