Bathrooms are clutter magnets. Hair products formulated for your personal pH, the post-Christmas bath bomb dump, your never-ending toilet roll stash and the family’s washing all add up to a heap of mess. But your bathroom is probably this way because you spent all your time deciding which toilet, bath and basin to get, and not where you’d keep the accumulation of bits and pieces that gather there. That’s why we’re here to help, with 42 bathroom storage ideas to make your smallest room feel that little bit bigger.
Place a standalone shelving unit in any available space. It can have a footprint the size of a single tile or anything bigger, but it’s a simple, often overlooked, solution.
Lean an old step ladder against the wall and store your bits and bobs on the steps. You can screw boards to the steps to create shelves that increase in size the closer to the floor you get.
These open shelf units on wheels make for a great temporary storage solution, and you can put them anywhere where there’s room.
Make use of those nooks and crannies by installing shelves into unused corners on your bathroom’s walls.
For bigger bathrooms, bring in an old chest of drawers that you’re not using elsewhere in the house. These can be great for storing towels and also look fantastic as a homely design feature.
If you have a free-standing plinth sink, there’s probably half a cubic metre of space wasted under the bowl. Slide in a couple of small shelf units and they won’t get in the way.
These units are custom built to accommodate the basin and toilet, and come with drawers, shelves or cupboards built in.
Your bath is a U-shape with lips around the edge, which usually get hidden with vertical boards. Why not make the boards hinged, slidable or removable? There’s hidden space under there that could make for a great storage place.
Pop into an office supplies store and get yourself a desk tidy for pens and stationery, which can be perfect for storing makeup and accessories.
Every door has at least half a metre of wall above it – why not put a shelf or two up there? They can be perfect for towels, dressing gowns and other bits and bobs.
There’s usually a sliver of space between the toilet and the wall – we see room for a slimline drawer unit!
Alternatively, fix some narrow shelves to the wall next to the toilet. The ceiling’s the limit.
Towel stands are great for those who find themselves slinging their damp towels over any surface they can find. An excellent choice for those who just don’t have time to fold!
Simple deep shelves mounted on the wall are great for storing your fluffy dry towels until they’re ready to use.
Attach a pole underneath your towel shelf so you have a handy place to hang your towel, and let it air between uses.
The back of the door is a great place to put some towel racks or pegs. Make sure you can still open the door when they’re attached though.
If you’ve got a radiator in the bathroom, swap it for a towel rail. It’s great for storing and drying towels (and other washing), and will keep the space toasty warm in those chilly winter months.
Attach a wooden box to the wall by its base, so it’s facing sideways, and you have a ready-made storage space for towels.
Screw two shelf brackets to the wall about 20 cm apart to create the perfect space for storing rolled-up towels.
A must for any bathroom where a pile of clothes on the floor is as permanent a fixture as the bath itself.
A sack with a handle is ideal for stuffing your dirty clothes and carrying them to the washing machine. Have separate sacks for whites, coloureds and towels and educate your family on the difference.
A kind of ottoman for the bathroom, perfect for hiding your washing until it’s time to do the laundry.
These little wonders have been around for decades – no drilling required; they’re held on by suction. Pro tip: make sure they’re pressed on well, and don’t overfill them for risk of them falling off the wall with a crash.
A longer, taller version of the corner unit, for people with larger shower cubicles.
If you’re not sold on suckers, you can fit a shower shelf permanently in the usual way – just make sure it’s waterproof!
Attach hooks to the wall and hang your flannels to drain between showers.
Don’t leave soap lying around in the shower – hang it up with an embedded rope.
Many brands of showergel come with built-in hooks in the bottle. All you need is a pole or hook somewhere handy and within reach of the bath.
If your shower unit sides don’t reach the ceiling, they’re perfect for hanging a storage rack onto.
Attach it to the wall behind the sink, and everyone has their toothbrush and toothpaste to hand, plus you’ll free up some space around the sink itself.
Do you struggle to stay organised when you’re putting your face on? Attach a shelf to the wall under the mirror for all your beautification needs.
A magnetic stripe attached to the wall is great for tweezers, scissors, razors and other steel objects.
Stop your soap slipping into the basin and onto the floor with a simple soap dish.
Place a wire basket or two around your basin – perfect for sponges, creams and other products.
A movable shelf that reaches from one side of the bath to the other – perfect for soaps, shampoos and razors.
If you take bathing seriously, you can get bath bridges with a slot for phones and tablets, and book racks for reading.
Come on, we all do it. So keep your private reading materials organized with a toilet-side magazine and book rack.
Simply a vertical pole with a stand at the bottom to accommodate a pile of toilet rolls.
If you’re short of room, you can recess your toilet roll dispenser into the wall for a tidy space-saving solution.
Use a milk bottle holder to store your bleach, mould remover and other such products and keep them all in one place.
Got a piece of furniture you’re throwing out? There’s a chance you could strip it, paint it and give it a new home in your bathroom.
Mason jars and food jars are perfect for keeping all those fiddly things tidy. You can even make a feature of them.