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.
1. Standalone shelving units
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.
2. Ladder storage
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.
3. Bathroom trolley
These open shelf units on wheels make for a great temporary storage solution, and you can put them anywhere where there’s room.
4. Corner wall shelving
Make use of those nooks and crannies by installing shelves into unused corners on your bathroom’s walls.
5. Chest of drawers
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.
6. Under-sink storage units
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.
7. Integrated sink and toilet unit
These units are custom built to accommodate the basin and toilet, and come with drawers, shelves or cupboards built in.
8. Hideaway bath panel
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.
9. Drawer separator
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.
10. Above-the-door shelf
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.
11. Slimline drawer unit
There’s usually a sliver of space between the toilet and the wall – we see room for a slimline drawer unit!
12. Slimline shelves
Alternatively, fix some narrow shelves to the wall next to the toilet. The ceiling’s the limit.
13. Towel stand
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!
14. Towel shelves
Simple deep shelves mounted on the wall are great for storing your fluffy dry towels until they’re ready to use.
15. Shelf and towel pole
Attach a pole underneath your towel shelf so you have a handy place to hang your towel, and let it air between uses.
16. Door-mounted towel racks
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.
17. Heated towel rail
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.
18. Sideways towel box
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.
19. Shelf-bracket towel rack
Screw two shelf brackets to the wall about 20 cm apart to create the perfect space for storing rolled-up towels.
20. Laundry baskets
A must for any bathroom where a pile of clothes on the floor is as permanent a fixture as the bath itself.
21. Washing sacks
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.
22. Washing chest
A kind of ottoman for the bathroom, perfect for hiding your washing until it’s time to do the laundry.
23. Sucker shower corner unit
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.
24. Sucker shower side unit
A longer, taller version of the corner unit, for people with larger shower cubicles.
25. Permanent shower shelf
If you’re not sold on suckers, you can fit a shower shelf permanently in the usual way – just make sure it’s waterproof!
26. Flannel hanger
Attach hooks to the wall and hang your flannels to drain between showers.
27. Soap on a rope
Don’t leave soap lying around in the shower – hang it up with an embedded rope.
28. Shower gel hanger
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.
29. Over-wall hook storage
If your shower unit sides don’t reach the ceiling, they’re perfect for hanging a storage rack onto.
30. Wall-mounted toothbrush rack
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.
31. Makeup shelf
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.
32. Magnetic stripe
A magnetic stripe attached to the wall is great for tweezers, scissors, razors and other steel objects.
33. Soap dish
Stop your soap slipping into the basin and onto the floor with a simple soap dish.
34. Wire baskets
Place a wire basket or two around your basin – perfect for sponges, creams and other products.
35. Bath bridge
A movable shelf that reaches from one side of the bath to the other – perfect for soaps, shampoos and razors.
36. Luxury bath bridge
If you take bathing seriously, you can get bath bridges with a slot for phones and tablets, and book racks for reading.
37. Magazine rack
Come on, we all do it. So keep your private reading materials organized with a toilet-side magazine and book rack.
38. Toilet roll tower
Simply a vertical pole with a stand at the bottom to accommodate a pile of toilet rolls.
39. Recessed dispenser
If you’re short of room, you can recess your toilet roll dispenser into the wall for a tidy space-saving solution.
40. Milk bottle holder
Use a milk bottle holder to store your bleach, mould remover and other such products and keep them all in one place.
41. Repurposed furniture
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.
42. Reused jars
Mason jars and food jars are perfect for keeping all those fiddly things tidy. You can even make a feature of them.
