Regardless of your bathroom’s size, you’d probably love to have an even bigger bathroom without paying for costly remodeling. Here to help you do that are these 42 brilliant bathroom storage hacks and solutions.
Try them out, and watch your bathroom transform into a spacious spa where everything is neatly organized and within arm’s reach.
If you’ve been hanging on to any old doorknobs, candlesticks, bottle caps, or tissue boxes, now’s the time to bust them out.
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Area of Focus: Possible Storage Solutions
- Above the Toilet: Storage space over your toilet can be used to hide stuff. Add floating shelves or a narrow cabinet, and you’re given a good space for towels, toiletries, or even a few decorative details without cramping your style.
- Behind the Door: This bathroom door can become a secret storage hero with hooks, racks, and even an over-the-door organizer for towels, robes, and bathroom essentials just in reach.
- In Corners: Never underestimate those tiny little nooks that can fit shelves or even a small cabinet, as they convert a tough-to-reach spot into smart storage with no compromise on your floor plan.
- Under the Sink: Even the smallest vanities can be more functional. Add stackable drawers or sliding baskets to keep your toiletries organized so you’ll know where everything is without cluttering up the countertop.
- Shower Space: You’ll be surprised at the difference a simple shower caddy or built-in niche makes. Keep your soaps, shampoos, and other bath products tidily tucked away so there are no bottles crowding the tub or shower floor.
Learn more: Make the Most Out of Your Tiny Bathroom with These 5 Hacks
42 Small Bathroom storage hacks and solutions
Decluttering:
1. Build storage shelves into the space between studs
Fun fact: The space between wall studs is 16 inches, on average. You’re free to do whatever you please with those extra inches, but the best thing you could do is build a small recessed cabinet for bonus bathroom storage.
Want more awesome built-in storage ideas?
Check out this roundup from Apartment Therapy.
2. Stick organizers to the inside of your medicine cabinet
For about $11, you can snap up a 3-pack of StickOnPods, which are small adhesive organizers designed to store Q-tips, nail polish, and more.
Attach the StickOnPods to your medicine cabinet door, and watch your bathroom storage space instantly increase while keeping your cosmetics neat and organized.
3. Install an IKEA picture ledge above your sink
As HouseBeautiful notes, a slender picture ledge from IKEA can hold more than framed photos. Add one right between your bathroom mirror and sink, and rest your favorite perfume or cologne, hand soap and lotion, scented candle, and hair products on top.
It appears that this bathroom storage hack’s creator, Yasam Stil, went with IKEA’s MOSSLANDA, but feel free to shop the store’s entire picture ledge collection.
You can also skip the installation with a stick-on Command Picture Ledge.
4. Store your body wash, face scrub, shampoo, conditioner, and more like shoes
Have a ton of bath products that, despite you already knowing how to organize everything in your apartment, can’t seem to find a home?
Solve that by hanging a plastic shoe organizer on the inside of your shower curtain.
If the traditional 24 pockets seems a bit much, you can find a smaller organizer with just six pockets from Camping World.
5. Store backup TP in a revamped oatmeal canister
It’s probably safe to say that you don’t want the Quaker Oats guy staring at you while you’re in the bathroom.
However, with a few handy tips from Practically Functional, you can upcycle an old oatmeal canister into a colorful TP container that you can tuck into a corner or on top of your John’s tank for fast access.
6. Suspend extra rolls with a fabric holder
The first advantage to this fabric Make It & Love It TP roll holder? It hangs extra rolls that would otherwise claim cabinet or basket space against your bathroom wall.
The second advantage? It places those rolls right under the existing one for quick and easy switches.
7. Store magazines on a hanger
If you’re into the “old school newspaper rack” style, layer your magazines and other preferred bathroom literature on a hanger and place it on the most convenient knob of your bathroom cabinet.
Storage Solutions
1. Hang baskets on the wall
As A Beautiful Mess discovered through this DIY project, wire baskets don’t have to sit on your floors or in your closets. In fact, they can make pretty excellent floating shelves for toilet paper and towels.
You just need a few screws, drywall anchors, and washers to anchor them in place. Oh, and a drill would also probably help.
2. Or hang a “wall of baskets”
“Wall of baskets” sounds like a project that could eat up your afternoon, but this Simply DIY 2 idea is actually quite easy.
First, hang two parallel towel bars. Next, cut some ribbon and thread it through your baskets, tying them to the secured bars.
Finally, take whatever bathroom supplies are crowding your cabinets and store them in your four new mini storage units.
3. Rope together a tower of buckets
This bathroom storage hack comes from Glamour, so the buckets in question are actually some pretty pastel IKEA FINTORP utensil holders. Once you’ve acquired those, just knot an all-purpose clothesline on the sides so there’s about eight inches between each bucket.
Double-knot the clothesline when you get to the last bucket and cut off the excess portion. Then, hang the finished bathroom storage solution from a simple hook on your wall or door, and toss in your hair straightener, hairspray, makeup brushes, hair brushes, and other beauty supplies.
Learn more: 18 Ways To Organize A Bathroom Without Drawers And Cabinets
4. Invest in a wrap-around shelf for your pedestal sink
Pedestal sinks look super sophisticated, but they barely have enough space to stash a bar of soap. To help your sink live up to its full potential, pick up a curved organizer like this Under-the-Sink Pedestal Storage Rack from Amazon or this custom-cut cabinet from Improvements.
5. Or dress your pedestal sink in a skirt, and hide baskets behind it
On the more DIY side, you could sew a skirt that matches your bathroom color scheme, attach it to your pedestal sink, and then stow a few storage bins underneath, where no one will ever see them.
6. DIY corner shelves and put them in, yep, a corner
They may be small, but corner shelves can go a long way in a cramped bathroom. For added flair, think about repurposing old shutters. (Pinterest has some pointers on that.)
7. Install enclosed shelves behind your sink or vanity cabinet
This step-by-step guide from Remodelaholic shows you how to build enclosed shelves that screw into the inside of your sink cabinet or bathroom vanity cabinet.
8. Fit shelves over your porcelain throne
Beautiful storage space is a terrible thing to waste, especially if it’s right above your commode.
Luckily, there are plenty of storage solutions out there, ranging from the UTEX 3-Shelf Bathroom Organizer and free-standing wooden cabinets to floating wooden shelves and pipe shelving that you can easily DIY or buy.
9. Wedge a small table over your TP holder
While redecorating an outdated bathroom, Southern Hospitality discovered that the right end table can also slide over the top of your TP holder and provide extra counter space for a small happiness-increasing houseplant.
Not sure what houseplant is right for you?
Check out our guide for choosing the best houseplants and planters for your apartment.
10. Put an expandable organizer under your sink
Thanks to its sliding shelves, a two-tiered organizer like this one from the Container Store fits easily around your pipes, and it gives you an extra adjustable shelf to store your bathroom cleaning supplies and sponges.
11. Store stuff in the sides of your tub
A couple years ago, this revolutionary bathtub with opening panels set the Internet on fire.
Unfortunately, the so-called Stowaway isn’t for sale, but if you’re feeling incredibly ambitious, you can try adjusting your bath panels yourself. Maybe just consult your plumber or YO Home!’s designer first.
Learn more: How to Declutter Your Bathroom
Creative Storage Ideas
1. DIY a hair tool organizer
As you already know from our guide to decluttering your bathroom, file organizers and PVC pipes can make excellent hair straightener holsters.
Janel from Nellie Bellie has another great solution for excessive hair tools with her DIY hair tool organizer. It’s essentially a vertical wood plank with aluminum slots, but you also get to customize this one with brightly colored duct tape.
Learn more: 5 Creative Concrete DIY Projects: Stylish and Practical Ideas
2. Make a magnetic makeup storage board
Cosmetics can easily dominate your entire medicine cabinet. But thanks to these instructions from Allie Grace, you can easily dominate DIY-ing a magnetic makeup storage board with just an old picture frame, a metal sheet, fabric of your choice, and a few other common supplies like magnetic stickers that you probably already have at home.
3. DIY a full-length mirror medicine cabinet
If your medicine cabinet just isn’t working for you, no matter how many StickOnPods you use, consider upgrading to this tall (but slim!) mirror storage case from Shanty 2 Chic.
It gives you a full-length mirror (which will save you time getting ready in the morning since you don’t have to run back to your bedroom to check your entire outfit) plus a ton of storage shelves.
And with the right wood stain, it looks catalog-ready.
4. Introduce your bathroom counter to a Lazy Susan
Provided you have enough counter space for it, a Lazy Susan is a great place to store the grooming products you use every day. And since they’re all together on one revolving stand, you just got back the time you sometimes waste in the morning rifling through your cabinets.
For even more counter space-spacing power, pick up a Cosmetic Organizing Carousel from Nifty Home Products. It’s like a Lazy Susan on steroids but without the dangerous side effects.
5. Convert bottle caps into toothbrush holders
Before you take out your recycling, save a 20L plastic bottle cap. Because once you’ve made a small notch in the cap with a boxcutter and slapped some velcro on its back, you have a new home for your toothbrush.
Hop over to Ohoh Blog for the full instructions.
6. Upcycle an old drawer into a wall-mounted mini storage unit
A drawer from a discarded dresser can be an ideal shelving unit for your bathroom. Clean it up and pretty soon, it could be looking like this Pinterest perfect example.
Learn more: 10 Things In Your Bathroom You’re Probably Forgetting To Clean (But Totally Should)
7. Store bath toys in a hollowed-out step stool
Parents, this one’s for you: Timothy and Laura Dahl of Built by Kids came up with an ingenious step stool that not only helps your toddlers reach the sink, but also serves as a roosting place for their rubber duckies, ships, and more.
Follow these simple steps to build your own bathroom storage booster or check out this storage step stool on Amazon.
8. Make a space-saving towel rack out of rope
Some towel racks take up too much real estate in your bathroom. But definitely not this one.
Using just three eye bolts and a rope, On My Honor created this space-saving towel rack that lays almost completely flat against the wall while giving your bathroom a nice rugged look.
9. Or use an old wine rack to store towels
You’ll have to roll your towels for this bathroom storage idea to work, but wine racks can be great homes for your washcloths, hand towels, and even full-size towels.
10. Or mount retro doorknobs to the wall and hang towels on them
Doorknobs are like hooks, but with way more character.
11. Or upcycle tin cans into towel storage cubbies
If you really want to get crafty, this DIY Enthusiasts guide shows you how to transform old tin cans into a pretty floral towel rack.
Storage for Specific Items
1. Install a second shower rod in your shower
Don’t have any ledge space for shampoo?
By installing another tension rod inside your shower and then adding hooks, you’ve suddenly got storage space for loofahs, caddies, and even shower caps.
2. Suction cup shaving cream, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner to your shower wall
Out of all the DIY bathroom hacks on this list, this one may be the cheapest and easiest. All you have to do is:
1. Lace hair ties through and around suction cups.
2. Stick the suction cups on your shower’s wall.
3. Slip your shaving cream, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner through the hair ties.
Clearly, it’s called a “dollar store craft” for a reason.
3. Install a divided box above your sink
If the picture ledge is too slim for your bathroom storage needs, take a cue from Itsy Bits and Pieces and spring for a more substantial slotted box.
4. Store shower and beauty products on a cake stand
Has your cake stand been collecting dust because you only bake cakes a few times a year?
Repurpose it into a stylish storage stand for your shower accessories or the hair products you’ve got lying around your sink, just like Cosmopolitan did here.
5. DIY a razor holster and attach it to your shower caddy
Don’t you just hate it when your razor slips off your shower caddy, lies on the floor, and endangers your feet?
Here’s how to give your razor a designated and safe storage spot:
1. Cut a piece of 1-inch-diameter PVC pipe into a 3-inch long piece.
2. Cut two ⅛-inch wide notches into the pipe.
3. Strap the pipe to your shower caddy’s side by fastening plastic tie straps around the pipe’s notches.
6. Store your plastic bags in a tissue box
This is one the best bathroom organization hacks for anyone who saves plastic bags and uses them to line his/her trash can.
Rather than let the bags scatter and overtake the space under your sink, bunch them all up into a recycled tissue box. Doing so not only keeps them organized but also dispenses a new bag one at a time.
Bonus points for attaching it to the inside of your bathroom cabinet, like how Melissa George from Polished Habitat did with one of her kitchen cabinets:
Space Saving Ideas
1. Build a recessed shelf in your shower wall
Provided you’re not afraid to get down with a circular saw, carving out a recessed shelf in your shower for storing soap and other toiletries is a very attainable goal. Here’s a handy visual guide from Apartment Therapy.
2. Or DIY your own bathroom supply storage stand
Don’t actually own a cake stand?
You can quickly DIY one using two plates and a candlestick.
3. Install multiple towel racks on the back of your bathroom door
Some people tap out after hanging one towel rack over their door, or sticking up two hooks. But what happens if you need to hang, say, at least five towels?
Be like Martha Stewart, who maximizes storage space on a bathroom door with a towel bar trio.
4. Craft a plush storage box from an old sweater and an old box
Thrifty & Chic lives up to its name with this DIY storage box. It’s recycled from an empty diaper box, old sweater, and a bit of lace and rope.
Learn more: 7 Creative Shoe Storage Ideas to Maximize Space
5. Buy a strategically skinny bathroom floor cabinet
If you’re forced to shop for a slender cabinet due to size constraints, be smart about it.
Look for one with shelves that give you a deceptive amount of storage space, and maybe even a secret compartment on top.
Our top picks: the 22.75” x 6.25” free standing cabinet by Proman Products, or the OakRidge Slim Bathroom cabinet on Amazon.
6. Repurpose wooden hangers into towel hooks
This bathroom storage hack is so genius yet obvious that you’ll be mad Ki Nassauer beat you to the punch. For this towel rack, you’ll need two wooden hangers and two dowels.
First, anchor the dowels to the wall. Then, screw the hangers — make sure they’re upside down — into the dowels and you’re all set.
You can now hang your big towels from the hangers’ inverted hooks and your hand towels from the hangers’ flat bases at the top. Genius? Genius.
Make the Most Out of Your Tiny Bathroom with These 5 Hacks
1. Switch up your towel rack
Towel racks can be clunky and usually only serve one purpose. Try a cubby insert or a fancy wine rack to store rolled up towels. If you use a cubby, then you can stack things on top of it. This will also free up space in your linen closets or cabinets. And if you still want to hang towels, you can use coat hooks. It will keep things organized and is great for hand towels.
2. Use shelving
If you’re running out of storage space, take a look at your wall. Notice above your door? There’s a lot of unused space there. Build a shelf above the door and store items you don’t need everyday like air fresheners or extra toiletries. An inexpensive basket or crate could be suspended from the wall, and since they’re deep you can pile a lot of items into them.
3. Choose the right mirror
There are different ways you can approach the mirror you get. The first type of mirror you can get is a large one. Kerry Trimple, a lifestyle blogger for State of Writing and Australian Help says, “it’s simple, a larger mirror creates the illusion of a bigger space. Figure out how much room you have in your bathroom for your mirror and try to maximize it.” Also, who doesn’t like a bigger mirror? Another route you could take is getting a two-in-one mirror. It’s great for small spaces, and when it’s closed to have a full-length mirror. Inside the mirror you can store all your beauty or health care products with ease.
4. Magnets are your friends
If you use bobby pins then you know how hard it is to keep track of them. Luckily, they are magnetic. All you need is a magnetic strip, some adhesive and somewhere to glue it to for example: the door of a cupboard or the side of a counter. You can also use the strip to store small tools like nail clippers and tweezers and never worry about losing them again.
5. Use the back of your door
The door is the perfect storage unit. There are so many ways to use it. Hooks on the back of the door are a classic choice. Towels or storage pouches hanging there offer ultimate efficiency. A bathroom organizer could hang from one of the hooks, which is both super convenient and will save you a ton of room. Henry Jitken, a productivity writer at Academized and Paper Fellows says, “The bathroom door is often underutilized. It’s not just for opening and shutting, and if you’re working with a small bathroom it’s the perfect way to free up some space.”
Maximize Your Space—Get Started with Our Storage Services Today!
Barriers Encountered by Small Bathroom Storage:
There may be a limited amount of space in small bathrooms, and you hardly walk or stretch out without bumping into something. It’s challenging to find space for storing every towel and your toiletries and cleaning supplies.
- Clutter Overload: With a tiny bathroom, it won’t take much space to get cluttered. A few misplaced items can make the place look cluttered with stuff in no time, turning your bathroom space into an absolute, cluttered mess.
- No Built-in Storage: Many compact bathrooms do not have built-in storage space options, such as under-sink cabinets or linen closets. You are really left to your own devices for finding somewhere to stash everything without using up too much room.
- Tricky Layout: Awkward corners, narrow walls, or oddly placed fixtures can make it tough to find storage solutions that really fit the space you have to work with.
- Style vs. Functionality: It’s tough to balance style with functionality. You may have to choose between a bathroom that is clean and clutter-free or one that looks great.
Conclusion
In conclusion, maximizing bathroom storage space doesn’t always require expensive renovations or elaborate solutions. By applying these practical and creative hacks, you can efficiently declutter, organize, and optimize every inch of your bathroom.
From simple DIY projects like utilizing wall space with baskets or shelves, to more inventive ideas such as repurposing common household items, these solutions help make even the smallest bathrooms feel clean, spacious, and functional. With a little effort and creativity, transforming your bathroom into a well-organized, clutter-free haven is easily achievable.
FAQs for small bathroom storage ideas
Q: How can I maximize vertical storage space in a compact bathroom?
A: Utilize vertical space by installing shelves, hanging baskets, or floating racks above the toilet or sink. You can also mount hooks or towel bars on the walls to keep items off countertops. This will free up floor space and help maintain an organized look.
Q: What are the best storage options for a pedestal sink?
A: Pedestal sinks offer limited storage, but you can add wrap-around shelving units, under-sink organizers, or fabric skirts to hide baskets. These solutions provide extra space for toiletries without cluttering the bathroom.
Q: What’s an efficient way to organize makeup in a small bathroom?
A: Consider using drawer organizers, magnetic boards, or stick-on compartments inside cabinets. These options allow you to store makeup in an orderly fashion while keeping surfaces clear of clutter.
Q: How can I keep small items like hair ties and bobby pins neatly stored?
A: Use small containers, magnet strips, or drawer organizers to keep small items tidy. You can also repurpose items like bottle caps or pillboxes to store hair accessories efficiently.
Q: What are some renter-friendly storage solutions for the bathroom?
A: Temporary storage solutions like over-the-door hooks, suction-cup shelves, and tension rods provide additional storage without causing damage. Portable storage carts or stackable bins are also great for maximizing space without permanent fixtures.
