To be honest, your bathroom is most likely a disaster that a pharmacy was shaken by the hurricane. Little bottles all around, towels on all the surfaces, and yet, somehow, at the time of a rush when you need to be to work, you cannot find your toothbrush. Sound familiar?
I’ve been there, friend. My previous bathroom was so small that I had to make a dance to be able to close the door. However, here is the point: small bath rooms do not necessarily imply the loss of style in favor of storage. All you have to do is be creative with your space.
I have tested storage options over the years and came across the best storage options that, in fact, help your bathroom appear more stylish, not oppressed. Are you willing to make your small bathroom a modern oasis? Let’s get started.
Wall-Mounted Magic: Going Vertical is Your Best Friend
In the case where floor room is virtually non-existent you must think up. Such storage mounted on the wall is the game-changer of small bathrooms, and frankly speaking, I should have thought this sooner.
Floating Shelves That Actually Float Your Boat
Floating shelves are not only fashionable but also useful gold mines. I put up three slim floating shelves in the above my toilet and I now had room to hold all my luxurious skincare products that were formerly in a cardboard box under the sink.
The following is what makes floating shelves so effective: 1) you get the space on the wall, the wall goes over the shelves, and 2) you are able to adjust the height to suit items of various sizes, 3) they are cheap when compared to built-in cabinets and 4) they do not require many skills to install; I was able to do it without calling my handy brother.
Hack: Select the shelves that match your wall color. This gives a smooth appearance that deceives the eye into thinking that there is more space than there is.
Medicine Cabinets: Not Just for Grandparents Anymore
You remember these old-fashioned medicine cabinets your grandparents used to have. And now, they are back and better than ever. New medicine cabinets are well-designed and sleek in appearance and are able to provide additional storage without consuming very important real estate.
I have substituted my simple mirror with a recessed medicine cabinet with LED lights. Game changer! My everyday necessities have their own space to be stored here and I have an inbuilt light which also makes my morning routine so much easier than before.
Over-the-Toilet Territory: Making Dead Space Work
That fumbling area between your toilet? It is prime real estate that is not given much attention by most people. This space is ideal in case of storage that appears purposeful and fashionable.
Ladder Shelving: Industrial Meets Functional
The ladder shelves are currently experiencing a significant trend, which is understandable. They are mounted on the wall behind your toilet and offer a number of levels of storage without appearing to be large.
| Storage Type | Best For | Style Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Ladder Shelves | Towels, plants, decorative items | High – adds vertical interest |
| Over-toilet Cabinets | Hidden storage, cleaning supplies | Medium – more traditional look |
I picked one of the bamboo ladder shelves and installed it in my bathroom, and it fits all my needs, including additional toilet paper (covered with nice baskets), but also all my small plants. Yes, and I am that person who puts plants everywhere on the spot.
Cabinet Systems That Don’t Look Like Afterthoughts
In case you feel like having hidden storage, over the toilet cabinets can be a great choice, however, make a good choice. Before choosing the cheapest particle board alternatives that strike the words college dorm room, invest in one that has clean lines and a good quality of materials.
Shower Storage That Doesn’t Suck
Shower storage is a topic to be discussed as most of the solutions are awful. Suction cup caddies that slide under the floor each time you sneeze? We can do better.
Built-in Niches: The Ultimate Shower Upgrade
Shower niches should certainly be an investment in case you are renovating or constructing a new building. These inbuilt cubbies make everything tidy and look very presentable.
Can’t do a full renovation? No problem. Corner shelves made with adhesive and matching materials would produce similar effect without the construction drama of it.
Tension Pole Systems: Surprisingly Sophisticated
This is what I have never thought I would say: tension poles are actually stylish. The trick to this is the selection of the appropriate style and putting them into strategic use.
I fitted a brushes nickel tension pole system in my shower that had several baskets. It has shampoo and all the hair products of my husband (there is always a reason why one can need a lot of them, right?).
Hidden Storage Gems You Haven’t Thought Of
The most effective storage systems are usually those that are in an inconspicuous place. These are ingenious concepts which leave your visual environment untrampled.
Mirror Cabinets Beyond the Obvious
Medicine cabinets are familiar to all but full-length mirror cabinets? These sleek units give a capacity of a lot of storage and can be used as a complete body mirror.
Toilet Paper Storage That’s Actually Pretty
No one would desire to see such a huge pack of Charmin, yet you must have it stored somewhere. Baskets and decorative baskets beneath floating vanities have additional supplies, which are hidden but still accessible.
Towel Storage with Style
Heated towel rail is not merely the luxury features but smart storage help. They arrange towels in a neat way, dry and warm and occupy little space.
Vanity Area: Small Space, Big Impact
Your vanity is one of the likely areas that are busier than any other place in your bathroom. Use smart storage to make the most of every inch.
Drawer Organizers: The Unsung Heroes
Drawer organizers are expandable, which makes a disorganized vanity drawer an orderly space. I apply them to make-up brushes as well as hair ties and, frankly enough, I am so delighted when I open an arranged drawer.
Wall-Mounted Vanities: Creating the Illusion of Space
Vanities mounted on the wall are also very ingenious in small bathrooms since the space below the cabinet is revealed, as a result the room appears bigger. Furthermore, you can have storage baskets underneath to use as an added functionality.
Decorative Storage: Pretty and Practical
Who says storage must be unattractive? Combining form and function is always the best solutions.
Baskets That Actually Look Good
Natural fiber baskets are also used to provide texture and warmth and conceal clutter. I store them in any place, and I have them under the vanity, on shelves, and on wall hooks.
Glass Containers: Transparent Organization
Simple things such as cotton balls and Q-tips are placed on transparent glass jars and containers and appear to be planned and structured. They also make a good homemade bath salt (I do make my own bath salts, don’t scorn me).
Maximizing Every Nook and Cranny
Small bathrooms demand the use of creativity. These are space saving ideas that enable you to create storage where you had not thought.
Behind-the-Door Solutions
You have a good place to market on the back of your bathroom door. There are over-door organizers which allow storing not only hair products but also cleaning supplies in several pockets.
Corner Utilization
Corner caddies and triangular shelves utilize the unused corner spaces that simply accumulate dust. They fit perfectly well with those things that you use daily but may not be desirable to be on display.
Under-Sink Maximization
The space that is near your sink is always a sinkhole of pipes and lost objects. This space can be turned into a system of orderly storage by sliding drawer systems or tiered shelving units.
Color and Design Tricks That Make Storage Disappear
It is not necessarily about having an organized place to store things, it is about ensuring that everything appears planned and joined.
Also follow a specific color scheme on all your storage solutions. This brings harmony to the eye and helps not make the space appear disorganized although you have various elements of storage.
Select storage to correspond to your current fixtures. When you have brushed nickel faucets, then select the storage materials with the same finish.
Maintenance: Keeping It All Together
The truth is here: none of the beautiful storage you can have will do you any good unless you take care of it. Install systems that will be compatible with your life and not contrary to it.
This is something I was able to learn the hard way when I designed this pretty Pinterest-perfect storage system where I had to neatly fold and organize everything every day. Spoiler alert, I am not such a person and my bathroom was in an organized mess in one week.
FYI, the optimal storage options are the ones that you will put into use regularly. Instagram perfection is not always preferable to functionality.
Your Chic Storage Action Plan
Ready to transform your small bathroom? Start with these priorities:
Week 1: Add floating shelves and evaluate your potential to store on walls Week 2: Sort under-sink area and add drawer organizers
Week 3: Attack shower storage and over-toilet solutions Week 4: Add decorative storage features and implement fines on the system.
This is because small bathrooms do not necessarily imply a compromise in terms of style or functionality. Your small bathroom can be the cleanest -and stylish-room in your house with the help of the appropriate storage options.
Believe me, you will not regret when you have gone through the pleasure of having a small bathroom well arranged and ordered. You will be glad when your future self (and your guests) will pay you back!
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