Unlocking the Potential of Small Bathroom Spaces: 15 Brilliant Storage Ideas
When it comes to organizing a small bathroom, the key to success lies in finding a rightful place for everything. While this may seem like a daunting task, especially when aesthetics are just as important as saving space, striking the right balance between form and function is achievable. In this article, we’ll share our top space-saving bathroom storage solutions that will help you maintain a well-organized area.
Expert Opinions and Insights
We’ve consulted with certified professional organizers, Darla DeMorrow and Shantae Duckworth, to bring you the best tips and tricks for maximizing your small bathroom’s storage potential. From assigned drawers to wall hooks, we’ve got you covered with the following 15 brilliant storage ideas.
1. Have Assigned Drawers
A bathroom shared by the whole family can quickly become chaotic, especially during the morning rush. If possible, choose cabinets that allow separate spaces for each person who uses the bathroom regularly. This will keep you from searching through everyone else’s products to find your own.
2. Mount Racks on the Door
Corral everyday essentials, like perfume, skin care products, and lotion, in one place by mounting racks on the back of the door. You can even invert one of the shelves and use it as a towel bar.
3. Install a Medicine Cabinet
If your bathroom only has a flat mirror above the sink, consider replacing it with a medicine cabinet. Shantae Duckworth recommends using the medicine cabinet for daily, quick-to-access items like deodorant, hair spray, and lip gloss.
4. Add a Small Cart
If you have limited storage space in your bathroom, consider adding a rolling cart, apothecary cabinet, or small dresser. Use this space to hold extra paper products, beauty items, hand soap, and more essentials.
5. Hang Magnetic Hooks
Make your medicine cabinet more efficient by affixing a sheet of precut galvanized steel to its interior with construction adhesive. Then, hang magnetic hooks on the inside of the cabinet to hold scissors, an eyelash curler, a small mirror, and more.
6. Use Dividers
Even if you have designated drawers in your bathroom for various necessities, these compartments can quickly become unorganized. Use dividers in each drawer to categorize your items, making them easier to see and access.
7. Embrace the Space Above Your Door
If your bathroom has space above the door, utilize it as untapped storage potential. Darla DeMorrow suggests installing a shelf over your door to store rarely used items, especially lighter items like towels and toilet paper.
8. Install a Roll-Out Tray
Fit central cabinets with roll-out trays, which house necessities like soaps, lotions, hairdryers, and more. The easy slide function creates a quick and seamless way to access your items, while the behind-closed-doors approach keeps your bathroom looking tidy.
9. Use Wall Hooks
Towel bars are great for displaying aesthetically pleasing linens, but they can take up a lot of wall space. Darla DeMorrow recommends using hooks instead, which are sleeker and can hold four towels to dry in the space of one average towel bar footprint.
10. Utilize Linen Closets
Rather than keeping extras (toilet paper, towels, soaps, etc.) in your bathroom, utilize a nearby linen closet for storage until you really need these items. Shantae Duckworth advises keeping a hand towel near the sink but storing extra towels in the linen closet.
How to Organize a Linen Closet in 6 Easy Steps
1. Start by clearing out your linen closet and sorting items into categories.
2. Use dividers to separate items, such as towels, bedding, and toiletries.
3. Keep frequently used items front and center.
4. Store less frequently used items towards the back or on higher shelves.
5. Use baskets or bins to store items like socks and underwear.
6. Keep your linen closet tidy by regularly cleaning and dusting.
11. Use Bins for Storage
Keeping like items together in your bathroom is essential when it comes to keeping the space organized. Shantae Duckworth recommends using small plastic bins and organizing items by their type, such as hair items or skin care products.
12. Keep Cleaning Supplies Handy
Small bathrooms can build up with dirt and grime quickly, making your space feel less organized than it really is. Utilize the area under your sink for storing essential cleaning supplies, like toilet bowl cleaner and shower spray.
13. Use a Floating Shelf
A floating shelf is easy to install and can fit in smaller spaces with slightly less wiggle room. In a tinier bathroom, it can store tissues, candles, or decorative plants above the toilet, or hover adjacent to a vanity, creating an additional surface for cosmetic items.
14. Install a Shower Ledge
If you’re short on shower real estate, then a ledge is a great place to put soaps, gels, and whatever else. It’s a bit of extra work up front to install one, but the extra surface area is well worth the effort.
15. Store in a Vanity
Vanities are one of the best ways to keep your smaller bathroom organized. Add some organizers to your drawers to get the most out of them, and you’ll be able to store most lotions, toothbrushes, or combs there. This particular solution pairs it with a freestanding shelf, so there’s a space for just about everything.
By implementing these 15 space-saving bathroom storage solutions, you’ll be well on your way to maintaining a well-organized and clutter-free bathroom space that’s both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
What are some storage ideas for a small bathroom?
15 brilliant storage ideas including assigned drawers, door-mounted racks, medicine cabinets, small carts, magnetic hooks, dividers, door space, roll-out trays, wall hooks, linen closets, bins, cleaning supplies storage, floating shelves, shower ledges, and vanity organizers.
How can hanging magnetic hooks in a medicine cabinet help?
It helps in holding scissors, eyelash curlers, small mirrors, and other items efficiently.
Why is it advised to install a roll-out tray in central cabinets?
To create easy access to items like soaps, lotions, hairdryers, and more, keeping the bathroom organized and tidy.
What are the benefits of using wall hooks instead of towel bars?
Wall hooks are sleeker, take up less space, and can hold four towels, saving room.
How can a floating shelf be helpful in a small bathroom?
A floating shelf can store items like tissues, candles, or plants above the toilet or by the vanity, adding extra surface space for cosmetics.
What are the steps to organize a linen closet?
Clear out the closet, categorize items, use dividers, keep frequently used items accessible, store less frequent items towards the back, use baskets for smaller items, and regularly clean and dust the closet.
How does a shower ledge benefit small bathroom storage?
A shower ledge provides additional surface space for storing soaps, gels, and other essentials, although it requires initial installation.
What is the role of a vanity in bathroom organization?
A vanity with organizers can store lotions, toothbrushes, combs, and other items, complemented by a freestanding shelf for additional storage.
