9 space-saving tips and storage ideas for small bathrooms

9 space-saving tips and storage ideas for small bathrooms

Small bathrooms often pose a challenge when it comes to organisation and functionality. With limited space, it’s easy for toiletries, towels, and other essentials to pile up, leaving the bathroom feeling cramped and cluttered.

However, with some thoughtful planning and clever storage solutions, you can maximise your bathroom's space while keeping it stylish and functional.
Here we discuss nine practical space-saving tips and storage ideas specifically designed for small bathrooms.

1. Maximise Vertical Space

In small bathrooms, every inch counts, especially vertically. Utilising your walls can make a big difference:

  • Install Shelves Above the Toilet: Floating shelves above the toilet can provide additional storage without taking up floor space. You can use them to store extra towels, toiletries, or decor items.
  • Tall Cabinets or Ladder Shelves: Tall, narrow cabinets or ladder-style shelves take up less floor space but offer plenty of storage vertically. They can be used to store toiletries, cleaning products, or even decorative items like candles and plants.

2. Use Over-the-Door Storage

The space behind the door is often overlooked, but it’s an excellent spot for additional storage:

  • Over-the-Door Hooks: Use these for towels, robes, or baskets to keep items off the floor.
  • Hanging Racks or Organisers: These can hold everything from hair tools to extra bathroom supplies, maximising otherwise wasted space behind the door.

3. Choose a Floating Vanity

A floating vanity not only creates the illusion of a larger bathroom but also offers extra floor space underneath for storage. This area can be used for baskets, bins, or small storage boxes that keep clutter off the counters.

  • Built-In Drawers: If you choose a vanity with built-in drawers, you can further organise bathroom essentials like makeup, hair accessories, and toiletries while keeping the countertop clean.

4. Use Corner Shelves or Cabinets

Corners are typically underutilised in small bathrooms, but corner shelves or cabinets can help:

  • Corner Shelving: Small shelves in the corners can hold everything from toilet paper rolls to small plants, helping to declutter other parts of the bathroom.
  • Corner Cabinets: These can be used for larger items such as cleaning products or extra towels without taking up too much space.

5. Install a Medicine Cabinet

Instead of a regular mirror, go for a medicine cabinet. It provides additional storage for toiletries, medicines, and small grooming items without taking up counter space.

  • Recessed Medicine Cabinets: For an even sleeker look, install a recessed cabinet. This option saves even more space by embedding the cabinet into the wall, reducing the amount of space it juts out into the room.

6. Incorporate Baskets and Bins

Baskets and bins are versatile and can be used in various ways to keep your bathroom organised:

  • Under-the-Sink Storage: If you have a pedestal sink or a sink with open space beneath it, use baskets or bins to store items like cleaning supplies, towels, or extra toiletries.
  • Countertop Organisers: Small decorative bins on the countertop can keep makeup, hair products, or daily essentials neatly stored while still being within easy reach.

7. Install Hooks and Towel Bars on Walls

Hooks and towel bars can be added to walls to hang towels, washcloths, or bathrobes, freeing up cabinet and shelf space.

  • Towel Bars on the Back of the Door: If wall space is limited, placing towel bars on the back of the bathroom door can help save space while keeping towels accessible.
  • Multipurpose Hooks: These can hold anything from loofahs and towels to hair dryers, making it easy to keep frequently used items organised and off countertops.

You may love to read: choosing perfect wall-hung vanity units

8. Use Stackable Storage Solutions

Stackable containers and bins make it easy to store items vertically without taking up additional floor or counter space.

  • Stackable Drawer Units: These can be placed inside cabinets or closets to store toiletries, makeup, or other bathroom essentials.
  • Stacking Shelves in Cabinets: Use small stackable shelves inside cabinets to separate items like lotions, soaps, and cleaning supplies, making everything easier to find and access.

9. Utilise a Shower Caddy or Shelving

The shower area can quickly become cluttered with shampoo bottles, soap, and other shower essentials. Installing a shower caddy or shelving in the shower can help keep everything organised and within easy reach.

  • Hanging Shower Caddies: These can be hung over the showerhead or on the wall and offer multiple levels for storing shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and razors.
  • Corner Shower Shelves: Install corner shelves in the shower for additional storage. These shelves can hold more items without taking up too much space, keeping your shower clutter-free.

Final Thoughts

A small bathroom doesn’t have to feel cramped or cluttered. By incorporating these space-saving tips and storage ideas, you can make the most of every inch while keeping the space functional and visually appealing. With careful planning and creative organisation, your small bathroom can become a serene, organised retreat that feels much larger than it actually is.

FAQs

How do I make my tiny bathroom feel bigger?

Use vertical space! Floating shelves, tall cabinets, or even hooks will keep things off the floor and make your bathroom feel more open.

What’s the best way to store towels in a small bathroom?

Over-the-door hooks or towel bars on the back of your bathroom door can be lifesavers. You can also roll towels and stack them in baskets or even add some wall-mounted towel racks.

How can I declutter my bathroom counter?

Keep only the daily essentials on the countertop and stash the rest.

Do corner shelves really help with space?

Absolutely! They’re sneaky little space savers.

I don’t have a medicine cabinet. Is it worth getting one?

Heck yes! A medicine cabinet, especially a recessed one, adds hidden storage space for toiletries, meds, and all those random bathroom knick-knacks you never know where to put.

What’s the easiest storage hack for a small shower?

Hang one over the showerhead or install a corner shelf. That way, all your bottles and soap aren’t taking up precious shower floor space.

I have no room for cabinets. Any alternatives?

You can use ladder shelves, over-the-door organisers, or even just baskets placed strategically around the bathroom.

Should I invest in stackable storage bins?

Stackable storage is chef's kiss in a small bathroom.

Can I fit a laundry hamper in a small bathroom?

It’s possible! Go for a slim, tall hamper that can fit in a corner or under the sink.

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