Boost Storage in a Small Bathroom
Maximize a small bathroom with smart storage solutions. Pullout drawers, built-in niches, well-placed hooks, and more create a bathroom that lives large despite its small square footage
Small Bath, Big Storage
It can be a challenge to make a 7' x 8' bathroom feel open and inviting and find space for all those primping and pampering essentials. But choosing a clean design that incorporates savvy storage solutions will get the job done. Here, the walls were covered with white tiles to make the bathroom appear larger. Adding a mosaic tile inset adds interest and draws the eye up, which makes the bathroom appear taller. Two sets of built-in wall niches, a vanity with drawers, and a storage-packed closet add style and function.
Decluttered Wonder
This bathroom closet was a mishmash of toiletries, hair accessories, makeup, and jewelry. The deep shelves were great for storing lots of items, but things frequently got lost in the back. Adding bins, baskets, and trays transforms this closet into the bathroom’s command center. A door organizer holds small toiletries, a pullout drawer puts essentials within reach, and a pullout hamper keeps towels and clothes off the floor.
Use Unexpected Spaces
Maximize a small space by using every available surface. A door organizer (#141988) -- originally intended as a spice rack for the kitchen -- is perfect for smaller toiletries in bottles and jars and makes use of otherwise wasted space.
Keep Cleaning Supplies High
Place cleaning supplies on the top shelf. Why? Here they are easily accessible but out of reach for children and animals. Storing cleaning supplies in plastic bins (#41941) protects other items in the closet from potential spills. This bin features a solid bottom and decorative cutouts on the sides.
Create Easy Access
Frequently used items are easy to reach in the middle section of the closet. Hooks on the sides of the lower shelf hold jewelry and other accessories. Interlocking trays (#105922) keep tiny items from getting lost. A woven basket (#337503) offers a tidy place to hold larger items.
Add a Pullout Drawer
Deep shelves are great for storing lots of items, but make it hard to find items stashed in the back. A pullout drawer (#75050) makes it easy to reach everything on the shelf. This small wood drawer was originally intended for the kitchen, but installing it in the bathroom is both clever and cost-effective. Add jars or bins to hold small items within the drawer.
Toss Items in a Hamper
Keep dirty towels and clothes off the floor with a two-basket pullout hamper on the lower shelf. Designed for the kitchen, this double wastebasket (#278250) makes a perfect laundry hamper. The unit pulls out from the cabinet, making it easy to load and unload on laundry day.
Raise the Bar
A bathroom can never have too much towel storage. A towel rod (#163088) attached to the wall behind the door offers more hanging space.
Within Reach
Inside the shower, built-in niches add storage and style. The two niches were carved out between the wall studs and dressed up with glass mosaic tiles (#291236). The sills are the perfect depth for housing bottles and soaps. The best part: They increase the bathroom’s storage without taking up additional space.
Put Storage on Display
Design elements near the vanity offer lots of storage solutions. A mirrored medicine cabinet, built-in niches, and a do-it-yourself towel rack combine to make the bathroom’s vanity area as hardworking as possible.
Reflect with a Medicine Cabinet
Mirrors are great in small spaces because they reflect light, which makes any room appear larger. The recessed medicine cabinet’s (#296928) three mirrored surfaces expand the feel of the bathroom whether open or closed.
Plug In
Built-in niches near the vanity offer handy storage space. Build the niches between the wall studs and add a sill to accommodate containers, vases, mirrors, and other bathroom essentials. A convenient electrical outlet (#245843) is tucked into the lower niche.
Hang it up
An easy-to-make towel rack near the bathroom door keeps clutter off the floor. You can make this rack for just $14 by having a piece of 1"x3"x2' poplar board cut to size at Lowe’s. Just spray-paint it, screw in hooks (#308947), and attach it to the wall to hold towels, robes, and more.
Divide and Conquer
A vanity (#319961) is ideal for adding storage to a bathroom. While deep drawers are great, they can easily become cluttered. Add trays (#110878) to separate items and keep drawers organized. These trays keep jewelry from becoming a tangled mess.
Use Baskets
This vanity includes a lower shelf, which is an ideal place to store towels and other bathroom essentials. Use baskets (#337503) in these areas to stash items and keep the room tidy.