11 Storage Ideas to Declutter Your Bathroom
It’s the one room in our home where we go to get clean, but we have a tendency to let clutter and debris pile up in our bathroom until it feels downright dirty.
If you struggle to keep your cosmetics and toiletries in their rightful place, read on.
Today, we’re sharing ten creative bathroom storage ideas to help you turn this space back into the oasis it was meant to be.
Ready to learn more? Let’s get started!
1. Use Cabinet Doors as Storage
Does your bathroom vanity have cabinet doors? If so, open them up and take a look at that valuable storage space that’s hidden neatly out of sight!
Simple over-the-door organizers are minimalistic, while command hooks also look great. Make sure whatever items you store here are lightweight and won’t damage the door as you open and close it. This is a great place to stash cotton swabs, Q-tips, extra washcloths, and similar powder room necessities!
Don’t restrict yourself to the bathroom vanity. See how we added out-of-the-way storage on the inside of the tub motor access door in one bathroom project.
2. Build an Etagere
You don’t have to remodel your bathroom to make it look totally different with a few new accessories.
Etagere is a fancy French word for a piece of furniture that features a series of open shelves. It’s a great way to add a ton of storage without having to drill into your walls for custom cabinetry.
Thanks to the explosion of modern farmhouse style, most of the ones you’ll find in catalogs today have black metal frames and reclaimed barnwood shelves.
Install one near your bathtub to stash soaking salts, candles, and extra towels!
3. Maximize a Bar Stool
Many single-sided bathrooms have an awkward space between the commode and the sink. It’s not big enough for a shelf, but it could assist your storage and organization efforts thanks to one handy resource: the barstool.
Add a decorative towel on top that matches your bathroom color scheme and use the space below it as practically as you can. Add a basket on the bottom inside and fill it with extra toilet paper for quick access!
4. Add a Fabric Skirt
Are you embarrassed because your pedestal sink reveals the depths of your disorganization? Rather than stash and stack various items underneath to get them out of the way of foot traffic, it helps to hide them, instead!
Find an online tutorial and a piece of fabric you love, making sure it’s big enough to cover the entire bottom portion of the sink. This is a great small bathroom storage idea that can even make the room look bigger, depending on the specific pattern you choose.
5. Build a Custom Storage Bench
There’s nothing more whimsical than a window seat in the bathroom, especially for children. If you’ve installed one or are considering it, ask your contractor to create built-in storage beneath the seat.
You can disguise the hinge by upholstering the top of the bench. No one will be the wiser, and you’ll have plenty of room to store extra towels and heavier bathroom items, such as a scale.
6. Invest in Built-In Custom Cabinets
File this under one upgrade you’ll never regret.
Work with a licensed general contractor to add built-in storage in strategic locations around your bathroom. Focus your efforts on the areas above the commode, near the vanity and beside the bathtub, as these are the spots you frequent most often.
While some designers will bring in an old heirloom piece of furniture to act as quirky bathroom storage, keep its overall footprint in mind. If it’s taking up valuable real estate in your already-cramped bathroom, consider a custom built-in vanity instead.
Notice the custom, well-lit display cabinet at the intersection of the two countertops from one of our recent projects that gave the owners the additional space they were looking for.
7. Lean Your Ladder
For years, people have leaned antique ladders against their walls, using them as handy storage for throw blankets. Why not take that same idea into your bathroom?
Find a ladder you love, preferably one that’s been sanded or smoothed. You don’t want tiny bits of bark clinging to your fabric!
Hang your lightweight towels on the ladder to get them out of the way and free up space underneath your sink or in your linen closet.
8. Add Floating Shelves
Love the look of shelving in your bathroom but afraid it’s going to shrink the small space? Floating shelves are a great answer!
As their name implies, the shelf board attaches to the wall with all fixings concealed inside the board, giving the illusion of hovering without support. With floating shelves, you don’t have to have a decorative bracket underneath each shelf, unless you want to.
From potted plants and reading material to faux flowers and trinket boxes, there is no end to what you could store in these spots.
9. Designate and Divide Drawers
Open up the drawers on your vanity. Is there any rhyme or reason to what’s inside there?
Start by taking everything out of every drawer. Then, toss any expired medication or cosmetic items, along with anything else you don’t need.
Divide what’s left into the same number as your drawers. Find similarities and pair objects together. For instance, you might have a drawer dedicated to hot tools, and one where you only stash razors.
10. Install a Shower Niche
At Legal Eagle Contractors, we put plenty of these storage ideas into action when we remodel bathrooms. An example is installing shower niches for soaps, utensils and anything that isn’t damaged by exposure to water. Adding shelves inside niches can be a smart way to double storage space. Quick tip: any shelves should slope down to the shower floor for better drainage.
11. Install a Floating Vanity Top
I’m going to throw this out there even though it’s technically a way to declutter or add storage and not both, but there’s also a ton of other reasons to mount a bathroom vanity to your wall. Visually and psychologically, a wall mounted vanity creates the illusion of more space. Of course, you can use the area underneath for additional storage, such as bins and baskets, but at the risk of adding more clutter. However, if you store just a few small items you can reap the benefits of both space and storage.
Try These Bathroom Storage Ideas Today
Depending on your budget and time, you can go as big or as little with these bathroom storage ideas as you’d like.
Then, once everything is the way it should be, take a picture of the finished product and vow to keep it looking that way for at least a little while!
If you’re in the Houston area come take a look at our Idea Center for inspiration and contact us today to get started.