Decluttering and relocating any objects you don’t use every day to a closet or other out-of-sight storage location are the first steps in designing a compact bathroom. However, there are a number of creative and stylish small bathroom storage options that will enlarge the appearance and feel of your tiny bathroom.
Here are some easy small bathroom storage ideas to help you create a place that is practical, fashionable, and peaceful, whether you’re decorating a powder room or bathroom in a small apartment.
Maximize Vertical Storage Space
Consider installing a wall-mounted toilet paper dispenser to save precious floor space in smaller bathrooms. This simple solution frees up room for other essentials like a trash bin or a magazine basket, helping the space feel less cluttered.
Maximize Wall Height for Storage
When designing a small bathroom, it’s beneficial to extend cabinetry to the ceiling. This creates a sense of spaciousness and helps you maximize every inch of storage. Custom shelves or cabinets that reach the ceiling can store everyday items while making the room feel larger, as seen in this Paris bathroom by Space Factory.
Use a Peg Rail for Extra Storage
In smaller or uniquely shaped rooms, a peg rail can be a clever storage solution. This feature, seen in a country cottage bathroom by Leanne Ford Interiors, doesn’t take up much space like traditional shelving, while offering a charming and timeless storage option for towels and other bathroom essentials.
Conceal Storage Behind Simple Designs
In minimalist bathrooms, such as the one designed by Fantastic Frank, a tall, sleek white cabinet without visible hardware can provide ample storage space while blending seamlessly with the decor. This method of concealed storage helps maintain a clutter-free, serene aesthetic.
Install Floating Shelves for Display
For compact bathrooms, adding a floating shelf can serve as both functional storage and a display area for decorative items. In this small bathroom designed by Cathie Hong Interiors, black floating shelves provide a modern touch while complementing the room’s plumbing fixtures.
Make the Most of Your Vanity
In smaller bathrooms, a custom or wall-to-wall vanity can significantly improve storage. Chango & Co. designed a narrow blue-and-white bathroom with a spacious vanity that offers both practicality and style, allowing the room to feel tailored and organized.
Opt for a Floating Vanity to Save Space
In bathrooms where space is limited, a floating vanity helps create the illusion of a larger area while letting light flow freely. Cathie Hong Interiors demonstrates this approach in a small bathroom, where the floating vanity makes the space feel open and airy.
Install Adjustable Shelves for Flexibility
In small bathrooms, adjustable shelves offer flexible storage options for a variety of items. Blogger Annie Diamond from Most Lovely Things added a DIY pegboard shelf to display plants, but you can also use this idea for towels, toiletries, and other essentials, maximizing wall space.
Hide Clutter with a Curtain
If your bathroom features a freestanding sink or vanity without built-in cabinets, adding a simple curtain beneath the countertop can hide clutter and keep the space looking neat. A light-colored linen curtain can complement a reclaimed wood countertop and add a timeless feel, as shown in a bathroom by Lobster and Swan.
Incorporate a Towel Ladder
A painted white ladder, like the one featured in Mindy Gayer Design Co.’s narrow bathroom, can provide a stylish and functional way to store towels. Lightweight towels, such as Turkish or honeycomb weaves, not only take up less visual space but also give the room a fresh and modern vibe.
Use Stylish Baskets for Storage
Never underestimate the power of a well-placed basket. In this bathroom designed by Raili CA Design, baskets on a low shelf serve as storage for supplies or as a hamper. Baskets can also be placed directly on the floor to hold toilet paper or other essentials while adding a warm, natural touch to the room’s industrial palette.
Repurpose Vintage Items for Storage
Repurposing vintage pieces can add both character and storage to a small bathroom. For example, Emily Henderson Design used a small vintage rattan bar cart as a rolling storage unit for towels and bathroom supplies, giving the space a charming, eclectic touch.
Create Seamless White Storage
Using white storage pieces helps maintain a clean, cohesive look in a small bathroom. Leanne Ford Interiors incorporated a floating shelf and vintage mirror into the design, both in white, which not only provides storage but also enhances the sense of openness in the space.
Maximize Window Ledges for Extra Storage
Window ledges are often underutilized in bathrooms, but they can offer valuable storage space. In Emily Henderson Design’s bathroom, the window ledge was transformed into an open-faced cabinet, with added shelves for storage and decorative elements like amber glass jars that catch the sunlight.
Add Hidden Storage Above the Toilet
Installing cabinetry above the toilet can provide hidden storage without taking up valuable floor space. Caroline Andréoni Interior Design Studio utilized this approach in a small Paris bathroom, where sleek cabinetry above the toilet holds essentials while allowing the room’s bold design elements to shine.
Integrate Built-In Niches
Niches are a great storage solution for smaller bathrooms. They offer a place to store bath supplies, towels, and toiletries without taking up too much room. Look for existing spaces in your bathroom, or create new niches during a remodel for additional storage, as seen in a bathroom by Malcolm Simmons for Emily Henderson Design.
Install a Curved Corner Cabinet
For bathrooms with tight corners, a corner-shaped vanity can offer additional storage without disrupting the flow of the room. This option was employed by Chango & Co. in a Victorian-style powder room, where a custom corner cabinet provides storage while maintaining the space’s overall aesthetic.
Add a Shelf Above the Toilet
A transparent glass shelf installed above the toilet, like the one in Ursula Carmona’s powder room, can store decorative items while preserving the room’s open feel. This simple addition adds a touch of style without crowding the space.
Use Slatted Shelves for a Light, Airy Feel
Slatted open shelves, like those found in Desiree Burns Interiors’ bathroom, add storage while maintaining a sense of lightness. They can be used to store towels, toiletries, or baskets, giving the room a fresh and uncluttered appearance.
Add a Mirrored Medicine Cabinet
A mirrored cabinet can serve as both a functional storage solution and a decorative feature. Becca Interiors used a mirrored medicine cabinet with a black edge in a small bathroom to hide clutter while enhancing the room’s vintage-style aesthetic.
Choose Functional Multi-Purpose Pieces
If your storage needs are minimal, consider choosing multi-functional pieces. Instead of a traditional medicine cabinet, add a stylish mirror with built-in shelving, like the one in Michelle Berwick Design’s small bathroom, for a space-saving and stylish storage option.
Organize Clutter with a Tray
If counter space is limited, a decorative tray with a high rim can corral clutter and make your bathroom look organized. In Ursula Carmona’s bathroom, a decorative tray placed on the vanity houses everyday items and adds an element of style.
Integrate Towel Storage Creatively
For a modern, space-saving option, consider integrating towel storage into your bathroom’s design. Brexton Cole Interiors added a built-in towel rack to a retro-style sink, offering a practical storage solution without taking up additional space.
Optimize the Toilet Shelf for Extra Storage
In bathrooms with limited storage, the toilet shelf is a great place to store extra towels or other bathroom essentials. Casa Watkins Living made use of a lightweight wire basket on the toilet shelf to maximize space in a kids’ bathroom.
Install a Decorative Shelf for Function and Style
A simple yet functional decorative shelf can offer storage in a very small bathroom. Leanne Ford Interiors installed a dark wood shelf with metal brackets above a vintage-style sink, giving the bathroom both functionality and visual appeal.
Pick Stylish Vessels
Select storage containers for your countertop that blend in with the design of your bathroom.
Ashley Murphy of NEAT Method advises choosing soap pumps, trays, and jars that can be used as décor. “Use them to store anything from cotton balls, cotton swabs, perfume bottles, go-to skincare, or whatever you reach for most frequently.”
Add a Skincare Tray
Keep your essential skincare products on a tiny tray next to the sink if you don’t have a medicine cabinet. For a stylish look, NEAT Method selected a sleek black tray that contrasts with the white and gold-toned bathroom finishes and matches the frame of the mirror over the sink.
Choose a Gallery Rail
It would be simple to install a shelf above the toilet to hold goods and showcase décor. Selecting a shelf with a gallery rail can reduce the likelihood that you may knock something into an open toilet. A straightforward white shelf with a brass gallery rail that complements the warm fixtures in the bathroom was hung by Kate Marker Interiors. Additional storage is provided by a tiny basket on the toilet shelf.