Bathroom storage ideas to keep your bathroom tidy and clutter-free

Bathrooms are designed for switching off, unwinding and relaxing, but this can be a challenge if you don't have clever bathroom storage ideas in place to keep the space simple and clutter-free.

In order for your bathroom ideas to look as stylish as possible, your storage needs to work hard to house all of the essentials in a way that's easily accessible for daily use. This is even more important if you have a large family with a huge amount of bathroom products or you regularly have guests over.

‘When thinking about storage, especially in a smaller bathroom, utilise all the space available to you,’ says Anna Wiatr, CRM and sales and marketing manager at Villeroy & Boch. ‘For example, if there are already alcoves in your bathroom, you should make as much use of them as possible.' 

'Small alcoves are ideal for made-to-measure built-in cabinets or shelves. Avoid the visual chaos caused by visible pipes, protruding cabinets or angular, open shelving units that draw the eye all over the place and prevent a clear overview. Instead, have the installations and as much of the furniture as possible fitted directly into the wall.'

Bathroom storage ideas

When thinking about how to plan a bathroom, storage should be at the forefront of your mind so you have a stylish but practical space. This can easily be done on a budget and you don’t need a large square footage to make an impact.

These bathroom storage ideas make it easy to tidy up your bathroom with everything having its proper place and to give yourself that serene space you’ve been craving - without a stray towel in sight. 

1. Add style into storage

Style can be just as much a priority as storage in a bathroom design, so don't feel like you have to compromise. Many units now come in fashionable colours and patterns to meet the latest bathroom trends, such as ribbed or cane designs, so you can easily create a chic space. 

The front of a storage cabinet can quickly alter the entire aesthetic of a bathroom design, and the good news is that many of these are available to buy in standard sizes. This means it's even simpler to fit a new cabinet without needing to go bespoke. 

2. Source storage secondhand

Shopping for secondhand furniture doesn't have to be reserved for the living areas of your home, there are so many vintage cabinets that can be restored for use in a bathroom.  

If you're looking to achieve a country bathroom aesthetic, then opting for an antique dresser or storage unit will fast-track you to a classic interior. All you need to do is create a hole in the top (potentially with the help of a professional) for the sink and plumbing.  

3. Go for a freestanding unit

If you have a large bathroom with ample space for furniture, consider choosing a freestanding storage unit. Not only does this give you plenty more space to work with, but it also gives you the flexibility to choose a non-bathroom specific item. 

Freestanding wardrobes can easily be repurposed into linen cupboards within a washroom, offering plenty of room for spare towels, bath products and even extra linens. If you're trying to achieve a DIY bathroom idea on a budget, then you can even move around furniture you already own to create a new storage system.

5. Opt for top and bottom units

To maximise storage potential in a small bathroom, make the most of the space above and below the sink. Including wall and base units in a design will provide double the amount of room as well as creating a cohesive design. 

This will also be a clever choice for those looking for family bathroom ideas, as it offers both parents and children their own dedicated spot for essentials without leaving it on show. 

You can even make the top unit a mirrored cabinet for twice the practicality.  'If your bathroom is on the smaller side and space on the wall is minimal, why not opt for a bathroom mirror cabinet? This will allow you to maximise space as rather than having a separate mirror and storage cabinet, you can have both with one compact product,' advises Dominic Lees Bell, bathroom expert at Drench.

6. Draw the curtain on mess

The cafe curtain trend is one we've seen gain popularity in kitchens and bathrooms primarily for the privacy it can offer to windows that are overlooked. However, if you're keen to avoid a row of cabinetry, then adding a curtain instead of a door will lighten up the look while also hiding any mess. 

The whimsy appearance of cafe curtains makes them a great choice for vintage bathroom ideas and you can choose from a variety of colours and patterns to suit your style. 

7. Combine your storage and heating

There is a way of combining both clever storage and a clever heating solution, with modern towel radiators that will keep your bathroom cosy and allow you to store not only towels but bathrobes and clothes you want to keep toasty before you put them on. To increase the storage even more add shelving to your radiator like the Fender Towel Rail, from £322.88, The Radiator Centre. Radiators that double up as storage prevent wet cold towels from being left about and ensure that you wrap in something warm once you’re out of the shower. 

‘There are a wide variety of choices on the market in both vertical and horizontal designs, many of which include optional extras such as hooks, bars or shelving built into their design for practical storage,’ says Nick Duggan, managing director at The Radiator Centre.

8. Install a sink curtain

No matter how hard you try sometimes your storage doesn’t look as pretty or as tidy as you would want it to. The sink curtain or sink skirt may sound like something you’d find in your grandmother’s house, but it is a granny chic trend that we promise is making a comeback. It can be used around your bathroom cabinetry as part of a traditional spin for disguising your choice of bathroom storage ideas. 

The curtain can be minimalist with neutral, soft colours, or maximalist with bold colours or patterns. When installing one make sure the curtain slides easily along the rod so it’s easy to open and close. The fabric should not be so long it pools on the floor, but not too short that you can see behind the curtain.

9. Use modular shelving

Modular furniture is when separate pieces of furniture are used together to tailor fit a space, which is perfect for bathroom spaces which might have awkward angles. This kind of furniture is easy to install and can be wall mounted or freestanding. Helen Clark, head of marketing at Utopia says, ‘Modular furniture continues to be very popular. 

'Fitted furniture isn’t everyone’s choice and a single, carefully chosen modular item such as a washbasin unit can also work well as a statement piece, providing an alternative focal point in a small room and creating valuable storage space. Space-saving options are available here, too, ensuring the popular modular look can be created in both compact bathrooms and cloakrooms.’ 

10. Incorporate wicker baskets

When storing items in your bathroom you don't need to break the bank, especially if you're focusing on budget bathroom ideas. Budget storage ideas offer an easy and quick solution to keep your items in order. 

Wicker baskets are a neutral colour that will blend in well with your other bathroom storage ideas and come in a variety of shapes and sizes so can fit in all spaces big and small. Lucy Ackroyd, head of design at Christy advises using wicker baskets to store towels and face cloths, so they are easy to access and look good. 

‘If you don’t have storage space in your bathroom, wicker baskets are a perfect solution,' she explains. 'Not only are they super affordable, but they’re also aesthetically pleasing - a great way to add a touch of nature to a room.'

'To be extra organised, and if you like everything in its own place, you can buy specific baskets for different-sized towels. A small basket next to your sink, for example, would be the perfect place to store your face cloths.’

11. Create a display with glass fronts

Not all storage needs to hide things away, glass fronted cabinets are a great way to display beautiful toiletry bottles or your stash of luxury towels. If you have the space opt for a full glass cabinet to store your favourite bathtime treats. In a smaller bathroom consider adding a glass front to one key cabinet. 

However, beware a glass front will mean you'll need to keep the space behind the cabinet door neat and orderly. If you want a little leeway in hiding chaos behind the cabinet door, on-trend fluted glass will offer the same lightness and aesthetic of a glass cabinet but slightly obscure messy shelves. 

12. Take advantage of stud walls

Stud walls can be used to your advantage to incorporate extra storage. Natalie Bird, brand marketing manager at Roca says often toilets with concealed cisterns will use a stud wall and these can be adapted to contain recessed shelving. This shelving can be used to store essentials such as toilet rolls, or for decorative items like a reed diffuser or bathroom plant ideas. 

Bird recommends recessed shelving because it, ‘makes use of otherwise wasted space and means you don’t have to find room in cupboards for these items. If you’ve also had a stud wall built to conceal pipes in the shower or bath, you can do the same to create shelves for shower gel, shampoo and other toiletries.’

Building a false wall is a neat way of hiding unsightly pipework in a bathroom and can be tiled over so that it blends in with the décor. 

13. Install a bathroom storage bench

A bathroom bench can be used for both storage and for a comfy place to perch, adding a touch of glamour to luxury bathroom ideas. If you don’t have enough space for a full bench, a stool would work just as well, and wood is a great material if you want to bring texture and natural materials into the space. 

‘If you have space underneath a window or against an empty wall, a bench can add a unique design feature whilst offering plenty of hidden storage. Place items like towels, extra skincare products or cleaning supplies inside, then add some cushions to make it a cosy spot or a place to perch when bathing the kids,’ says Kerry Hale, associate market analyst at Mira Showers.

14. Add a lazy susan

A bathroom cabinet or drawer may start off tidy and organised but can descend into chaos, making it hard to find the products you really want. A lazy susan or a turntable as they are also known, is a way to streamline and keep your toiletries neat and tidy. By placing your items on a lazy susan it is easy to spin it round till you find what you need without knocking things over in your bid to find your favourite moisturiser. 

Lazy susans come in different shapes and sizes and with raised edges so products don’t fall over when you spin it round. A lazy susan also makes it easy to see what items you have and if you’re running low on anything, without any danger of buying uncessary products which will only make keeping yout storage in order harder.  

15. Bath tray

A different take on your bathroom shelving ideas is to use a bath tray which can be used to store bath essentials. If your bathroom includes a bath, slowing down and taking a hot soak can be a great way to unwind at the end of the day. If you want to keep the corners of your bath clutter free, a bath tray can hold your essentials such as shower gel and shampoo. 

If you’re really feeling indulgent, it is also a great spot to hold a scented candle, or even a cheeky glass of wine for when you’re having a more indulgent bath. There are bath trays for every type of bathroom, from grey metals ones which would fit it with grey bathroom ideas, to bamboo ones which provide a natural finish.  

16. Repurpose a shelving unit

Some of the best bathroom storage ideas are the easiest ones, like using Ikea hacks to transform a shelving unit side unit into a clever towel ladder. Attach jute webbing along its sides and rungs to hide any unsightly screw holes or scuffs, and give it a tactile finishing touch.

To give it a twist, why not paint it a complementary colour, or make it pop with a fun sunshine yellow or fuchsia pink.

17. Use a kitchen trolley as a bathroom caddy

This compact trolley fits into the smallest of spaces, perfect for housing all your bathroom items in one portable unit. Use the bottom shelves for towels and top for the products that you want to keep within easy reach such as your essential toiletries.

Plus the trolley can be transformed quickly and easily with a can of spray paint to colour match with your other bathroom paint ideas. 

18. Turn a spice rack into a loo roll holder

An Ikea spice rack, a couple of leather handles, cup hooks and a length of dowel together create this ingenious loo roll holder, creating space to keep your favourite bathroom products and a scented diffuser too.  

Alternatively, hang the spice rack upside down and use it as a shelf and towel rail instead. Either way this is a great budget small bathroom idea that takes little work but offers lots of style.

19. Mount wire baskets

Keep your surfaces clutter-free and store toiletries and towels close to hand by using the back of the door for clever bathroom storage ideas. Hang the baskets centrally down the door from small cup hooks. The baskets can be in neutral or bold colours depending on your bathroom scheme.

Or if your small bathroom layout is making space really tight, replace the baskets with a wire notice board and attach flannels, gowns brushes and more with S hooks. 

20. Use an old chest of drawers as a washstand

Give an upcycled vintage chest a new lease of life by turning it into a bathroom cabinet through pairing it with a sleek, contemporary basin for an understated look. The drawers below will give you plenty of storage space and the height and size can be chosen to suit your space.

Sinks can be mounted to almost any console table or cabinet, as long as there is space below for pipework.

21. Squeeze in a slimline shelf unit

Open shelves give an instant overview of the products you have and those you are running low on. A nifty bathroom shelving idea would be a tall, freestanding shelf unit like this Vito Shelving Unit, 80, Ikea, which will take up minimum floor space and can slot in beside a basin, bath or shower. Keep daily-use items, such as soap and toothbrushes, at hand height for easy access and stack bulkier things, like spare towels, lower down.

If you’ve squeezed all the essentials into a tiny ensuite but have no space for bathroom storage ideas, try this lofty solution. How about this as a small bathroom idea: Fix a shelf bracket either side of the door and secure a slimline shelf on top – it’ll come in super-handy for storing small-scale odds and ends.

22. Save space with an over-door rack

If surface space is limited in your bathroom, use the space on the back of the door to store extra supplies. A hanging rack will slot neatly over the top of a door and has rubber stoppers that will keep it securely in place. 

Fill shelves with everything from shower caps and face cloths to perfumes and hairbrushes. Perfect as a small shower room idea you can fill it as much or as little as you like with items you would like easy access to.

23. Build bespoke shelving to fit tight spaces

Make the most of every inch of space with bespoke bathroom storage ideas. Fill an unused gap beside a door with custom-made shelves, running from floor to ceiling and use to stack towels or store toiletries. 

Have narrow lengths of wood cut to size at a DIY store and slot them into the gap, using mini shelf supports to hold shelves in place. You can stain the wood darker or paint it to match your bathroom décor. 

24. Organise make-up and toiletries

Clutter-free counter tops will help your bathroom to feel calm and clean. Store make-up and smaller bits and bobs out of sight in clear, lidded boxes inside a drawer. With everything in its place, you’ll spend less time looking for what you need when you’re getting ready. These Godmorgon storage boxes with lids, £10, Ikea will allow you to easily categorise your toiletries  and make it easy to see what you have. 

25. Slot in a slim ladder shelf

For a less-permanent option to wall-mounted shelving, consider using a freestanding ladder shelf for you bathroom storage ideas – you can pick these up for a song, especially if you make use of home decor discount codes. Narrower than standard shelf units (so perfect for a small bathroom) it can be propped against a wall to hold all sorts of items. 

And if you need to move it to a different spot later on, there are no holes or fixings to worry about, so you can easily change the layout of your bathroom.

26. Make use of an empty corner

Store toothbrushes, soaps and other essentials within grabbing distance of the wash basin. This Bronx corner cupboard, £90, Next is  compact three-sided cabinet that easily slots into a corner, so takes up minimal floor space - or can be wall-mounted to leave the bathroom floor completely clear. It would also work brilliantly as a downstairs toilet idea because it would work perfectly in a small space and is a neutral colour that would blend in well with minimalist or maximalist décor. 

27. Fit shelves above and below a basin

Introduce shelving where ever you can in a bathroom. The twin washstands shown here incorporate a lower glass shelf for towel storage, while floating wall shelves between the basin and mantel mirror provide handy perches for toiletries. A lovely scheme made gorgeous by symmetry.

28. Turn crates into wall shelves

Look to the upcycling trend when considering bathroom storage. Turn wooden crates into rustic bathroom shelving by fixing the back of the crates to the wall. These are ideal for storing folded hand towels, loo rolls and baskets of toiletries. It is also a great budget option that won't take up precious flooring space, which is often limited in bathrooms. It also allows you to create something unique and personal to your space. 

29. Build in statement storage

For a designer feel, commission bespoke statement bathroom storage ideas or get creative and build your own. This fabulous recessed under-basin unit not only brings order to the bathroom, it also makes for an eye-catching feature. Its clean, simple lines would work well with any type of tile or bathroom colour scheme. For a pop of colour to act as a focal point paint the inside of the recess a different colour to the outside.

30. Mix and match monochrome

Choose black and white storage for an arresting colour combination that's stylish and sophisticated. Black floating shelves look smart against a white-painted wall, drawing the eye to the accessories artfully arranged on top of them.

A winning bathroom tile idea, disguise pipes and cisterns with a purpose-built tiled unit – it'll create a handy extra shelf, too. Sleek under-basin drawers will keep cleaning products and other practical bits and pieces out of sight.

31. Create a storage nook

When space is at a premium, install a set of pretty-but-practical recessed shelves. They're an unobtrusive way to keep bathroom essentials neat and tidy without having to splash out on built-in units. Building a row of shelves into a false wall is also a clever way to hide unsightly pipework.

Remember to position shelves within easy grabbing distance of your bath, shower or basin.

32. Embrace vertical storage

If you're short on floor space, make your walls do all the work instead. Spend time seeking out a wall-hung unit that's the exact right size for the space you have - too big and it'll swamp the room, too small and you won't have enough room for all your stuff.

Wall hooks are another great space saver, especially if you use them to hang extra storage, like this pretty pretty fabric bag.

33. Keep clutter concealed

Clad your walls and bathroom cabinet with tongue-and-groove panelling, then paint them in exactly the same shade to create a cohesive feel. Aim to line up the panels as far as possible and keep everything else neutral so that the look isn't overwhelming.

The low slanted white ceiling helps to create a good balance of blue and white – ideally, aim for about half and half for the perfect mix.

34. Float shelving

Choose a sleek wall-hung unit - the fact that it doesn't hit the floor will make the room seem larger. Choose one with an enormous drawer so there's plenty of space to hide away any eyesores or practical bits and pieces. Go for a neutral colour to create a tranquil scheme that's the ultimate in versatility. By saving on floor space the room instantly looks bigger and fits in with your modern bathroom ideas. 

35. Overcome size restrictions

Make room for plenty of bathroom storage ideas, even in a compact space. Despite its small size, this room has no shortage of storage space and it's another example of boxed-in pipework - this time with a handy shelf above the loo. The gap above the shelf is perfect for hanging a mirrored cabinet so that it's not jutting out into the room.

There's also a small basin unit and further shelving on top of more boxed-in pipework to make the most of the storage.

36. Introduce an open layout

Go for something a bit different with an open washstand that closely resembles furniture you would find in other rooms of the house. There's plenty of scope for bathroom storage on the shelf - baskets and boxes will help to keep your things in order - while favourite trinkets can be proudly displayed next to the stunning mounted basin and tap.

To prevent it looking messy, colour co-ordinate your accessories and separate into categories.

37. Repurpose a bookcase

Use a bookcase for instant freestanding storage in the bathroom. This design is clean and simple and provides eye-catching practical storage and display space for towels, baskets, toiletries and vases. A deep wall shade and white woodwork will allow bathroom shelves, furniture and sanitary ware to stand out.

38. Storage underneath a bath

Underneath the bath is a clever place to claim back space. By raising the bath a few inches, you can add shallow drawers that provide a surprising amount of storage. ‘We store toilet rolls at one end and our daughter’s bath toys at the other,’ says Mark Dyson from Enclosure Architects. ‘This keeps them close by but out of sight.’