Practical Bathroom Storage Ideas
If you don’t get your bathroom storage right it can make things very difficult in the mornings when you’re rushing to get ready and even more difficult when you’re trying to clean it.
It’s one of those things that could be an afterthought during a renovation or self-build, until you’re six months in and can’t find a home for the spare toilet roll or your favourite body lotion and you’re picking items off the floor every time you mop.
Whether you’re in the middle of a self build, planning a bathroom renovation or just trying to make the best of a finished space, here are some ideas that can help you actually enjoy your bathroom (and keep it feeling calm and clutter-free).
A practical small bathroom with vanity with storage and open shelving
Plan Bathroom Storage Early (Your Future Self Will Thank You)
Let’s start with the basics: if you’re building or renovating, think about bathroom storage as early as possible. I know, easier said than done when you’ve dozens of decisions to make daily, but honestly, the best bathroom storage is built in from the start.
Storage features worth considering:
Recessed shower niches – no more soggy mouldy caddies or piles of bottles lying on the shower tray
Tall built-in cabinets – perfect for towels, toiletries and cleaning bits you want out of sight
Hidden laundry solutions – whether it’s a pull-out hamper in a vanity or a clever laundry chute, it’s worth thinking about.
Quick tip: make a list of everything you keep in your bathroom now (even the less glamorous stuff) and what you wish you space for.
I’ve a large cupboard outside the three bedrooms and this is perfect for the towels and the extra toiletries and cleaning products – I call it the bathroom pantry!
Make sure and check out my blog post that covers off eveything that you need to consider before embarking on a bathroom renovation.
Bathroom with numerous examples of bathroom storage: double vanity, storage niche, storage baskets and towel ladder.
Bathroom Vanity Units That Work
Not all vanities are that practical. I’ve seen plenty of gorgeous sinks perched on open shelves and nowhere to hide a toothbrush. Here’s what to look out for:
Drawers with dividers (I’d definitely recommend drawers over a cupboard)
Double-height drawers are excellent for storing bottles
Integrated bins or pull-out laundry storage - if space allows
If you’re tight on space, a wall-hung unit can make the space feel bigger, while still offering storage opportunities underneath if you’re not precious about keeping your floor free.
Built-In Bathroom Storage Shelves
If you’ve got a small wall or awkward alcove, consider adding a built-in shelf or cupboard.
We added a simple shelf above the bathroom door in our last en-suite - perfect for those extra thick bath towels which took up too much cupboard space.
Other smart bathroom shelf ideas:
Shelves above the toilet
Niches with baskets
Shallow cupboards tucked into wall voids
Add some plants and candles and its a design feature as well as storage.
Bathroom storage ledge
Style Your Bathroom Storage
Bathroom storage doesn’t mean that everything has to be boxed up and hidden. There’s a way to make your bathroom storage look styled - not shoved in a cupboard.
Try:
Nice baskets for towels and toilet rolls
Ceramic or glass canisters for cotton buds and bath salts
And layer in a few soft textures or plants. I’ve used vintage glass containers in my main bathroom and added a large oil painting and soft lighting.
I’ve currently got a large lidded basket that keeps both towels and toilet rolls in it so everything is handy when its needed. This laundry basket is similar.
These small touches really help if your bathroom feels a bit new build blank slate and needs some character.
Sort Out Your Shower Storage
If you’re mid-renovation and haven’t planned a shower niche, now’s the time!
Built-in niches give you space for bottles without cluttering your floor or window ledge. They can be formed by stealing some space from behind the shower wall, or like us, creating a ledge in the shower wall. Our shower niche in the main bathroom was formed simply using tiles but you can buy prefabricated niches now which would be more reliable against leaks AND NO GROUT to clean!!
Top tip: If you are tiling a shower niche make sure and slope the bottom tile outwards so that any surplus water runs out of the niche and doesn’t pool in it.
Already finished your bathroom?
Wall-mounted caddy’s are a good alternative. We’ve used them in the kids shower rooms. We panelled their showers instead of tiling and didn’t want to go to the expense of installing the prefabricated shower niches. Instead, they each have a wall mounted container which is stuck to the panelling with suckers.
Top tip: get one that can be easily lifted off the sucker for cleaning and don’t install it directly below the shower to avoid it being wet constantly. These shower caddy’s are similar to the ones the kids have – plenty of space for shampoo and shower gel and the hooks for hanging flannels and loofah’s are brilliant
Shower shelf which runs full length of shower area
Behind the Bathroom Door Storage Ideas
Have a narrow wall or the back of the door going spare?
Consider these ideas:
Wall hooks for towels, dressing gowns or hanging baskets!
Wall hooks especially can be handy and either discreet like those on the link above or a feature like these from Cox & Cox.
These storage solutions can add sneaky extra storage without affecting the overall design.
Final Thought:
Storage isn’t just about hiding stuff—it’s about making your space organised, feeling calm and easy to live in. If you’ve a small bathroom with limited space check out my Design Ideas for Small Bathrooms blog
And the best bathroom storage? It’s the kind that just works quietly in the background helping your mornings go smoothly without you even noticing.
Planning a bathroom soon?
Save this post and make a little checklist before you visit the bathroom showroom.
And if you’ve found any clever bathroom storage hacks that work in your home—I’d love to hear them!