Ask anyone in the industry, and they will tell you how important storage is in the bathroom, especially if you live in a house lacking in sufficient storage space to begin with.
However, you need to know what actually qualifies as an effective bathroom storage solution. It’s not simply about hiding half of your toiletries at the back of your vanity and never using them. You need to make sure you’re using a variety of bathroom storage ideas in order to make the most of your space and have easy access to everything you need. Read on to learn about all the ways that you can maximise your bathroom’s space.
Where to start with bathroom storage solutions
It can be hard to know what to prioritise for bathroom storage, but there are a few effective starting points. Ultimately, it will depend on your living situation and how the bathroom is used. Establish things like how regularly people use the bathroom and how many people need storage space in it. Consider whether there are small children and if it would be important to keep your medicine cabinet out of reach. Also think about whether something like spare towels would be stored in the bathroom or somewhere else in the house. All of these details help you to figure out how much space you actually need and allow you to tailor your design to your specific circumstances.
Hanging bathroom storage vs bathroom vanities
One important consideration is whether you would prefer to utilise the vertical space for hanging storage or include a floor standing vanity. Which one you lean towards might be based on both your practical and aesthetic needs.
Hanging storage solutions
Hanging storage units, like floating vanities, have their share of benefits. Many people prefer them aesthetically, as they give a more spacious feeling to the bathroom. They also provide slightly more flexibility when it comes to how your bathroom is organised. If you want to incorporate other pieces of furniture, this may be a better choice for you. However, it’s worth noting what while hanging storage may feel more spacious, it typically provides less actual storage than a standing vanity. So make sure you have a clear idea of your storage needs before making the choice.
Vanities for bathroom storage
One of the biggest advantages of having a full, floor standing vanity unit in your bathroom is that they generally tend to provide more actual storage space than floating storage. They’re an excellent choice if you’re looking for a slightly more traditional look and have a lot of toiletries that need storing.
In recent years, custom-designed vanity units with additional drawers have gained popularity. Specific cabinetry makers can give you the ability to have drawers that sit directly underneath your basin without the issues of the waste pipe getting in the way. This gives you a more ergonomic way to access your everyday items thanks to features like full-extension, soft-close drawers.
Small bathroom storage ideas
While you should always strive to use the space in your bathroom efficiently, this is doubly important when you have a small bathroom. Every inch counts, so you need to find ways to maximise the space however you can.
Wall-mounted storage
Wall-mounted storage is great because it offers a lot of additional flexibility. It can be integrated seamlessly with furniture storage items by simply being installed above them. This gives you the best of both worlds and lets you maximise the space you’re utilising.
Containers and dividers
A surprising amount of usable space is lost to clutter. You can avoid this issue by having dedicated containers and dividers to help you organise your belongings. This has the added benefit of making everything much easier to find at a moment’s notice.
Stackable boxes
Stackable boxes are helpful because they let you utilise vertical space effectively. Boxes may be best for bulkier items, like appliances, or items that can be stored tightly, such as towels.
Multipurpose furniture
By utilising versatile furniture, you can get the same utility while including less actual items in the bathroom. Benches and vanities often have built-in storage, which lets you forego including quite as many cabinets and drawers.
Traditional bathroom storage ideas
Often, people like to implement a more traditional aesthetic scheme when it comes to their bathroom. There are a number of ways to do this while still creating more than enough space for your belongings.
Woven baskets
If you’ve decided to go with a more traditional door and drawer style unit, woven baskets can act as an excellent complement. They are able to provide you with some internal drawers that you can keep behind your vanity doors. Not only do these make your items stay neat and tidy, but they also make them very easy to access.
Tallboys
Another great traditional option when you’re looking at storage is a tallboy unit. Rather than opting for a large vanity, you can choose to go with a smaller vanity together with a tallboy. This provides the room with extra height, which allows you to use the vertical space very practically for towel storage among other things.
Mirrored wall cabinets
Including a mirrored wall cabinet makes it easy to find and use the items you need on a daily basis. One great trick is to include a power point in the wall cabinet above the vanity. Not only does this keep your bench clutter-free, but it’s a great option for anyone with an electric toothbrush, hair dryer, straightener, or shaver. You can create easier access to powerpoints by adding a cable tidy to the side or underneath of your wall cabinet, letting you access the power without needing to open your cabinet.
Bathroom storage solutions in the shower
A lot of items mainly get used in the shower, so it usually makes sense to store them there. There are a myriad of different options when it comes to shower storage and picking the right one depends largely on your personal preference.
Shower niche
A shower niche is a recessed shelf that is built into the shower wall itself. Many people like this option because it’s a convenient place to store things without protruding into the rest of the shower area. These have been an especially popular option in recent years.
Shower ledge
A shower ledge is a bit like a shower niche, but it tends to go from wall to wall. It’s a more minimalistic and simplistic look and provides greater storage space. If you have the right tiles, it’s very easy to incorporate into a feature wall.
Nib walls
In the same vein as ledges and niches, nib walls create a shelf that bridges the gap between the shower and vanity. This small space is great for removing the awkward empty area while also giving you a bit of extra storage space to boot.
Nib walls
In the same vein as ledges and niches, nib walls create a shelf that bridges the gap between the shower and vanity. This small space is great for removing the awkward empty area while also giving you a bit of extra storage space to boot.
Floating shelves
Floating shelves with organic finishes like timber or wood-look laminate are great at bringing a bathroom to life. Not only can you store toiletries, but you can use them for decorations that help to make your shower area more lively. They’re a great place to put a devil’s ivy hanging plant, some candles, soaps, or anything else that tickles your fancy.
Corner glass shelves
A great option for storing things like soap, shampoo bottles and scrubbers are corner glass shelves. They stay tucked away in the corner, not intruding on the overall shower area. Just make sure to keep them away from the direct spray of the showerhead to avoid soap scum buildup on tiles and glass.
Other options
There are other useful additions that can help to utilise your shower to the maximum. Items like a footrest or shower seat may not strictly increase storage capacity, but they are valuable for helping to improve the room’s functionality. This can be very important for individuals with specific accessibility requirements.
Utilise all your available space for bathroom storage
One of the best ways to ensure you’re maximising bathroom storage is to use all of the space available to you. People often assume that they are simply limited to where they have placed their cabinet or vanity, but that is not the case. There are plenty of nooks and crannies that provide you with more space for your belongings.
Counter
While counter space is often limited in many bathrooms, there are ways that you can expand it. Rather than simply putting your items on the counter, try putting containers on the counter instead. This will let you store more with the same counter space, helping you to include more of your things.
Under the sink
The amount of space you have under your sink will vary depending on your bathroom. But if there is some space there, you should certainly utilise it. A bin or box can keep supplies close-at-hand for whatever purpose you need them for.
Over the toilet
Often, you can store things above the toilet to add a bit of extra space. Often, this space is utilised for things like space toilet rolls or bathroom spray. But you can utilise this in whatever way works for you and it’s a great area to add some floating shelves.
Additional bathroom storage tips
There are a lot of things to think about when you’re trying to figure out the best way to utilise your bathroom’s storage space. Some of these are not directly related to the storing of your belongings.
Laundry hamper
One thing you need to think about for your bathroom is your laundry hamper. Consider whether you’re going to store the laundry hamper in the bathroom or somewhere else. Additionally, think about whether you want it to be built into your vanity unit or freestanding.
Extended bench tops
Extending your bench top not only gives you more space on the bench, but also gives you space to store things underneath. Whether you want to keep a laundry hamper there or a removable basket, it adds a lot of convenience and helps you to avoid clutter.
Miscellaneous tips
There are a lot of little things you can do to give yourself a bit more space and convenience in the bathroom. Maybe you want to turn your kick-board into a hidden drawer. Or perhaps you want to add some extra accessories to streamline things a bit. Things like wall-mounted soap dispensers and hairdryer holders can be very helpful. Using a makeup mirror is perfect for minimising clutter and giving better purpose to your space. And including a small stool gives you somewhere to place your clothes or do your nails. There’s no shortage of ways to add a bit of utility to your bathroom.
Find your perfect bathroom storage solution with WA Assett
Get in touch with WA Assett to find out how we can change the way you feel about your bathroom. We can help you design your dream bathroom that not only looks beautiful, but is also functional and ergonomic.
