Bathroom Storage Ideas That Will Leave You Breathless (Oh ... and Organized, Too)

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"I just have too much bathroom storage!" said no one, ever. Bathroom real estate is a mighty commodity and one you just can't have enough of. From toiletries to toothbrushes to hair tools and towels, your bathroom is a small space that actually needs to hold a lot of varying items. Of course, a great bathroom organization idea also declutters your space, as opposed to making it feel more chaotic.

Good news: We can help you completely organize your bathroom.

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Prepping for Your Bathroom Storage Journey

Before you begin organizing your space, you'll want to bid a guilt-free adieu to old lipsticks, mini bars of hotel soap you brought home from your last vacay, and all of the other various items you no longer need or use. There's really nothing quite like a clutter-free bathroom, so declutter with abandon. This will make organizing much easier, give you a better sense of how much stuff you really have, and help you figure out if you need to purchase additional storage solutions. Assess your needs (do you have a lot of styling tools like curling irons, hair dyers, and toiletries?) and your current storage options (have you been blessed with drawers, ample counter space and built-in solutions?).

If you're embarking on a bathroom remodel, don't overlook spots with storage potential. If possible, add built-in niches to the walls. Do the same for your shower to corral your shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Additionally, if you have a floating vanity, add a shelf below it — it's a practical and attractive perch for baskets and extra towels.

Looking for some just generally great ideas to get you started? See some fun guides below:

Bathroom Countertop Storage

If you have a bathroom vanity, you've likely got some surface space to work with, which can be a blessing and a curse. While a bathroom countertop is a great place to store your smalls like toothbrushes and makeup, it can easily become cluttered. Our tip? Search for bathroom countertop organizer sets, which can keep your items from feeling too cluttered.

Bathroom Shelving

If you're going into a full-scale renovation, adding built-in shelving is a must for bathroom storage. However, you can definitely install shelves yourself. Floating shelves can add an artistic touch, offering both storage space and a spot to display decor. If you're working with a small bathroom, consider minimizing the depth of your shelves, and use them for small items like makeup or nail polishes. (Pro tip: IKEA spice racks make for genius small space storage in the bathroom.)

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Bathroom Drawer Organization

Your bathroom drawers can easily become drop zones for unwanted junk. The best way to keep them tidy is to add drawer organizers (which you can easily DIY). Otherwise, consider small acrylic bins without tops to create sections. Just make sure you measure your drawer — both height, length, and width — to make sure they'll fit.

Bathroom Cabinet Organization

Just like your drawers, bathroom cabinets can also become dark corners of disorganization. You can create smarter storage solutions by adding things like Lazy Susans or drawer dividers. And don't forget your cabinet doors — that's a spot you can easily add an adhesive or over-the-door unit to store a hair dryer or cleaning supplies.

Bathroom Sink Organization

No vanity? No problem. If you've got a floating sink or a pedestal sink, you may feel like you're at a loss for how to get organized. There are plenty of clever ideas you can buy or DIY to increase your storage space:

Bathroom Shower Organization

Your shower doesn't have to be a land of random bottles. The easiest DIY solution is to add a shower caddy, however, if you're doing a remodel, think about how your can carve out built-in shelving.

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Bathroom Towel Organization

Towels are probably the bulkiest (and most annoying) item in your bathroom to store. But even if you have a small bathroom, there are plenty of creative ways to keep them organized, from ladders to hooks and racks. Take a look:

Medicine Cabinet Storage

If you don't have a medicine cabinet, now's the time to think about installing one. But seriously, your medicine cabinet can be the ideal storage piece — that is, if you're using it right. Measure your shelf depth to find acrylic canisters to help you keep your products organized. Stacking tiered trays (if they're shallow enough) is also a great way to make sure you're fully using the vertical space provided to you.

Over-the-Toilet Storage Ideas

Don't forget the space over your toilet, which is far from a dead zone — whether you install a wall-mounted shelving system or cabinet, or go with a freestanding unit, this is an ideal place to stash towels, toilet paper, and more.

Small Bathroom Storage Ideas

Yes, storage in a small bathroom can be tricky, but definitely not impossible. It's all about finding the tiny, overlooked spaces that hold potential. The key is to think narrow — like baskets and racks that can be tucked to the side. As well as think vertically — your bathroom walls hold plenty of potential. Get started on your small bathroom storage solutions with the following articles:

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Best Storage Items to Add to a Bathroom

  • Toothbrush holders: Place one on your bathroom countertop to avoid a random toothpaste tube laying around.
  • Storage baskets and containers: You can never have too many baskets. Use baskets to stash towels, styling tools, or extra toilet paper. Lidded baskets hide unsightly but necessary evils like dirty laundry.
  • Towel racks and towel bars: An obvious must if you don't have cabinet space.
  • Lazy Susans: Insert one in a bathroom cabinet to easily access bottles.
  • Tiered trays: Head to The Container Store to stock up on acrylic tiered trays — they're clean and minimal, allowing you to organize and declutter while taking advantage of the vertical space in your cabinets.
  • Over-the-door storage: Don't forget about your door. In a small bathroom, the back of your main door or cabinet door can become a hidden spot.
  • Mason jars: Such an easy, budget-friendly item to add to your bathroom to store odds and ends like cotton swabs and cotton balls.
  • Shower caddy: A shower caddy can help you take advantage of the vertical space in your shower.
  • Soap and lotion dispensers: If you want to declutter your countertop, consider putting lotions and soaps into beautiful dispensers. While they won't take up less space on your countertop, they will help you achieve a more uniform look.

Where to Shop for Bathroom Storage

Big box stores are great for purchasing bathroom storage necessities:

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The Container Store

Their motto, "contain yourself," says it all. This is our go-to spot for bins, baskets, and drawer organizers. If it exists, the Container Store probably has it. The Container Store is also the ideal place to hone in on solutions for cosmetics and toiletries — they've got canisters for your makeup brushes, Lazy Susans for your cabinets, and all the acrylic storage containers you could ever wish for.

Pottery Barn

They have a comprehensive selection of on-trend bath accessories including canisters and hampers at reasonable prices.

Bed Bath & Beyond

It's hard to beat the bathroom storage selection and prices at this outlet. Set aside ample time to browse their online inventory, which offers literally every type of solution whether you're looking for something to hold your hairspray collection or shelving units to organize linens.

Amazon

Amazon may seem obvious, but they've got it all, from toiletry storage to easy-install shelving. However, if you're looking for something high-end or less basic, you may want to look elsewhere.

IKEA

For Scandi-chic solutions, try IKEA, which will always be helpful on your wallet. IKEA's many accessories make for useful bathroom organization (pro tip: look beyond the bathroom sections to kitchen and dining for glassware and canisters that can be repurposed in the bathroom. They even have a whole bathroom storage section, which includes bathroom base cabinets, wall cabinets, and medicine.

The Dollar Store

If you're truly on a super tight budget, your local Dollar Store can be the ideal spot to score cheap storage solutions like Mason jars or wire baskets to add to your bathroom space.

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