Turn An Old Hutch Top Into Gorgeous Toilet Paper Storage

That old hutch that's taking up a lot of space in your garage or basement has a secret: It's actually two pieces of furniture in one. The top part, which may be a china cabinet or shelving unit, isn't permanently connected to the lower cabinetry. With a bit of elbow grease and the right tools, you can remove the top part of the hutch from the bottom, turning the cabinet piece into a sleek and chic storage solution for your bathroom.

What can you stash in the upcycled hutch top? Use it to keep toilet paper rolls within easy reach — but not on full display — in the bathroom. The hutch's style, and stylish doors, can distract from the fact that you're using it to stock life's necessities.

And if you don't have an old hutch just waiting to be given a new life? Not a problem. They are pretty easy to find at flea markets, vintage or thrift stores, and through online classifieds like Facebook Marketplace. Look for one with a cabinet top, rather than shelves, so your toilet paper rolls are neatly tucked away. Even glass doors create an attractive separation of activity spaces. Once you've given the top of the hutch a new job, consider putting the bottom to work as well. One option is to turn the hutch bottom into a bathroom vanity. The beauty here is that now you'll have two coordinating pieces of furniture helping to define your bathroom's look.

The sky is nearly the limit when it comes to redoing your hutch top — paint it, stain it, mount it on the wall, attach legs or feet and place it on the floor, and so on. Swap out glass doors for solid ones, if you don't want to see the contents inside and add your own statement hardware. When deciding how you'll breathe new life into your hutch, think about your bathroom's overall space and consider the size of the cabinet top as well as its style.

A large cabinet top weighs a lot and may take up too much wall space — you might be better off attaching stylish legs or feet to it and setting it on the floor. That way, in addition to the cabinet space, you get the top of the piece as a surface (if it's flat). A smaller cabinet can go on the wall — just be sure to find studs behind the wall and use the right hardware for mounting a cabinet on your bathroom wall. Attach the cabinet above the toilet for easy access to the toilet paper stash.

While the hutch top provides handy toilet paper roll storage, that's not the only thing you can keep in there. Fold some guest towels and place them inside, along with a collection of extra soaps or shower gels. If your cabinet has glass doors, fold a bathroom towel into a swan shape for display.