Not Cabinets, Not Shelves: IKEA Has An Affordable Way To Add Storage To Small Bathrooms

Your bathroom may be the smallest room in your home, but it still has to accommodate a surprising number of essentials. From cosmetics and toiletries to medicines and cleaning supplies, it makes sense to turn to cabinets and shelves for storage. But what if you don't even have enough room for a freestanding cabinet or a set of wall shelves? Or maybe you already have these storage solutions, but they're packed to the brim. Either way, there's an affordable alternative from IKEA that can sneak extra storage into your space. The product in question is the NISSAFORS utility cart.

This cart features three tiers and costs just $30, which one reviewer called the "best price point for a cart of this size." It measures less than 12 inches wide, making it suitable for narrow spaces like the gap between a sink and a wall, while the addition of caster wheels allows you to move it around. You won't be compromising on style, either. It has a sleek, minimalist profile and comes in four hues (beige, black, light green, and white), so you can deck your small bathroom with a pop of color.

There are a few limitations, however. The NISSAFORS has an average 4.6-star rating on IKEA's website, but some users have raised concerns about the difficult assembly. Meanwhile, others noted that it isn't as sturdy and durable as they hoped. You may want to avoid using it to store particularly heavy items, or you could reinforce it, as one reviewer did, by replacing the supplied fasteners with real screws for added durability.

Despite its compact size, the NISSAFORS can hold quite a bit. "It's spacious enough for towels, toilet paper, some cosmetics, and a water jug," one reviewer attested. Each shelf has raised edges, which help prevent smaller bathroom items from sliding off. There's also plenty of vertical space between the shelves, giving you room to store taller bottles. This makes it especially useful if you have a small sink or vanity unit because you could use the top shelf to keep essentials like toothbrushes and daily cleansers within easy reach.

That said, you'll need to ensure the shelves of your NISSAFORS don't descend into clutter, not only to make your space look visually cleaner and more organized but to promote better well-being as well. To do this, consider pairing your NISSAFORS utility cart with other organizing products. For example, IKEA's TAVELÅN tray or the four-piece DRAGAN set of bamboo boxes can create separate compartments on your shelves for smaller items while offering a clean and cohesive look. If you're looking for a less expensive option, the NOJIG organizer costs just $1 and would also fit comfortably on the shelves of the NISSAFORS. With the addition of a few extra organizers, you'll have a reliable bathroom storage idea that maximizes space and helps you stay on top of organization.