Replace Your Traditional Towel Rack With a Ladder That's as Stylish as It Is Functional
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You've had fun decorating your bathroom — now it's time to find the right solutions to stay organized. Luckily, there's an abundance of bathroom storage ideas you can DIY or purchase online, including under-the-sink organizers and smart ways to clear counters, shelves and cabinets.
Whether it's the primary bathroom, powder room or guest bath, there's no denying that bathrooms are a high-traffic area that can easily become cluttered. To help you out, we've rounded up affordable options for nearly any design and layout. You can conceal your toiletries in storage baskets or purchase a sink skirt to hide folded towels and cleaning products. Try adding hooks throughout the space to hang robes, while keeping hair products organized with over-the-cabinet storage. If you really want to get crafty, repurpose a bar cart to display extra bedding, toilet paper and makeup organizers for easy grabbing. Even your kids' bathroom can benefit from built-in shelves and hidden cabinets for their toys, bath products and cozy blankets. Read on for more ideas.
Roll Your Towels
Let's face it: Towels can take over a bathroom if you don't have a good spot to keep them organized. Purchase a simple towel holder you can place in an empty corner of the room or go for a wall-mounted design.
Include a Makeup Vanity
Don't let a small bathroom deter you from carving out space for a makeup station. Forget scattering your beauty products all over the bathroom sink. All it takes is a small vanity with a drawer for your beauty essentials.
Use Every Inch For Storage
Prefer a minimalist vibe with understated shelving? Take a cue from this nursery bathroom and install a narrow built-in for everyday items. Products like moisturizers and body wash can be placed on lower shelves, while cleaning supplies can remain on top.
Max Out Space for a Vanity
The more drawers you have, the more space there is for your bath essentials. Even if your bathroom isn't as grand as you'd like, a wide vanity allows you to separate items by category.
Try a Toilet Paper Stand
Slip this slim cabinet into any small area — think between the toilet and sink base cabinet, for instance. Display your greenery at the top, your toilet paper in the middle and any small bath products on the lowest shelf. Then, you're left with cabinet space at the bottom for cleaning supplies or face towels.
Unclutter Your Vanity Drawers
Believe it or not, just organizing your drawers can give you more space and allow you to fit more in. Use drawer dividers to section off your products. Choose multiple sizes, one for hair ties and clips, and another for flat irons, blow dryers and brushes.
Attach Wire Baskets to the Wall
Don't let any extra wall space go to waste. Attach wire baskets to any bathroom wall to store everything from lightweight towels to bars of soap.
Corral Products on a Tiered Stand
Keep your countertop free of clutter with a three-tier stand that'll ensure everything remains in one place. Heavier items can be placed at the bottom and lightweight products, like cotton balls and Q-tips, can be on top.
Opt for a Corner Cabinet
If you're someone who loves to stock up on bath products, then you may benefit from a larger cabinet. Choose a design with glass doors, so you can easily see what you need to grab.
Install a Floating Shelf
Lean into a rustic aesthetic — and bring function to your bathroom while you're at it — with a floating wood shelf to display decorative objects, like framed art, along with a few bath accessories.
Use Bath Trays for Extra Space
Bring the spa right to your home with a simple bath tray that can hold everything from reading material to candles and body products.
Organize Your Cosmetics
Don't let your collection of cosmetics get out of control. Keep them organized and displayed on your countertop with a stand that's large enough to hold multiple products but small enough to be placed just about anywhere.
Go for Floor Storage Cabinets
When you're in a pinch, it pays to have cabinets with glass doors to quickly spot what you need. Just don't forget to spruce up the top with glass jars full of everyday necessities like cotton balls, Q-tips and bar soap.
Double Up Your Shelves
Extra built-in shelves never hurt, especially on both sides of a small bathroom. Let your bathtub serve as the focal point, then feature your knickknacks, plants and baskets of toiletries on the open shelves.
Take Advantage of the Entire Wall
Forget the floor cabinets and floating ledges. Instead, go the extra mile with built-in shelves all over the wall. You'll truly have space for everything, including your towels, ornaments, baskets of toiletries, and bins of cleaning products and hair tools.
Keep Towels by the Entrance
Instead of keeping everything in your bathroom, place your shelving unit beside the entrance so you can grab your towels and wash cloths before you go in.
Install an Alcove Shelf
Carving out space in the wall beside your tub creates a clutter-free solution that won't take up extra space in your bathroom. Use the ledge to store your bath bombs, soap bars and bath salts, so they'll be in-reach when needed.
Create a Nook for Shower Essentials
Carve out a space in your shower to store shampoo, conditioner, body wash and other essentials. Decant your go-to shampoo and conditioner in pretty glass bottles to create a more streamlined look.
RELATED: Stunning Walk-In Shower Ideas
Conceal Items in Baskets and Bins
Think up, not out: Built-in shelves don't take up any floor space, but multiply your storage space. Fill 'em with labeled bins, stack folded towels directly on the shelves or find a way to do both.
Replace a Bulky Medicine Cabinet
We get it: Sometimes, medicine cabinets are the only solution if you're short on space. But if you're smart about how you organize the drawers in your vanity (keep reading for ideas), hang a sleek light bar over a mirror that lays flush against the wall.
Use the Wall Wisely
Free up precious counter space by mounting a towel bar and faucet to the wall. Open bathroom vanities, like the one shown here, give the room an airy feel, but don't skimp on storage: Add a large basket down below to stash extra towels or toilet paper.
Let a Stool Pull Double Duty
Stick a garden stool between your toilet and sink to serve as a catch-all for odds and ends, then slide it out when it comes time to give your kids a bath.
Opt for a Skirted Sink
Wrap a pedestal sink in patterned fabric to hide any under-the-sink clutter in style. If space allows, sneak a few baskets or storage containers behind the curtain.
Stack Towels Down Below
No linen closet, no problem: Store tidy stacks of folded bath and hand towels under the sink. Since they're out in the open, it's best if all towels are the same color or at the very least, in the same color family.
Get Smart With Shelving
A trio of sturdy wooden shelves brings style and storage into your space. Keep washcloths and everyday extras (think: hand soap) on the lower shelves, then stick other non-essentials up high.
Get the tutorial at The Handmade Home »
Clear Off the Countertop
Mounted wire baskets and a mirror with a built-in shelf make up for any space that you may be lacking on the top of your vanity. Keep your toothbrushes, toothpaste, cleansers and lotions tucked inside.
Try a Storage Ladder
A ladder provides a spot to hang towels and baskets full of extra toilet paper, but it doesn't protrude much from the wall, making it ideal for slim spaces.
Add Hooks High and Low
You may not have tons of counter space or closets to work with, but you can stick hooks on the wall to hang towels and robes. Opt for hooks in metallic hues to add dimension to your space.
Install an Over-the-Door Shelf
Perfect for anyone without a linen closet, hang a tiered shelf over the door frame to keep towels and linens within reach. Just make sure there's a step stool nearby.
Repurpose Your Bar Cart
Your favorite place to store your wine can double as the perfect linen closet on wheels. Store spare towels, toilet paper and washcloths in baskets and leave toiletries up top.
Store Cleaning Supplies on a Lazy Susan
Proof that it's what's on the inside that counts. Keep your bathroom cleaning supplies on a turntable and simply give it a spin to find exactly what you're looking for.
Stash Electronics Nearby
Say goodbye to messy cords and plugs! Store your electronics — razors, electric toothbrushes and more — close to the outlet on this compact shelf.
Stash Electronics Nearby
$13.99
amazon.com
BeraTekTuck Towels in Baskets
Turn a problem (no linen closet) into a picture-perfect solution by sticking rolled bath and hand towels in cute baskets below your vanity. Talk about fashion and function all in one.
Keep Hair Tools Organized
One way to ensure that you don't keep your flat iron plugged in (or worse, on!) all day long? Give it a designated storage spot.
Keep Hair Tools Organized
$16.49
amazon.com
mDesignSpruce Up Toilet Paper
Our bet is that your bathroom is tight on floor space. If that's true, then don't waste it on stand-up toilet paper holders. Instead, place a few rolls into a basket atop the toilet. Convenient and cute!
Get the tutorial at Bre Purposed »
Take Advantage of Cabinet Doors
Don't neglect the back of your cabinet doors. Keep flat irons, blow dryers and brushes at hand and out of sight in space-saving bins, which you can attach straight to the door.
Double up on Rods
Instead of cramming conditioner on the tub edge, outfit the shower with a second rod near the wall. S-hooks keep loofahs and small caddies out of the way (and from falling all over the place).
Try Inverted Brackets
Install shelves with inverted brackets for a sweet look that also helps wrangle loose items, like hand towels and cotton balls.
Get the tutorial at First Home Dreams »
Install Magnetic Strips
It's hard to fight the urge to toss bobby pins and tweezers into a cluttered pile. Outwit your laziness with a magnetic strip that catches tiny items before they hit the counter.
Get the tutorial at Darkroom and Dearly »
Install Secret Shelves
Surprise! This DIY full-length mirror is meant for much more than an outfit check: It also hides a wall full of bath supplies.
Get the tutorial at at Shanty 2 Chic »
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