On the vanity I have a box of tissues, a soap pump and a bottle of hand lotion. Stored inside the vanity I have extra rolls of toilet paper, wipe-em's, bathroom spray, some current magazines and extra hand towels. On the back of the toilet I have a bowl filled with potpourri.

Tissues, TP, handsoap, handtowels and handcream are what I have in mine.

Rather than have something sitting directly on the toilet, I put a small glass ledge above it for some items. I also have a tall white box next to it that stores tissues on top, and spare toilet paper behind the door in front. I don't have a vanity, so everything else has to go in the cabinet over the toilet.

The basics mentioned above -- plus a few extra towels or hand towels.

Always handy to have a few items like aspirins (or whichever pain reliever you may choose) and Gas-X for guests -- along with a few band-aids/first aid cream. Keep out of reach of children of course!

Perhaps a small pretty magnifying mirror on a stand - sometimes nice for folks (like me) who can't always see the smaller details in the big mirror .......

Extra rolls of toilet paper, some tissues.

When entertaining a group or at a party -- some folks even include a small carafe of mouthwash with disposable cups.

Handcream is always nice too!

Bathroom spray is always good too!

Just some thoughts !

Thank you all.I should have been more specific in my post. You can see I have plenty of storage space for all of the ammenities mentioned. For example do you think its is imperitive to have tissues in the pr? Back of toilet and top of vanities do not provide a lot of surface area. So if you had three things to place on these two places, tp already has a space, what three things would you put in your pr? Thanks again, looking for your responce.

I don't think there is anything that HAS to be out besides soap, towel and tp. If you need a tissue, you can always use the tp. Whenever I go to my MIL's house I always start sniffling due to her dogs and smoking husband. I always grab a paper towel or something and she freaks out and says "use a tissue". She has about ten boxes all around the house. OK Way off topic. I say decorate it how you want and put the tissue inside the cabinet.
I like candles in mine. (all the above ideas are excellent to keep in the cabinets, specially the OTC meds).

I have a very small pr with not much surface area. I always have tissues and a pump soap. I also keep a basket of cosmetics for touch ups on the way out the door. It isnt decoration, of course-- but it is for MY convenience and I only remove it for planned events. My sister teases me that I should change my colors to black and white to coordinate with the chanel packaging. I know it is tacky-- so I've been keeping my eye out for something a decorative box or such that will conceal the cosmetics.

Three things only? Hand soap, air freshener and a tissue box. If your handsoap already has a spot, I'd pick a bottle of hand cream as my third item. I'm not overly fond of potpourri, which usually smells musty and old ladyish to me.

I keep a lavender diffuser in each bathroom; it always smells fresh and nice for company that drops by and the glass containers are pretty, to boot. Hand soap and cream are important to me, as well. Not sure if I would forgo the tissues for the hand cream, though:-)

I know you only want three things, and those were my top three. You can also get an in-wall dispenser for the tissue if it's really bugging you.

I also have antique linen towels folded on the side of the sink so each guest can use their own, but our friends must be scared to use them because for the most part, I never find they've been used! They always use whatever towel has already been used and is hanging next to the sink. I don't care, I like the way they feel and DH and I use them:-)

I have paper 'guest towels' (not sure what else they might be called -- they're like rectangular folded napkins) in a decorative metal tray. When we have parties, some people use them to dry their hands rather than use a common hand towel. That's the only thing I have that others haven't mentioned.

I dislike anything beyond maybe a box of tissues on the back of the toilet. Surprisingly easy for things to get knocked over (or into the toilet). I prefer just hand soap on the sink. Not crazy about potpourri and am *extremely* sensitive to air freshners and candles. I think a must have, which is oddly lacking from a surprising number of bathrooms, is a waste basket.

Thanks for you replies. Actually I was asking out of curiosity not because it was "bugging" me as someone suggested.I have always had the tissues on the back of the toilet, and soap pump and potpourri in my powder rooms.I just wondered if everyone kept tissues in their pr.It was interesting to note that some people listed the necessities as opposed to the ammenities in the powder room. I always figured that tp and a towel were necessities.lol

It is interesting that most people posting have potpourri, as opposed to candles in their powder rooms.Thanks for your input.

"For example do you think its is imperitive to have tissues in the pr?"

YES! and a waste basket to go with them

and I personally dislike potpourri - makes me sneeze (hence the need for Kleenex!).

Wow! Not one person mentioned a matchbook and an ashtray! Doesn't anyone else serve Mexican food at their parties besides me????

My powder room has a small single closet and no vanity. I store the usual TP and kleenex there but also a stash of tampons and pads because there is NOTHING WORSE than being surprised when you are out and about. Am I right? A little trash can with a lid is also very nice and discreet.

In our previous home the powder room did not have a closet and it had a pedistal sink....so no storage. I kept the extra toilet paper rolls, can of air freshner and a few womanly products in a small wicker trunk on the floor between the pedistal sink and toilet. Very discreet, the trunk closed, but if you ran out of toilet paper, curiosity would have to lure you to look in the box by your feet as you wondered what to do next:) Tissues were on the top of the toilet in a pretty box. I always have a box of tissues out....its always a back up for the fool who doesnt look in the trunk!

I guess its a safe bet to say from the posts,that the tissues go on the back of the toilet,due to lack of space on most vanities for even the smallest pretty box.