Bathroom Design
10 Smart Bathroom Storage Solutions
Get clever ideas for your bathroom vanity, storage niche, medicine cabinet or linen cabinet from pros on Houzz
Storage space is at a premium in a bathroom, so making the most of every inch is important. Thoughtful storage solutions include customized vanities with features like drawer inserts, integrated hampers and pullout trash bins. Designers also create storage with countertop towers, linen cabinets, medicine cabinets and niches. Take a look to see if any of these storage solutions suit your needs.
In the past, cabinetmakers opted for cabinet doors to accommodate the plumbing beneath the sinks. An alternative, seen in this bathroom by Fox Interiors, is to create a U-shaped drawer that leaves room for the P-trap in the center.
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2. Custom Drawer Inserts
Cabinetmakers are outfitting bathroom drawers with similar custom inserts like you’d see in kitchen drawers. This helps keep items in place and organized. In this bathroom, Trim Tech Designs provided the homeowner with inserts to keep makeup and brushes handy and neat.
Cabinetmakers are outfitting bathroom drawers with similar custom inserts like you’d see in kitchen drawers. This helps keep items in place and organized. In this bathroom, Trim Tech Designs provided the homeowner with inserts to keep makeup and brushes handy and neat.
Hair appliance drawers include metal-encased inserts for hot appliances like straighteners, curling irons and hair dryers. This one by Signature Designs Kitchen | Bath | Interiors also includes inserts for hair products, brushes and combs.
3. Integrated Hampers
A bathroom hamper is convenient for storing used towels and dirty clothes. Custom cabinetmakers offer lots of options for hamper and laundry basket placement. In this bathroom, McGuire + Co. Kitchen & Bath created a pullout cabinet sized for a laundry basket, disguised as a vanity door. Once full, the basket is easy to remove and carry to the laundry room.
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A bathroom hamper is convenient for storing used towels and dirty clothes. Custom cabinetmakers offer lots of options for hamper and laundry basket placement. In this bathroom, McGuire + Co. Kitchen & Bath created a pullout cabinet sized for a laundry basket, disguised as a vanity door. Once full, the basket is easy to remove and carry to the laundry room.
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4. Pullout Trash Bins
Homeowners have been adding trash and recycling pullouts to their kitchen cabinetry for years. Now the concept has found its way into the bathroom. Trim Tech Designs disguised the trash pullout in this bathroom with false drawer fronts.
Homeowners have been adding trash and recycling pullouts to their kitchen cabinetry for years. Now the concept has found its way into the bathroom. Trim Tech Designs disguised the trash pullout in this bathroom with false drawer fronts.
5. Vanities With a Bottom Shelf
When a linen cabinet isn’t an option, consider a vanity design with an open bottom shelf. Seen here in a bathroom by KSI Kitchen & Bath, the setup has been trending for the past several years.
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When a linen cabinet isn’t an option, consider a vanity design with an open bottom shelf. Seen here in a bathroom by KSI Kitchen & Bath, the setup has been trending for the past several years.
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Cathie Hong Interiors included a lower shelf on this contemporary vanity in a townhouse. Note the use of thoughtful proportions that give the vanity a pleasing balance. The mitered countertop is extra thick, the drawers are wide, and the open space on the bottom is just the right size, creating a pleasing sense of scale.
6. Countertop Tower Cabinets
When there’s a lot to store and ample wall space, countertop cabinets are a wonderful option. Interior designer Jena Bula of Delphinium Design bookended this vanity wall with countertop tower cabinets. This left the center area feeling open and airy. It’s also worth noting the way Bula set them back a few inches from the edge of the counter, which keeps them from feeling overpowering. She also gave the cabinets crown molding that matches the rest of the architecture.
There are many different options for composing countertop cabinets. In this case, Bula added drawers on the bottom for smaller items. Inside, the cabinets have rollout shelves to make it easy to reach things stored in the back. There are also outlets inside the cabinets for electric toothbrushes.
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When there’s a lot to store and ample wall space, countertop cabinets are a wonderful option. Interior designer Jena Bula of Delphinium Design bookended this vanity wall with countertop tower cabinets. This left the center area feeling open and airy. It’s also worth noting the way Bula set them back a few inches from the edge of the counter, which keeps them from feeling overpowering. She also gave the cabinets crown molding that matches the rest of the architecture.
There are many different options for composing countertop cabinets. In this case, Bula added drawers on the bottom for smaller items. Inside, the cabinets have rollout shelves to make it easy to reach things stored in the back. There are also outlets inside the cabinets for electric toothbrushes.
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After taking a thorough inventory of everything her clients wanted to store in their bathroom, designer Terri Brien suggested adding a tower. She sized two drawers on the bottom to accommodate makeup and styling tools.
This tower not only added storage space, but also warmth and character. The white oak brings in contrast and an organic feel. Reeded glass doors on top add texture and lighten the look of the cabinet.
This tower not only added storage space, but also warmth and character. The white oak brings in contrast and an organic feel. Reeded glass doors on top add texture and lighten the look of the cabinet.
When placing a tower right up against a wall, the swing of the cabinet doors should be considered. In this primary bathroom, designer Bonnie Bagley Catlin of Signature Designs Kitchen | Bath | Interiors addressed that by outfitting a tower with handy pullouts. Rails hold products safely in place. A drawer at the bottom stores smaller items.
Towers can accommodate specific storage needs. In this bathroom, McGuire + Co. Kitchen & Bath sized the shelves for the items their clients wanted to keep inside. For example, the bottom shelf is the designated spot for storing and charging electric toothbrushes and has an outlet inside.
As seen in the previous photo and this one, the space between two sinks on a double vanity can be a good spot for a countertop tower. Also, glass doors on a countertop cabinet lighten the look. In this bathroom by First Impression Designs, the glass doors allow for display. However, if you’re looking to conceal less attractive items, there’s no shame in opting for solid doors.
7. Full Cabinet Towers
When placed next to a vanity, a cabinet tower can bear a close resemblance to a countertop tower cabinet. Designer Colleen Slack of Fox Interiors maximized the space next to the vanity in this bathroom by installing a tall, slim, deep tower with pullouts. There’s wood along the right side of the shelving and acrylic rails on the left side to prevent items from falling.
When placed next to a vanity, a cabinet tower can bear a close resemblance to a countertop tower cabinet. Designer Colleen Slack of Fox Interiors maximized the space next to the vanity in this bathroom by installing a tall, slim, deep tower with pullouts. There’s wood along the right side of the shelving and acrylic rails on the left side to prevent items from falling.
8. Medicine Cabinets
Medicine cabinets have been a go-to storage solution for many years. The difference these days is that they come with so many options, including recessed and wall-mounted models, integrated and backlit lighting, and features inside like outlets, mirrored doors and makeup mirrors that pull out.
In this bathroom, designers Jill and Jesse Jarrett of Jarrett Design used wood-framed mirrors on the medicine cabinets. This makes them look like traditional bathroom mirrors and adds character and contrast to the room.
Medicine cabinets have been a go-to storage solution for many years. The difference these days is that they come with so many options, including recessed and wall-mounted models, integrated and backlit lighting, and features inside like outlets, mirrored doors and makeup mirrors that pull out.
In this bathroom, designers Jill and Jesse Jarrett of Jarrett Design used wood-framed mirrors on the medicine cabinets. This makes them look like traditional bathroom mirrors and adds character and contrast to the room.
9. Storage Niches
Storage niches can work well outside of the shower too. While the space over a toilet is often underused, a cabinet that juts out from the wall can be a real head-banger. In this 40-square-foot bathroom, space was at a premium. So Bearded Builders suggested the clients add a recessed niche for storage and display. To make the niche cohesive with the rest of the room, they backed it with the same geometric tile used on the floor and stained the shelves to match the walnut vanity.
Storage niches can work well outside of the shower too. While the space over a toilet is often underused, a cabinet that juts out from the wall can be a real head-banger. In this 40-square-foot bathroom, space was at a premium. So Bearded Builders suggested the clients add a recessed niche for storage and display. To make the niche cohesive with the rest of the room, they backed it with the same geometric tile used on the floor and stained the shelves to match the walnut vanity.
Designer Linette Dai wanted to balance the warmth of oak with the coolness of terrazzo and glass in this bathroom shared by two young girls. This inspired the idea of using open niches above the vanity rather than recessed medicine cabinets.
In this bathroom, architect Wanda Ely combined the medicine cabinet and open niche options. Her custom design surrounds the mirrors with niches. Much like Dai’s design, it helps balance warm and cool, as well as minimalism with a controllable smidge of maximalism.
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Of course, niches can provide lots of handy storage in a shower stall, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Maximizing them can provide additional storage in a small bathroom. For this young girl’s bathroom, designer Erin Levendusky of Ejay Interiors embraced a jutting wall she couldn’t get rid of by adding four large niches within it. “I like the way the niche is deep and set back,” she says. “You don’t see the products inside it when you enter the room.”
10. Linen Cabinets
Rather than adding a separate linen closet, many homeowners are opting for freestanding versions. These can be accommodated by smaller bathrooms, are more convenient to access and add to the overall look of the room.
They’re also highly functional. In this Dallas bathroom, contractor Brandon Spruill of Spruill Homes crafted a floor-to-ceiling built-in with a freestanding look. It has hamper pullouts on the bottom that keep laundry separated by color, drawers in the middle and shelves on top.
Rather than adding a separate linen closet, many homeowners are opting for freestanding versions. These can be accommodated by smaller bathrooms, are more convenient to access and add to the overall look of the room.
They’re also highly functional. In this Dallas bathroom, contractor Brandon Spruill of Spruill Homes crafted a floor-to-ceiling built-in with a freestanding look. It has hamper pullouts on the bottom that keep laundry separated by color, drawers in the middle and shelves on top.
The entry to this bathroom had an alcove around it that wasted space. Designer Amy Pearson moved the entry, leaving room for a generous linen cabinet. One must-have on the homeowners’ list was an X-shaped structure for storing rolled-up towels. The glass doors make the large cabinet feel lighter. The designer gave the piece character and depth by adding a protruding center portion.
Storage was of the utmost importance to these homeowners. However, display space was important too. Designer Tamra Blair created an elegant cabinet with a freestanding furniture look for them that incorporated both. There are drawers on the bottom and shelves behind glass doors on top. Stained alder adds dark contrast in the room, while the glass doors and feet keep the cabinet from feeling too heavy.
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Using vanity drawers instead of doors is a bathroom storage idea that has soared in popularity over the past few years. Designers have composed the cabinetry with drawers of different sizes for different items.
For example, designer Dorothy Day Huntsman of DayHouse Studio used smaller drawers on top here for items like makeup and brushes. Deeper drawers below can accommodate tall bottles, hair appliances and towels.
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