40 Clever Storage Ideas for Small Bathrooms (Maximize Every Inch)

Any small bathroom design should start with a good declutter, and by moving any items that you don’t need to access on a daily basis off site to a closet or other out-of-sight storage area.

But there are plenty of clever and attractive small bathroom storage solutions that will make your small bathroom look and feel larger than it is.

Whether you’re decorating a small apartment bathroom or powder room, here are some simple small bathroom storage ideas to help make your space functional, stylish, and zen. 

Utilize Vertical Space

Pin The Spruce / Jacob Fox

Choose a wall-mounted toilet paper dispenser to save space in a small bathroom.

This will free up floor space for a trash bin or magazine basket.

Maximize Vertical Space

Pin Design by Space Factory / Photo by Hervé Goluza

In a small space, running cabinetry all the way to the ceiling creates the impression that the space is larger than its footprint.

In this Paris bathroom from Space Factory, slim custom-built wood shelving touches the ceiling to maximize vertical space and provide open storage for everyday essentials.

Use a Retro Peg Rail

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls

Adding storage to a small, unusually shaped room is both a challenge and a decorating opportunity.

In this country cottage bathroom from Leanne Ford Interiors, the walls flanking the sink are lined with wooden peg rails that don’t encroach on the space in the way that shelving would and create a timeless look.

Make It Disappear

Pin Fantastic Frank

In this small bathroom from Fantastic Frank, a tall clean-lined white storage cabinet without visible hardware provides ample and easily accessible storage while fading into the background, allowing other decor to take center stage.

Hang Open Wall Shelves

Pin Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Christy Q. Photo

Adding storage to a very small bathroom can be as simple as adding a floating shelf to house those bathroom-related items that you enjoy looking at and having on display.

In this small bathroom from Cathie Hong Interiors, a pair of modern black floating shelves with a narrow profile match the plumbing fixtures and create a polished look.

Utilize Every Inch

Pin Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott

When adding a vanity to a small bathroom, sometimes bigger is better. 

Chango & Co. chose a wall-to-wall vanity in this narrow blue-and-white bathroom that maximizes storage and delivers a custom look.

Float the Vanity

Pin Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Photo by Christy Q. Photo

In a small bathroom with a limited footprint like this one from Cathie Hong Interiors, a floating vanity can create the impression that there is more space and allow light to flow.

Add Adjustable Shelving

Pin Most Lovely Things

Blogger Annie Diamond from Most Lovely Things added a DIY plywood pegboard shelf high on the wall of a small bathroom which she chose to decorate with plants.

But you could take advantage of vertical space in your small bathroom to add a pegboard wall with adjustable shelves to store bath supplies, towels, toilet paper, or anything else that needs organizing.

Hide Clutter With a Curtain

Pin Lobster and Swan

To create more storage beneath a freestanding sink or a vanity without built-in cabinetry, add a simple curtain to hide clutter, like this small bathroom from Lobster and Swan.

A linen curtain in a light neutral shade hung beneath a reclaimed wood countertop topped with a modern square sink makes this classic move feel timeless rather than old-fashioned.

Add a Towel Ladder

Pin Mindy Gayer Design Co.

In this narrow bathroom from Mindy Gayer Design Co., a painted white decorative ladder provides towel storage and looks good empty.

Using lightweight Turkish or honeycomb weave towels will also take up less visual space and make the space feel fresh and modern.

Use Decorative Baskets

Pin Design by Raili CA Design / Photo by Karyn Millet

Never underestimate the power of a decorative basket.

In this small bathroom from Raili CA Design, decorative baskets on a low shelf can be used to house supplies or serve as a clothes hamper, and add some warm natural tones to the room’s industrial black and gray palette.

You can also place stylish flat-bottomed baskets directly on the floor to store toilet paper or other items.

Repurpose Vintage Pieces

Pin Design by Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Tramp-Ligorria

A small vintage rattan bar cart is repurposed as a rolling storage unit for towels and bathroom supplies in this light and bright bathroom from Emily Henderson Design.

Paint Everything White

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls

Using repurposed vintage decor items is a great way to add storage to a small bathroom.

In this small bathroom from Leanne Ford Interiors, a white floating shelf creates space above the sink for towel storage and a vintage painted white mirror with a tiny built-in shelf creates a seamless wall of white storage.

Black accents on the plumbing hardware, toilet seat, and striped penny tile mosaic floor add contrast.

Work Your Window Ledges

Pin Design by Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Many people use a bathroom window ledge to store things that won’t fit in the cabinets.

This bathroom designed by Emily Bowser for Emily Henderson Design takes things a step further, turning the window into an open-faced cabinet with the addition of shelves.

Using amber or other colored glass jars will add a decorative element, especially when the sun shines through.

Incorporate Stealth Storage

Pin Design by Caroline Andréoni Interior Design Studio / Photo by Laura Jacques

Adding a suspended toilet is a simple way to modernize a small bathroom while reducing visual clutter since the hardware is hidden away in the wall.

Paris-based Caroline Andréoni Interior Design Studio took advantage of the space above the toilet to build in seamless cabinetry running all the way up to the ceiling that provides a place to store toilet paper and cleaning supplies, keeping the focus on the bold wallpaper and floor tiles.

Find Your Niche

Pin Design and Photo by Malcolm Simmons for Emily Henderson Design

Built-in niches are a very small bathroom’s best friend.

Use existing niches if you’re renting, and look for places to incorporate niches if you’re remodeling.

And be sure to style them handsomely like Malcolm Simmons, who designed this small bathroom for Emily Henderson Design.

Use a Curved Corner Cabinet

Pin Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott

If your bathroom has a tight fit, consider installing a corner-shaped vanity that will allow flow and create a focal point, like this Victorian style powder room from Chango & Co. 

While custom cabinetry can be expensive, you can also source inexpensive vintage or corner cabinets online or at your local thrift store, flea market, or antique mall that can be repainted and repurposed.

Put a Shelf Over the Toilet

Pin Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona

In this small powder room, blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona installed a transparent glass shelf over the toilet to house decorative items while maintaining a light and airy feel.

Add a Slatted Shelf

Pin Design by Desiree Burns Interiors

In this small bathroom from Desiree Burns Interiors, the lower half of the vanity has a slatted open shelf that gives it a sense of lightness while providing space to stash towels or other items.

Adding baskets to an open shelf will conceal clutter if you want a more streamlined look.

Use a Mirrored Cabinet

Pin Design by Becca Interiors

In this small bathroom from Becca Interiors, a classic mirrored medicine cabinet with contemporary black edging hides clutter and complements a vintage-style wall-mounted sink, freeing up wall space for a pair of wall-mounted planters.

Choose Multipurpose Pieces

Pin Design by Michelle Berwick Design

If your storage needs are minimal, consider skipping the mirrored medicine cabinet and adding a stylish mirror with built-in storage in the form of a display shelf instead, like this small bathroom from Michelle Berwick Design.

Corral Clutter With a Tray

Pin Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona

There comes a point in the life of every small bathroom dweller when the storage options have been exhausted and it becomes tempting to simply stack up products and everyday supplies on the vanity counter.

Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona added a decorative tray with a high rim on the sink vanity that can house spillover and decorative items with style.

Integrate Towel Storage

Pin Design by Brexton Cole Interiors

In this small powder room from Brexton Cole Interiors, a retro-style sink with a slim bronze-toned base includes a built-in towel rack mounted to the side that’s convenient and reduces the visual clutter of a hand towel hanging on the wall.

If you’ve got a modern vanity, you can mount a small towel hook to the side instead.

Optimize the Toilet Shelf

Pin Casa Watkins Living

In this kids’ bathroom from Casa Watkins Living, a lightweight wire basket on the toilet shelf is a convenient place to store extra towels.

Install a Decorative Shelf

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Max Kim-beeï»

Adding storage in a very small bathroom can be as simple as installing a decorative shelf that’s there when you need it and looks pretty when you don’t.

A dark wood shelf with metal brackets is mounted above the vintage-style sink to fit the industrial farmhouse feel of this bathroom from Leanne Ford Interiors.

Pick Stylish Vessels

Pin NEAT Method

Choose countertop storage vessels that match your bathroom’s aesthetic.”

Select canisters, trays, and soap pumps that can double as decor,” says Ashley Murphy of NEAT Method. “

Use them to store anything from cotton balls, cotton swabs, perfume bottles, go-to skincare, or whatever you reach for most frequently.”

Add a Skincare Tray

Pin NEAT Method

If you don’t have a medicine cabinet, keep your skincare essentials on a small tray near the sink.

NEAT Method chose a sleek black tray that matches the frame on the mirror above the sink and adds contrast with the white and gold-toned bathroom finishes for a chic look.

Choose a Gallery Rail

Pin Design by Kate Marker Interiors / Photo by Margaret Rajic

The space above the toilet is an easy place to hang a shelf to store items and display decor.

Minimize the chance that you will knock something into an open toilet by choosing a shelf with a gallery rail. 

Kate Marker Interiors hung a simple white shelf with a brass gallery rail that echoes the warm fixtures throughout the bathroom.

A small basket on the toilet shelf adds additional storage.

Use Drawer Organizers

Pin NEAT Method

Maximize your small bathroom storage by organizing your drawers.”

Select a configuration of drawer organizers based on each drawer’s dimensions to keep the contents from shifting and to provide boundaries,” says Ashley Murphy of NEAT Method.

Try Sliding Wire Baskets

Pin Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

To optimize your sink vanity storage, use wire baskets that you can slide in and out so that items don’t get lost at the back of the cabinet. 

Emily Henderson Design chose double-stacked baskets to maximize storage under the bathroom sink.

Stack Towels on a Stool

Pin NEAT Method

If your bathroom has a pedestal sink, use simple stools or baskets on the floor below to help organize towels.“

Utilize under sink space by selecting bins or baskets that maximize as much of the space surrounding pipes as possible,” says Marissa Hagmeyer of NEAT Method.

“If necessary, choose a lidded option and stack to take advantage of height.” 

Install Floating Shelves

Pin Most Lovely Things

In a small bathroom, even the tiniest spaces can be transformed into extra storage. 

Most Lovely Things painted a narrow previously unused space behind the door and added a black towel hook and a bucket bag to store extra toilet paper, then installed a pair of floating shelves above to store additional supplies.

Add an Under-Sink Drawer

Pin NEAT Method

If you don’t have room for a countertop, choose a sink vanity with an integrated drawer that can store toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair brushes, and other daily essentials, like this bathroom organized by NEAT Method.

Use a Tiered Cart

Pin Julie Rose for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

If your small bathroom lacks built-in storage cabinets, try an inexpensive rolling cart. Julie Rose for Emily Henderson

Design tucked a white metal cart into the corner organized by tier to store everything from cotton balls to towels.

A vintage coat rack on the wall accommodates hanging towels.

Layer Your Hand Towels

Pin Most Lovely Things

If your small guest bathroom doesn’t include room for towel storage, layer an assortment of hand towels on a rod by the sink. 

Most Lovely Things chose a selection of vintage-style towels in varying patterns that double as decor, and can be peeled off as they are used.

Try a Hand Towel Basket

Pin NEAT Method

Give your bathroom hotel vibes by storing hand towels in a decorative basket.

NEAT Method chose a wood basket with cane sides to add some natural textures to the space.

Carve Out Cubby Space

Pin Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

If you’re renovating a small bathroom, look for opportunities to carve out space that might otherwise be covered up with drywall.

This storage cubby from Cathie Hong Interiors is finished with natural wood that warms up the space.

Add Toilet Shelf Baskets

Pin Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Use the top of your toilet to store items in lidded baskets that will keep clutter at bay. 

Emily Henderson Design chose pale woven baskets in a matching tray that matches the width of the shelf to maximize storage and add contrast with the black and white bathroom palette.

Perch a Basket on the Floor

Pin Jessica Nelson Design / Carina Skrobecki Photography

Use a lidded floor basket in a small bathroom as a clothes hamper or to store extra towels or toilet paper. 

Jessica Nelson Design chose a woven basket with handles for ease of use that adds a boho-style touch that echoes the vase of pampas grass over the toilet.

Repurpose a Vintage Rack

Pin Design by Emilie Fournet Interiors / Photo by Kasia Fiszer

Repurposed vintage pieces often work well in small spaces. 

Emilie Fournet Interiors hung a vintage train coat and hat rack on the wall of this small London bathroom to create stylish space-saving storage for folded and hanging towels.