upcycled vanity unit in a teal bathroom
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9 stylish bathroom storage ideas

Bathrooms are such busy spaces, it can be hard to keep towels, toothbrushes and toners neat and tidy. Whether you need something bespoke, a ladder shelf or just a few seagrass baskets, these bathroom storage ideas will help you get organised and add panache to your powder room.

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1. Matching furniture

Opting for the same finish and design on freestanding furniture will give you a cohesive, streamlined scheme, while a mix of drawers, cupboards and open shelves offer space for towels, toiletries and accessories. Check out the Arty solid teak vanity unit, £779, and Arty solid teak column unit, £509, both from Tikamoon, shown below.

Bathroom storage unit in wood below basins

Photo: Tikamoon

2. Open shelving

Open-shelving is having a moment. Not only is everything easily accessible, it’s also a great opportunity to style an Instagram-worthy shelfie. A set of ladder shelves makes a handy spot for towels, products and plants in a bathroom – with space for a basket or two for any smaller bits. This Southbourne ladder shelf (£180) from Garden Trading comes with a matching standing towel rail (£130).

Southbourne ladder shelf, from £180; standing towel rail,£130, both Garden Trading

Southbourne ladder shelf and standing towel rail from Garden Trading

3. Hanging shower caddies

Sometimes it’s the smaller, portable storage pieces that can make a real difference in the bathroom, and shower caddies – whether with suction pads or over-the-door designs – keep shower gel and shampoos off the floor and accessible. Pictured below, left to right: Black 2-tier hanging  shower caddy, £39.95 from Victorian Plumbing; Joseph Joseph suction corner shower shelf, £50 for two from Amazon; Simplehuman Corner Shower Caddy, £69.99 from Lakeland.

shower storage ideas

4. Slide-and-hide mirror cabinets

After a fresh take on a mirrored cabinet? The sliding-door design of the Enhet mirror cabinet (£60 from Ikea), pictured below, makes everyday items easy to reach without being on show or gathering dust. Plus, it’s a less bulky option without doors that open outwards. 

bathroom storage ideas: ikea enhet bathroom cabinet

IKEA Enhet bathroom cabinet

5. Over-the-loo storage

The area around your loo is often dead space, which is where a storage system like the Fulton pine-effect bathroom toilet ladder (£59 from Dunelm), pictured below, comes into its own. It has different compartments to keep everything in order, and a slimline cupboard for cleaning products. 

over-toilet ladder shelf

Photo: Dunelm

6. Storage baskets

They may be small but storage baskets come into their own in the bathroom for the whole family’s bits and pieces. Use them on shelves or in drawers as a way of keeping smaller items organised, or tuck under a sink and out of the way until needed. Lidded designs will keep the contents dust-free, too. This set of three seagrass baskets with grey woven cotton rope tops (£85 from Cox & Cox) are just the ticket.

woven storage baskets

Set of three grey-topped baskets from Cox & Cox

7. Multifunctional towel rail

Firstly, with its natural woven rattan design, the chic towel rail shelf pictured below (French Cane Shelf Towel Rail, £20 from Dunelm), could work with a multitude of bathroom styles. Pair it with white towels, earthy coloured accessories, and other rattan pieces if you’re into the spa vibe. Alternatively, hang artificial vines from the shelf and choose a vibrant floral shower curtain and bath mat for a cohesive tropical theme.

Bathroom storage: French cane rattan towel rail shelf

Photo: Dunelm

8. Quirky loo roll storage

As a unique bathroom storage solution, consider proudly displaying your toilet rolls on a quirky shelf like the Cloud toilet paper shelf (£159 from Lime Lace), pictured below. With its quirky graphic shape, this handmade 100% concrete shelf would make a one-of-a-kind industrial addition to any bathroom. Plus, when at full capacity with eight toilet rolls, it creates a unique cloud-like display.

Concrete cloud toilet roll shelf with toilet rolls on it

Cloud toilet paper shelf from Lime Lace

9. Upcycled cabinets

If a wall-hung, one-drawer vanity just isn’t going to cut it in your bathroom, why not upcycle a piece of furniture into a washstand instead? Paint it in a complementary colour to your walls and you’ll have a striking multifunctional piece. The Electric Lagoon Blue wallpaper show below is £135 per roll from The Curious Department.

upcycled vanity unit in a teal bathroom


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