When it comes to small bathrooms, storage can often feel like a luxury you just can’t afford. However, with some thoughtful design and a bit of creativity, you can easily optimize your small space to create ample storage that keeps everything you need within reach and neatly organized. Here are four clever small bathroom storage ideas that will help you make the most of your limited space without sacrificing style or function.
1. Vanity Sink Base Rollout Trays
Vanity sink base rollout trays are pull-out shelves fitted for your bathroom vanity. They make more efficient use of the often overlooked and sometimes overcrowded space underneath your sink. Adding roll out trays creates organization and provides easier access to toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other bathroom essentials.
Benefits:
- Maximized Space: These trays turn what is typically an unorganized area into functional and organized storage.
- Easy Access: No more bending or rummaging around under the sink. With just a pull, you can reach everything stored inside.
- Clean Look: Rollout trays help keep items neatly organized. They can take current items off your vanity top and out of sight, contributing to a cleaner, more streamlined bathroom experience.
How to Incorporate It:
Not all vanity bases are the same. Your plumbing setup will play a big role in determining which rollout style works for you. For standard sink bases with plumbing coming from the back wall, flat rollout trays at the base of the cabinets are a great option to maximize storage space. For vanities with plumbing that comes up through the floor and into the cabinet, consider U-shaped rollout trays. These are specifically designed to fit around pipes. While it does not provide the same storage of a roll out tray, it does provide the opportunity to make the most of the available space in a small or tiny bathroom without compromising access.
Next step? Assess your plumbing layout and measure the dimensions inside your vanity to choose the rollout style that best fits your specific needs and allows for easy organization and additional storage.
2. Grooming Organizer
A grooming organizer is a bathroom storage solution designed specifically for your daily beauty or grooming essentials, such as makeup, razors, combs, and hairdryers. These organizers come in various shapes and sizes, often featuring compartments or drawers to keep everything separated and easy to find.
Benefits:
- Declutter Your Counter: A grooming organizer helps you keep your bathroom countertop clear, so you can enjoy a tidier, more spacious feeling.
- Heat-Resistant Storage: Many pullout organizers include heat-resistant compartments, allowing you to safely store hot tools like hairdryers or curling irons without waiting for them to cool down.
- Maximized Use of Space: The vertical design makes use of narrow spaces in your vanity, turning an otherwise unused area into a highly functional storage solution for better bathroom organization.
How to Incorporate It:
A grooming pullout organizer can be incorporated into a custom vanity or, in some cases, retrofitted into an existing bathroom cabinet. Choose an organizer with compartments tailored to your needs—for example, a hook for cords, a designated space for hairbrushes, or divided sections for styling products. To ensure durability and ease of use, opt for high-quality materials and smooth-glide mechanisms. This clever addition not only enhances storage but also streamlines your daily routine, making it a practical and stylish upgrade for any small bathroom. As with roll out trays, careful and detailed measurements are essential to identifying the best available options.
3. Shower Niche
Clever storage is not limited to your bathroom vanity cabinet! A shower niche is a built-in recessed shelf within your shower wall. It provides a place to store your shampoo bottles, conditioner, soap, and other bath essentials without taking up any additional floor space.
Benefits:
- Space-Saving: A shower niche eliminates the need for bulky shower caddies or over-the-door storage, freeing up space and making your shower feel larger.
- Sleek Design: These niches integrate seamlessly into the shower design, offering a clean, modern look while being incredibly functional and stylish.
- Easy to Clean: Niches are built-in, making areas where mold or mildew can develop easier to clean and maintain.
How to Incorporate It:
When planning your bathroom renovation, work with your designer and contractor to incorporate a shower niche into the wall. Consider the height of all users, as well as the items you plan to store there. This ensures your shower niche is at a comfortable height for all users and accommodates your needed shower items. Choose a material for the niche interior that complements your shower design, such as matching tile or stone. For added style and functionality, consider multiple niches to separate different items or to dedicate by user. Whether it is for function, style or both, this clever addition will enhance your shower's functionality and its visual appeal.
4. Drawers in Vanity
It might seem obvious, but switching to a drawer-style vanity is one of the simplest ways to significantly increase usable storage in a small bathroom. Most people are accustomed to the typical vanity with two doors and a wide-open interior space. While this design works, it often leads to clutter and wasted space as items get jumbled together or pushed to the back, where they’re hard to find. Drawers, on the other hand, bring everything into view, make it easy to organize, and allow for extra storage.
Benefits:
- Enhanced Organization: Drawers allow you to neatly separate items such as toilet paper, extra towels, makeup, and grooming tools, eliminating the mess of trying to stack them on a shelf.
- Space Optimization: Drawers utilize the space in the vanity more efficiently, especially in smaller bathrooms where every inch counts.
- Better Functionality: Drawers are easier to use, especially where you might not have room to crouch down and search for things in a deep cabinet. With drawers, you can pull everything out at once, allowing full access to what’s inside, and keeping the contents neatly separated in an organized manner.
How to Incorporate It:
Once again, your plumbing setup will play a big role in determining which how or if a drawer-style will work. When it does work, design your vanity with multiple smaller drawers or deeper, wider drawers to store a variety of bathroom items, including rolled towels, toiletries, and cleaning supplies. In some cases, you can also add dividers inside the drawers for added organization—perfect for further organizing makeup, hair tools, and other small items. It’s a small design adjustment that can make a big impact on how much extra space for storage you can create in a small bathroom.
Transform Your Small Bathroom with Smart Storage Solutions
Maximizing storage in a smaller bathroom is all about making thoughtful use of every available inch. From vanity sink base rollout trays to grooming organizers, shower niches, and drawers in the vanity, these clever bathroom storage solutions can make your space feel more spacious and organized without compromising on style or functionality. By thoughtfully incorporating these ideas, you can reduce clutter, increase accessibility, and create a more streamlined and functional space.
At Reico Kitchen & Bath, we’re committed to helping you design a bathroom that meets all your needs, whether you’re working with a large space or a cozy retreat. Ready to transform your small bathroom into a beautifully organized oasis? Contact us today to get started on your remodeling journey!
