I thought I’d seen small bathrooms before, but my friend Eliza’s Manhattan apartment took cramped to a whole new level. The entire bathroom was roughly the size of a phone booth—maybe 5×7 feet total—with a toilet, pedestal sink, and shower stall crammed together so tightly you could practically brush your teeth, shower, and use the toilet simultaneously. “Where do you keep…anything?” I asked, genuinely baffled by the complete absence of storage. She opened the medicine cabinet—a shallow box barely deep enough for a tube of toothpaste—and laughed at my expression. “Welcome to New York living. I’ve got three more of these scattered around the apartment, plus an IKEA cart in my bedroom that holds most of my actual bathroom stuff.”
That visit was a brutal reminder that bathroom storage challenges aren’t just annoying inconveniences—they can fundamentally impact daily life. When basic hygiene supplies, medications, and towels have no logical home within the bathroom itself, the friction this creates ripples through your entire routine. And yet, many of us just accept storage limitations as inevitable, especially in older homes, apartments, or secondary bathrooms where space comes at an absolute premium.
After helping dozens of homeowners tackle bathroom storage challenges—from Eliza’s microscopic Manhattan setup to larger but awkwardly configured spaces—I’ve developed a toolkit of approaches that work even when conventional solutions won’t fit. The key insight? Bathroom storage isn’t just about cabinets and shelves; it’s about recognizing and capitalizing on every cubic inch of potential space while keeping functionality front and center.
Let’s start with the most overlooked storage zone in most bathrooms: the wall space above the toilet. This roughly 30×30-inch area typically sits completely empty despite being prime real estate in any bathroom layout. Standard over-toilet shelving units (often derided as “bathroom étagères”) have given this approach a bad reputation—those wobbly, mass-produced metal frames with glass shelves that collect dust and look perpetually cheap.
But there are far better options for this space. When my sister Rachel renovated her kids’ bathroom, we built a recessed cabinet into the wall above the toilet, creating 6 inches of storage depth without any protrusion into the room. This required opening the drywall between studs, adding a simple frame, and installing a custom cabinet door—straightforward carpentry that cost under $200 in materials but added nearly 6 cubic feet of concealed storage without consuming any floor space.
For less invasive approaches to this same zone, floating shelves installed at strategic heights provide open storage that can be both functional and visually appealing. The key is matching shelf depth to contents—deeper shelves (10-12 inches) for towels and larger items, shallower ones (6-8 inches) for toiletries and smaller objects. In my own powder room, three maple shelves with subtly different depths create a sculptural element while providing enough storage for guest supplies and decorative elements.
The zone around and above the vanity presents another opportunity that’s often underutilized. In conventional setups, you’ll typically find a mirror or medicine cabinet centered above the sink with blank wall space on either side. This adjacent wall space can be converted to shallow storage without impeding movement or creating a cramped feeling.
For a client with a particularly challenging main bathroom—standard suburban 5×8 layout with minimal existing storage—we flanked her vanity mirror with two vertical cabinets measuring just 6 inches deep but extending from counter height to ceiling. These narrow “chimney cabinets” provided dedicated storage for skincare products, makeup, medications, and other small items that would otherwise clutter the counter. With mirrored fronts, they disappeared visually while doubling the reflective surface—making the modest bathroom feel significantly larger.
Speaking of medicine cabinets—they’ve come a long way from the flimsy metal boxes of yesteryear. Modern recessed medicine cabinets can span substantially wider than traditional models, some offering 30+ inches of storage concealed behind mirrors. For a recent renovation in a historic home where altering exterior walls wasn’t possible, we installed a Robern cabinet that recessed between interior wall studs. At 20 inches wide and 4 inches deep, it tripled the storage capacity of the original builder-grade cabinet without changing the bathroom’s footprint.
For truly tight spaces where even slim wall cabinets won’t work, consider the back of the bathroom door—an expansive vertical surface that typically goes unused. Over-door organizers have evolved dramatically from the flimsy plastic pocket shoes organizers some of us grew up with. Modern versions include adjustable basket systems, streamlined hook arrays specifically designed for bathrooms, and even custom-built shallow cabinets that mount directly to the door.
My client Jessica, working with a rental bathroom where permanent modifications weren’t allowed, used an elfa system from The Container Store that hangs over the door and provides adjustable baskets for everything from hair tools to rolled towels. The entire setup installed without a single screw and can move with her to future apartments—a perfect solution for transient urban dwellers.
Now let’s talk about the most challenging bathroom storage situation: pedestal sinks. While architecturally pleasing and space-efficient in very small bathrooms, they offer zero storage within their footprint. The conventional wisdom says you’re simply out of luck if you have a pedestal sink, but there are creative workarounds.
In Eliza’s microscopic Manhattan bathroom, we created a custom sink skirt using outdoor fabric (for moisture resistance) mounted on a tension rod between the sink and wall. Behind this café curtain-like arrangement, we placed a set of stacking plastic drawers that hold cleaning supplies, extra toilet paper, and rarely used items. It’s not fancy, but it converted previously wasted space into useful storage while maintaining the room’s limited floor clearance.
For those willing to replace their pedestal sink, wall-hung vanities offer a compelling alternative that maintains visual lightness while adding storage. Unlike traditional vanities that extend to the floor, these floating models leave space underneath (improving the perception of square footage in tight bathrooms) while providing drawers or cabinet space within the vanity itself. My brother Dave’s condo bathroom used this approach; the 24-inch floating vanity provides sufficient storage for two adults while maintaining the open feeling that makes their small bathroom functional.
For bathrooms with standard vanities that lack adequate storage, consider what might be hiding inside. Most builder-grade vanities waste enormous amounts of interior space due to fixed shelving and a lack of organizational systems. My client Tony’s seemingly adequate vanity cabinet was a disaster zone of jumbled supplies until we retrofitted it with custom pull-out drawers and a specialized storage system for hair tools. The cabinet didn’t change, but its functional capacity nearly doubled.
In smaller vanities where drawer retrofits aren’t practical, simple additions like tension rods to hang spray bottles, adhesive hooks for hair tools, or stacking bins can transform cavernous, inefficient spaces into organized storage zones. These solutions cost under $50 but dramatically improve daily functionality.
The shower itself presents another potential storage frontier, though one that’s often poorly executed. Those tension pole shower caddies universally rust and collapse at the most inconvenient moments, while adhesive-mounted options typically surrender to gravity after a few months. For a more permanent solution that doesn’t require tile modification, consider screw-mounted options that anchor into the wall rather than relying on tension or adhesive.
In my own shower renovation, we incorporated a recessed niche during the tiling process—essentially a box built between wall studs and waterproofed along with the rest of the shower surround. This adds no depth to the shower footprint while creating dedicated storage for shampoo bottles and soap. If you’re not renovating, similar results can be achieved with corner shelves properly anchored to studs behind the shower surround.
For bathtub situations where standing storage is limited, over-tub solutions provide accessible storage that doesn’t interfere with bathing. My cousin’s clawfoot tub setup uses a custom-built hardwood shelf that spans the tub width, providing both a place for bathing essentials and a convenient ledge for books or beverages during soaks. For built-in tubs, similar functionality comes from tub caddies that extend across the width, though these are typically designed as temporary rather than permanent solutions.
Towel storage presents its own challenges in limited bathrooms. While standard towel bars serve their purpose, they’re often inefficient compared to alternatives. Vertical towel bars—essentially multiple bars stacked in a single wall-mounted unit—can hold 3-4 towels in the wall space that would typically accommodate just one. For truly tight situations, over-door towel bars provide hanging space without requiring any wall real estate whatsoever.
My personal favorite for towel storage in small bathrooms is the humble hook—specifically, multiple sturdy hooks mounted at staggered heights. Unlike perfectly folded towels on bars (which rarely stay that way in real life), hooks accommodate the somewhat chaotic way most people actually hang towels after use. In our guest bathroom, five oil-rubbed bronze hooks mounted along one wall serve more effectively than the towel bar they replaced, while giving the space a slightly industrial character that complements its overall design.
For bathrooms where floor space allows even minimal furniture, consider alternatives to purpose-built bathroom storage. An antique wooden stool can hold towels while adding character; a small garden stool provides both seating and a surface for bath essentials; even a compact ottoman with hidden storage offers functionality beyond typical bathroom furnishings.
My client Sarah incorporated a narrow console table—just 10 inches deep—along the one unused wall in her bathroom. With two small drawers and an open shelf below, it provides storage for items that don’t need to be hidden while creating a surface for decorative elements that make the utilitarian space feel more personalized. The piece was actually designed for hallway use but works perfectly in the bathroom context.
Electrical outlets present another potential storage opportunity through specialized fixtures that combine outlets with storage space. Companies like Leviton and Cooper offer outlet covers with integrated shelves designed specifically for bathrooms—perfect for electric toothbrushes, shavers, or small appliances that need both power and a dedicated home. These replace standard outlet covers and extend only a few inches from the wall while providing surprisingly useful storage for the items most likely to clutter bathroom counters.
For bathrooms with adequate ceiling height, vertical storage often goes underutilized. Tall, narrow cabinets (sometimes called linen cabinets or pantry cabinets) can fit in corners or narrow wall sections where standard-width cabinetry won’t work. In renovating an awkward bathroom with a sloped ceiling, we incorporated a custom cabinet just 12 inches wide but nearly 7 feet tall in the one section with full ceiling height. This narrow tower provided more usable storage than a conventional vanity would have while maintaining the room’s limited floor clearance.
Even in situations where no conventional storage solutions seem possible, creative thinking can uncover possibilities. My friend Marcus lives in a 1920s apartment with a bathroom so small it could reasonably be called a closet with plumbing. His breakthrough came from looking up—the ceiling was unexpectedly high at nearly 10 feet. He installed a custom shelf running the entire perimeter of the room just 18 inches below the ceiling. This created storage for items used infrequently (extra supplies, seasonal items, bulk purchases) without impacting the functional space needed for actually using the bathroom.
The most overlooked aspect of bathroom storage isn’t about finding places to put things—it’s about being ruthless about what actually belongs in the bathroom. When working with clients on storage solutions, we always begin with a thorough inventory and purge. Those seven half-empty bottles of shampoo? Consolidate or eliminate. The collection of hotel toiletries “just in case”? Select a reasonable backup supply and donate the rest. Expired medications and beauty products? Dispose of properly.
Most bathroom storage issues are at least partially resolved by this process before any physical changes occur. My rule of thumb: if you haven’t used it in six months and it’s not a specialized emergency supply, it probably doesn’t deserve precious bathroom real estate.
For those items that make the cut but don’t require daily access, consider nearby storage alternatives. The linen closet in the adjacent hallway, a drawer in the bedroom dresser, or even kitchen cabinets can house overflow bathroom supplies without requiring costly bathroom renovations. My own system uses labeled bins in our linen closet for categories like “first aid,” “extra toiletries,” and “medications,” with only current-use items kept in the bathroom itself.
The most successful bathroom storage solutions combine multiple approaches tailored to specific spaces and needs. Eliza’s tiny Manhattan bathroom now incorporates the sink skirt storage, an expanded medicine cabinet, two narrow wall shelves, and an over-door organizer—creating probably 15 cubic feet of storage in a 35-square-foot room without sacrificing functionality.
What ties these solutions together isn’t fancy materials or high-end fixtures (though those are nice when budget allows)—it’s the willingness to look beyond conventional storage paradigms to address specific challenges. Every bathroom, no matter how small or awkwardly configured, has untapped storage potential in overlooked spaces, unconventional orientations, or multi-purpose elements.
The standard advice says small bathrooms simply can’t store much—but I’ve found that with creative thinking and strategic implementation, even the most challenging spaces can be transformed from storage nightmares into functional, organized rooms that serve their users rather than frustrating them. It might require looking up when everyone else looks down, thinking vertically when others think horizontally, or finding storage in spaces traditionally assigned to other functions—but the solution exists if you’re willing to break free from conventional bathroom design wisdom.
And sometimes, that solution comes down to a simple tension rod and a piece of pretty fabric hiding plastic drawers behind a pedestal sink. Because in real homes where real people live, the most beautiful solution is the one that actually works for daily life—whether or not it would ever make it onto a renovation show or design magazine cover.