10 Clever Small Bathroom Storage Ideas & Solutions

Short on storage? These small bathroom storage ideas will help you organise toiletries, towels and everyday essentials without crowding an already small bathroom.

In a small bathroom, adding another cupboard can be more trouble than it's worth if it leaves you squeezing past the basin or struggling to open the door.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to make use of narrow walls, awkward corners and those little areas that aren't quite big enough for regular furniture.

Here are 10 clever storage solutions for small bathrooms that make every inch count.

Small Bathroom Storage Ideas At a Glance

• Choose Compact Furniture: Slim cloakroom vanity units and corner designs provide storage without projecting too far into the bathroom.
• Make Existing Fittings Work Harder: Mirror cabinets and under-basin organisers use areas already occupied by essential fixtures.
• Use Narrow Walls and Awkward Gaps: Shallow cabinets and carefully positioned shelves can fit where larger furniture won't.
• Keep the Floor Clear: Wall mounted accessories and shower storage free up room around the basin and shower.
• Check Clearances First: Measure with doors, drawers and shower screens fully open so new storage doesn't get in the way.
  

1. Swap Your Pedestal Basin for a Slim Cloakroom Vanity

A slim cloakroom vanity unit provides storage beneath your basin without taking up the additional floor space of a separate cupboard.

If your small bathroom currently has a pedestal basin, replacing it with one of the narrower vanity units could give you somewhere for toilet rolls, cleaning products and everyday toiletries.

Look at cloakroom vanity units designed for tighter layouts, particularly those with shorter projections.

The VitrA Evi Gloss White 400mm Compact Wall Hung Vanity Unit is a great example. Its narrow cabinet conceals a useful storage compartment, while the wall hung design leaves the floor beneath it clear.

2. Fit a Corner Vanity Where Regular Furniture Won't Fit

A corner vanity unit can help when your bathroom has two short adjoining walls but not enough uninterrupted width for a conventional basin cabinet.

Rather than placing a rectangular unit along a narrow walkway, corner vanity units fit into the junction between two walls.

The Chatsworth Traditional White Corner Vanity Unit is particularly lovely if you prefer a classic bathroom. Its satin white panelling and antique brass handle give the compact design plenty of character, while the cupboard has an adjustable internal shelf.

Measure both walls and check how far the basin extends diagonally into the room. A corner unit still needs enough clearance for you to stand comfortably in front of it and open its cupboard. 

3. Replace Your Bathroom Mirror with a Storage Cabinet

A mirror cabinet gives you enclosed storage without taking up another section of your bathroom wall.

Instead of fitting a separate mirror and cupboard, bathroom mirror cabinets combine the two above your basin.

The Tivoli 600 Oak Mirrored 2-Door Cabinet with Open Shelf is a brilliant example if you have enough wall width. Its mirrored doors conceal adjustable shelves, while the open section beneath gives everyday toiletries somewhere to sit without covering the basin.

In a very small bathroom, check the cabinet's projection and door swing before ordering. A cupboard might fit perfectly above your basin, only for its doors to stop halfway when they meet the adjoining wall.

4. Use a Tall, Shallow Cabinet on a Narrow Wall

A tall, shallow wall cabinet can provide extra storage without taking up the same floor space as a freestanding unit.

This works particularly well in a small bathroom with high ceilings, where you have more vertical room than floor space.

The Gatsby Tall Matt Black & Brushed Brass Fluted Glass Cabinet makes a gorgeous example.

At 350mm wide and just 140mm deep, it's much shallower than most traditional cupboards. Its fluted glass door and brushed brass handle give it a striking finish, while five internal shelves provide storage for smaller toiletries.

You can find more compact options among our bathroom cabinets and storage.

Just make sure a tall cabinet won't interfere with the bathroom door, shower screen or nearby fittings. Check that the wall can safely support it, too.

5. Make Room Around Your Under-Basin Pipework

If your small bathroom already has a basin cupboard, you might be able to get more storage from it without replacing anything.

Waste pipes often cut through the middle of an under-basin cabinet, leaving awkward gaps that aren't particularly useful for stacking toiletries.

Try small removable organisers that fit either side of the plumbing rather than one large container that blocks access to everything behind it. Shallow pull-out trays can also help you reach items at the back without having to empty the entire cupboard.

Measure the usable area around the pipes before buying organisers. Leave enough room to access plumbing connections and isolation valves when necessary.

A cupboard doesn't need to be packed from wall to door to be useful. Sometimes, being able to find the spare toothpaste without excavating everything else is enough.

6. Add a Short Shelf Above the Toilet

The wall above your toilet could provide storage for a few essentials without taking up any additional floor space.

A shallow shelf is particularly useful in a tiny bathroom where there's no room for another cupboard or freestanding storage unit. You could use it for spare toilet rolls, a small basket or a couple of neatly folded hand towels.

Keep the shelf high enough that nobody will knock their head when standing up, but low enough that the contents remain easy to reach.

If your toilet has a concealed cistern, check whether the existing boxed-out wall already provides a suitable ledge.

Just make sure any flush plates or maintenance access panels remain unobstructed.

7. Store Less-Used Essentials Above the Bathroom Door

A short shelf above the bathroom door can make use of otherwise wasted wall area, particularly in small bathrooms with high ceilings.

It's a good place for lightweight baskets containing spare hand towels or toiletries you don't need every morning.

Because the shelf sits above the doorway, it won't interfere with the basin, toilet or shower.

Check that there's enough clearance for the door to open fully and that the wall can safely support the shelf and its contents.

8. Free Up Your Basin with Wall-Mounted Accessories

A small basin can run out of usable surface quickly once you've added hand soap, toothpaste and everyone's toothbrushes.

Wall-mounted toothbrush holders, tumblers and soap dispensers keep those everyday items close without covering the basin rim.

The Accents Camberley Ceramic Tumbler and Holder is a lovely traditional choice. Its polished chrome bracket holds a white ceramic tumbler against the wall, giving toothbrushes somewhere to live without occupying the basin.

Position accessories beside the basin, where they're easy to reach, rather than on the opposite wall.

9. Keep Shower Bottles Off the Floor

In a tiny shower enclosure, a collection of shampoo bottles can take up an annoyingly large amount of the room you need to stand.

A hanging shower caddy keeps everyday toiletries off the shower tray without adding another freestanding unit.

The Alberta 2-Tier Hanging Shower Caddy is a great example. Its polished chrome baskets hang over a suitable shower screen, giving bottles their own shelves, with hooks beneath for smaller accessories.

Choose a design that sits close to the glass or wall rather than projecting into the area where you move around.

10. Hang Towels and Robes Behind the Bathroom Door

If your small bathroom doesn't have enough wall space for a towel rail, the back of the door might offer a useful alternative.

A compact set of hooks can hold a dressing gown or hand towel without introducing another piece of furniture.

Over-door designs may also be suitable if you don't want to drill into the door, provided there's enough clearance around the frame.

Check that the hooks won't hit the wall, shower screen or nearby fittings when the door opens fully.

Leave damp towels enough room to dry rather than piling several on top of one another.

Make Every Inch of Your Small Bathroom Count

A small bathroom doesn't necessarily need more cupboards. It needs storage that fits comfortably around the fittings you use every day.

Start with the most troublesome area, whether that's a crowded basin, an awkward corner or shampoo bottles taking over your shower tray. A carefully chosen compact unit or a little wall-mounted storage could make all the difference.

For more small bathroom ideas, head to our complete guide. And if you've got a medium or larger bathroom to organise, explore our bathroom storage ideas for more solutions suited to roomier layouts.

Found this guide helpful? Explore more of our Bathroom Ideas & Inspiration articles for decorating tips, renovation advice and ideas to help you boss your bathroom.

And if you've found a clever way to organise your own small bathroom, we'd love to see it! Share your renovation with us on our social channels or tag @victorianplumbinguk on Instagram.