Easy Bathroom Storage Solutions

No matter how luxurious your bathroom is, the bathroom sink vanity under-the-sink and medicine chest probably don't offer enough storage space.

And the problem is only magnified if you have a small bathroom. These easy bathroom storage solutions can help. 

Make the most of every inch of space with one or more of these bathroom storage solutions, tools, and gadgets designed to make the most of this small space.

Make the Most of Your Medicine Cabinet

Start the organizing process by cleaning out the one major area in the bathroom that was designed specifically for storage - the bathroom vanity cabinet. This will free up space you already have but is likely underutilized.

Get rid of expired medications as well as any toiletries you've had for longer than two years, including shampoos, lotions, makeup, and soap.

Besides creating more space in a small bathroom, clearing out your medicine cabinet will minimize health risks, as bacteria and fungi can contaminate lotions and cosmetics over time. (Find out how long makeup lasts).

If you've cleaned everything possible out of your cabinet, and you still need more storage space, these easy bathroom storage solutions can help:

• Hang a shower caddy over the showerhead to keep shampoo, shaving cream, soap, and razors within easy reach but somewhat out of eyesight.

• Another space-maximizing device is a system of coated-wire rollout baskets, which can be used to expand the storage capacity of under-the-sink cabinet space.

If your bathroom has no storage space there, mount a small coated-wire grid on the wall, and hang personal appliances such as hair dryers and curling irons from it with S-hooks.

You'll find these grids and rollout baskets at retailers that sell bath, kitchen, and bathroom storage solutions.

Easy Bathroom Storage Solutions

Make the most of every inch of bathroom space with one or more of these bathroom storage solutions. They can dramatically increase your bathroom's storage power.

• Use a wicker or wrought-iron wine rack to store rolled washcloths and towels. This is not only a way to add storage and keep spare towels at the ready, but rolled towels can also provide a colorful bathroom decor accent, especially in a small bathroom. Coordinate the towels to your decor.

• Add over- and above-toilet shelving. Put wooden shelves along one wall or buy an over-the-commode unit with shelves. Here you can place those little knickknacks you can't live without and a small clock to keep you and the kids on schedule in the morning.

• Near-sink shelving. If you're really short on space, single shelves hung near the sink provide perfect resting spots for soap, toothbrushes, and other daily essentials.

• Towel bars with built-in shelving over the top. You can hang used towels on the bar and stack fresh replacements on the shelves for easy use. Or forgo the traditional towel bars all together in favor of antique or whimsical drawer pulls. You'll find these at flea markets or garage sales for a song. Connect them to the wall with screws. Two or three together give a collected look. Hang a towel through each of the pulls for a finished look.
  

• Wicker storage units are an excellent choice for baths because they withstand humidity well. And most pieces come with drawers for more bathroom stuff storage for you and the kids.

Small Bathroom Storage Solutions

Freestanding over-the-commode shelves can maximize this space in a small bathroom right up to the ceiling. But be careful what you display here; small items that fall into the bowl will be no fun to retrieve.

You can also place your deodorant, perfume, hairdryer, and hairbrushes in the clear plastic pockets of a back-of-the-door shoe holder; this will keep these frequently used items from taking up counter space but within easy reach.

If your bathroom sink vanity has a drawer or two, make the most of this precious space by adding acrylic or other dividers to keep essential items separate and organized. 

A second shower curtain rod added behind and level with the first, provides a handy place to hang wet towels in a small bathroom so they can air-dry before you fold and return them to the rack.

If your shower has glass doors instead of a curtain and there's no place to hang a second rod, you can make more space for towels by replacing existing racks with sets of decorative hooks.

Bathroom Storage Solutions for Essential Supplies

Since running out of toilet paper is something you'd like to avoid, store at least one spare roll in the bathroom rather than in the linen closet.  

Hide the extra roll in a simple covered basket with the lid slightly ajar. It remains discreetly hidden, yet you, your family, or a guest can grab it in a moment of need.

Now that you've got some bathroom storage solutions in place, mornings should be much easier!