50 of the Best Bathroom Organizing Ideas We've Seen
With so many must-have tools, products, and decor pieces, it’s tough to stay on top of bathroom organization and keep everything shipshape, especially if you have a small space. However, organizing is absolutely essential for a relaxing (and functional) space where you can carry out your morning and nighttime routines in peace. Get some inspiration from these 50 brilliant bathroom organization ideas that will be useful for spaces of all shapes and sizes.
How to Organize Your Bathroom
Before you start organizing any space, it’s helpful to take a step back and consider the big picture. The first step of any organizational endeavor should be to declutter and make a plan for how you will use your space. Here are some things to think about:
Ask yourself how you want your space to feel. For example, do you want cleared-off counters or to have your frequently-used items super easy to access?
Always declutter before you organize. Get rid of any excess items, including sample toiletries, expired items, things you never use, duplicate items, and more.
Consider how you use your space, including your morning and evening routines, and what items you need to have most accessible.
Remember that your most-used items should be placed in the easiest-to-access places in drawers and cabinets.
Table of Contents
Small Space Organization
With any small space, it helps to make the best use of the current square footage you are working with as well as to implement clever storage finds.
1. Make the most of your radiator.
This small bathroom inside a Brooklyn rental makes the most of storage space by housing several items on top of the radiator. The renter styled the products nicely to create a visual moment without having to buy shelving, furniture, or rolling storage.
2. Hang products from a tension rod or towel bar with clip-on shower curtain rings.
Use photo- or curtain-clip hooks to suspend the personal care products you use in the shower, so you can store them right where they are needed. Hanging them means not having to clean in-shower shelves, too.
3. Roll up washcloths and store them in an upright file sorter.
No more trying to keep washcloths from getting lost in the jumble of hand and body towels in the linen closet. No more tiny towers of awkwardly-folded washcloths that end up looking like rags. This storage method of using an upright magazine-and-file sorter is as cute as it is effective.
4. Add a curved shelving unit to a pedestal sink.
Pedestal sinks are pretty but sorely lacking in storage potential. A curved shelving unit fits seamlessly into the space beneath your sink and makes it possible to store necessities where they’ll be used.
5. Hang an organizer over the back of the door.
The back of the bathroom door can be for so much more than just a towel hook. Drastically increase your bathroom storage with this over-the-door storage unit that will help support your skin care obsession.
6. Keep a rolling cart near the bathroom.
Opt for a rolling utility cart and you won’t have to think too hard about the optimal placement for extra storage. Roll the cart and its contents to wherever you need to go, whether it’s to the mirror to do your hair or near your tub to have a soak.
7. Mount organizers directly on your mirror, if you have no wall space.
Make use of a routinely overlooked storage-mounting surface with this toiletry organizer that grips onto your mirror glass without adhesives. You’ll get that tidy look of having a clean counter even if you have no wall space to speak of.
8. Use a suction-cup sponge holder on your backsplash or mirror to keep small items close by.
Kitchen organization products can solve bathroom storage conundrums. Unobtrusive sponge holders keep small items that are easily lost, like toiletries, handy, so you can use them up before they expire.
9. Use a hanging closet organizer to store linens or other bathroom staples.
Hanging closet organizers supply instant shelves with zero tools or assembly. Store towels, linens, or toilet paper in them to keep essentials close without overloading cabinets or closets.
10. Use the window ledge for storage.
When you’re dealing with a small space, everything has multiple functions, including your window. Use your window ledge as extra storage (as long as it’s safe), like in this Chicago condo.
11. Fit a thin rolling shelf in the space next to the toilet.
A narrow rolling shelf keeps reading material exactly where you want it. Since it has wheels, you can put it next to the toilet, pull it out, grab what you need, and slide it back in place without taking up prime real estate.
12. If you don’t like the look of shelves crowding the toilet, consider a basket with a lid.
Open shelves near the toilet might not be your thing. In that case, consider a basket with a lid. It’s perfect for holding extra towels or even your toilet paper refills.
13. Corral items on a tray or basket on top of the toilet.
A tray or basket is always the answer when it comes to making small items look pulled together. The space on the back of the toilet is yet another perfect example of creating storage space without taking up more room.
14. Hang baskets from towel bars.
Extra towel bar space makes a perfect basket holder that doesn’t require any extra installation. A towel-bar bathroom storage caddy takes advantage of this unused portion of hardware and is perfect for holding shampoo, conditioner, or lotion.
Wall and Shelving Organization
One of the best ways to maximize your storage? Go vertical! Use all the available walls and add some necessary shelving.
15. Maximize storage space with a hanging basket.
Decorations that are stylish and functional at the same time? That’s a win-win. The owners of this vintage Bohemian Pennsylvania home use hanging baskets to hold necessities and free up counter space. Follow their lead and hang up your skin care products, washcloths, and any other bathroom essentials that need a home.
16. Turn a shelf into a vanity.
No under-sink storage for your beauty products? No problem. Follow the smart organization tip from this U.K. Victorian home and use any architectural details as sneaky storage. Snag a makeup organizer to make keeping your products in place a breeze.
17. Use wall space to hang towels.
In a small bathroom, using any and all available space is essential for an organized and tidy area. That includes taking advantage of wall space, as seen in this cute and colorful London home, in which walls (not shelves that take up floor space) are used to hang towels.
18. Use containers to hide toiletries housed on open shelving.
While we love the open shelving look, it’s sometimes nicer to keep items streamlined in beautiful baskets or other containers. Case in point: the bathroom in a Brooklyn home that looks neat and tidy, thanks to a few woven baskets.
19. Try pegboards.
The owner of this 500-square foot Singapore apartment had to get creative with bathroom storage, and brilliantly leaned on pegboards to create a home for toiletries without bringing in a piece of furniture. Be on the lookout for a pegboard that fits the amount of wall space you have to help you get organized in no time.
20. Use a free-standing wardrobe or hutch instead of a linen closet.
No linen closet? No problem. Add a cute hutch to your bathroom — or any area nearby — to store paper products, towels, and more, like in this stunning bathroom makeover. This piece will not only allow you to infuse more personality into your space but will also create all sorts of new storage opportunities.
21. Install a floating shelf for small extras.
Drilling holes for a shelf feels permanent and, if you’re renting, might not be allowed. But this no-holes floating shelf gives you damage-free extra storage. It’s affixed with an adhesive strip and supports up to 15 pounds, so you can set cosmetics, personal care products, or your favorite decor up and out of the way.
22. The walls beside the vanity are the perfect place for a shelf.
A shelf next to the vanity keeps things off the counters, which gives the entire bathroom an organized look but still keeps daily essentials within reach. And it’s deeper than the shelves of built-in medicine cabinets, so you can stop wishing you had one!
23. Use ladder-style shelving that is deeper at the bottom and shallower at the top.
A tapered shelf feels less bulky than a standard shelving unit. This is important in a small space where you can’t afford to overcrowd it with furniture; yet, a piece like this still offers significant storage opportunities.
24. Don’t waste the space over your toilet.
The space over your toilet is just waiting to become useful. Set baskets on the tank to hold washcloths and turn a shelf on the wall into a perch for perfume, hairspray, or a canister holding hairbrushes.
25. Consider every inch and nook of wall space as a place to hang shelves.
Get creative and view any bit of empty wall as a potential spot for hanging shelves and adding coveted storage space. Plus, it will create a new space for designing a beautiful display.
26. Don’t overlook any space when you’re looking for room for a shelving unit.
You can probably find something to fit any area, like the space between the sink and the tub. Don’t be afraid to orient it in an unexpected way, either. Try this narrow shelf tower to make the most of odd spaces.
27. Hang shelves above the door.
For fixed extra bathroom storage of items that aren’t daily necessities, consider mounting shelves above the door. It’s a completely unobtrusive spot, allowing you to keep your bathroom airy while still alleviating the woes of limited bathroom storage.
Cabinetry and Drawer Organization
Utilize your current cabinetry and drawers to the best of your ability — or add new cabinet options!
28. Take advantage of under-sink space.
We love a stylish pedestal sink, but if you’re low on space, consider a piece with more room for storage. This Barcelona apartment is a great example, utilizing an under-sink shelf to hold bulky items like towels. You could also mount a standalone sink on a shelf or find a bathroom vanity with built-in storage cabinets.
29. Install a medicine cabinet.
You may be surprised to learn just how inexpensive and easy it is to install medicine cabinets. Though you may see a recessed medicine cabinet (where the shelf is actually inside the wall) in older homes, you can easily hang one up so that it’s flush, just like in this East Village bathroom.
30. Use a lazy Susan in your bathroom cabinets to make them more efficient.
A spinning turntable is every organizer’s secret weapon, and it’s perfect for bringing order to your collection of jars and bottles. Choose turntables with a bit of a lip (or even a lazy Susan with a backstop) to ensure that small bottles and jars don’t slide off. Place taller bottles in the center or at the edges so you’re able to see everything at once.
31. Assign drawer organizers to roommates or members of your family.
If more than one family member uses the same bathroom, keeping everyone’s supplies corralled in long drawer organizers will minimize the transfer of germs. Label each divider with a name to remind everyone to put their things back exactly where they belong.
32. Hang plastic baskets on the inside of cabinet doors.
The insides of your cabinet doors are rife with storage possibilities. Hanging dollar store baskets from them means you can keep small items like essential oil bottles, razors, and feminine products from junking up drawers or getting lost in cavernous cabinets.
33. Use an under-sink organizer that adjusts to accommodate your plumbing to maximize space.
Under-sink organizers are specifically designed to make the most of the space beneath your sink. By going vertical, this under-sink organizer allows you to stack cleaning supplies or bulkier bathroom items without having to dig or shuffle for them.
34. Put a magnetic knife strip inside your drawers or cabinets to keep small metal items organized.
We love this creative idea stolen from the kitchen: mounting a magnetic knife strip on the inside of a drawer to keep tiny metal bathroom items — that are prone to getting lost — visible and accessible.
35. Hang a tension rod inside a cabinet to drape towels, hang spray bottles, or hang virtually anything with S-hooks.
A tension rod spanning the cabinet under the sink creates a place to hang your makeup-removing cloths and much more. The magic of this hack is its versatility as it makes use of vertical “airspace.”
Counter Organization
Adding storage gems to your counter can increase the organization immediately.
36. Hang bins and baskets on towel rods.
Free up valuable counter space by using towel rods to hang bins and baskets out of your way, like in this cozy camper. That way, everything you need will be tucked away in its own spot and you won’t have to fumble around for your favorite moisturizer after taking your weekly “Everything Shower.”
37. Incorporate a tray to unify small essentials.
Another organizing classic, putting small objects on a decorative tray makes your left-out essentials look purposefully placed. Small products and tools are conveniently on-hand but look like a curated collection that’s meant to be there.
38. Bring cabinet organizers onto the counters.
Sometimes you need to store bulkier items on the surface of your counter. For an eye-pleasing yet utilitarian solution, bring your cabinet organizers out in the open so you can save in-cabinet space for things you’d rather keep behind closed doors, like toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
39. Store hair tools in a countertop organizer if you don’t have cabinet or drawer space.
Hair tools strewn on the counter can look messy. Consider investing in a countertop appliance holder that will keep you organized and ready for whatever event comes your way.
40. Create extra “counter” space with a bathtub caddy.
If you’re taking a bath, this bathtub caddy is the perfect place to drop your book and bath oils. Even if you’re not a bath person, a caddy like this can offer extra surface space in a small bathroom. Use it to store your skin care products, toothbrush, or anything else you don’t have room for on the vanity.
41. Add a tiered tray to your counter or floor.
A tiered tray is the perfect marriage of a small shelving unit with a stylish storage effect. Plus, it uses vertical space and keeps small bathroom items contained and close at hand.
42. Use a vase with marbles or vase filler for makeup brushes.
The thing about adding glass bead filler to a vase is not only that it turns makeup brush storage into a bouquet, but it also makes a satisfying sound when you poke your brushes back into them.
Shower Organization
Consider the shower space another “room” to add some storage to. Add rods or caddies, use organizers on the shower tile, or even store things along the shower curtain.
43. Stretch a long tension rod across your shower to hang a caddy from.
Need more storage space in your shower? A sturdy tension rod and S-hooks give you an instant shower solution. Not only do you have room to place your shower tools and products, but the method allows for air circulation so your scrubbies and washcloths can dry between uses.
44. Hang small plastic laundry baskets from waterproof adhesive hooks.
Tired of the messy look that comes from bath toys strewn across the tub, or of shower corners overflowing with shampoo and conditioner? Confine and contain with strategically placed, inexpensive storage baskets that allow for airflow. Water-resistant Command hooks will keep them out of the way without damage.
45. Decant shampoo and other shower staples to visually reduce clutter.
There’s actual clutter, and we know you work hard to eliminate that from your bathroom. But then there’s visual clutter, the “noise” of colorful labels and different-sized containers. To infuse your shower with the spa feeling you crave, decant into eye-pleasing, uniform containers.
46. Hang a shower organizer from the same hooks as your shower curtain.
You can hang more than just the shower curtain from the shower curtain rod. Make the very same hooks do double duty by adding a small shower pocket organizer on the inside of the curtain to get your necessities off the tub ledges or shower floor.
47. Hang a caddy over the showerhead to make space out of thin air.
This shower caddy is definitely more structurally interesting and appealing than your standard hanging shower unit. Set product bottles and bars of soap on the shelves and hang loofahs, scrubbers, and razors from hooks.
48. Or, get a shower caddy that can mount on glass.
If you’d rather leave your shower faucet area free and you have a glass shower door, this mounted shower caddy provides discrete and ample storage for your shower necessities. A combination of hooks and shelves makes it versatile enough to meet your specific personal needs.
49. Or, try a suction-cup organizer on your tile.
Create your own in-shower storage cubbies for next-level organization. Say goodbye to rusty bobby pins on the side of the tub or soggy hair ties strewn about the shower.
50. Double up your shower curtain with a tension rod.
An extra tension rod spread just below your shower rod opens a whole new world of bathroom storage possibilities. Hang towels or wet bathing suits to dry, or keep your bathing tools suspended from hooks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make my bathroom more organized?
Decluttering nearly everything but the items you actively use (and maybe a small amount of backstock) has the biggest impact on creating an organized space. Additionally, putting items in places intentionally makes the whole bathroom feel tidy. Even if you keep items out on the counter, placing them on a tray makes a huge difference to making the room appear in order. Don’t forget to use drawer dividers and under-sink organizers to corral items so that they don’t get messy again.
How do you organize a small bathroom with no storage space?
The best way to organize a small bathroom with no storage space is to go vertical. For instance, you can mount shelves or a shelving unit over the toilet or hang a storage rack over the showerhead for storing items in the shower. Don’t forget to use the space on the back of the door. If space allows, free-standing cabinets can also supplement existing storage.
How do you organize a small shared bathroom?
Making a small shared bathroom work well involves communication and compromise. Clearly communicate storage needs and make a plan for who will store what, where. Color coding and/or labeling can also work well. Additionally, consider storing some bathroom items in your room in a carrying case.
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
We Asked 8 Pro Travelers What They Never Pack in Their Carry-On, and Here’s What They Said
