9 Bathroom Storage Solutions for Your Custom Home

February 26, 2019

When designing any room in your custom home, it’s important to think about your storage needs for that room. Building in plenty of storage at the beginning is always easier than not including enough and then trying to figure out how to find space for everything later. When it comes to your bathroom, you can include storage for everything inside the room, or you can split the storage between the room and a separate closet nearby outside of the room. No matter which option is the best for you, here are a few bathroom storage solutions for your custom home that aren’t just adding a storage closet:

  1. Consider recessed cabinets.
  2. Add storage to the bathroom door.
  3. Extend to a full-length medicine cabinet.
  4. Maximize under-counter storage.
  5. Think about corner shelves.
  6. Build storage niches into the shower.
  7. Create a storage tower.
  8. Put elegant shelves above the toilet.
  9. Incorporate a bathroom island.

master bathroom1. Consider Recessed Cabinets

Recessed cabinets are a great way to use the available space between the studs in your bathroom wall. This type of cabinet can be a good option for each side of a pedestal sink to get some extra storage space without sacrificing floor space.

Even if you don’t have a pedestal sink, recessed cabinets can give you a little more storage wherever you have a stretch of open wall in the bathroom. You can even get creative with how the shelves and drawers are configured.

If it makes sense for what you want, pull-out shelves are an option, too. You’ll have to plan space for the cabinet door to open or to pull out a shelf, but other than that, you can keep the floor and wall space free for a cleaner and more spacious feel to your bathroom.

2. Add Storage to the Bathroom Door

The back of the bathroom door doesn’t get a lot of attention, but it’s a great place to integrate a little more storage into your bathroom design. It’s common to find one or two towel racks near the bathtub or shower unit, but you can also install more of them on the back of your bathroom door.

This is particularly helpful when multiple family members have to share the bathroom or when you have guests staying over. A pocket organizer can be useful for keeping small items off the counter and still within easy reach.

As long as you have the clearance for it, you can even install enclosed storage drawers or hanging baskets on the back of the bathroom door. Over-the-door hooks are a popular option for getting racks, hooks, or baskets on the back of the bathroom door.

3. Extend to a Full-Length Medicine Cabinet

Traditional medicine cabinets are small and usually mounted above the sink. Oftentimes, they also have a mirror on the front and either open on a hinge or slide open. They’re a great way to store what you need daily to keep the sink clear, but they’re usually pretty limited on storage. Combining mirrors and storage well can help create a timeless bathroom design.

By rethinking placement from above the sink to the wall beside the sink or somewhere else, you can extend the standard medicine cabinet to full length and also extend the storage space you have available. It doesn’t have to have a mirror and could feature a design or a sleek, elegant surface. But, if you want a full-length mirror, a full-length medicine cabinet is a bathroom mirror idea and a good place for it.

large double vanity with extra storage4. Maximize Under-Counter Storage

If pedestal sinks aren’t your thing and you prefer to have a full vanity, you can maximize the space under the sink to get as much storage as possible. You can combine cabinets, drawers, and open shelves to create your perfect vanity. These are double vanity bathroom ideas that can help you get more storage.

You can also add some shelves and baskets inside the cabinets underneath the sink to give you more organized storage and keep everything easily accessible. Including enclosed shelves behind the sink cabinet door can take your bathroom storage solutions even further. Adding shelves or cabinets is also one of the half-wall shower ideas that can help you add storage and make the most of different elements of your bathroom design.

detail of storage cabinet and counter in bathroom corner5. Think About Corner Shelves

Corners are often ignored when it comes to creating storage or maximizing space. With corner shelves, they can become an essential storage solution for bathrooms of any size. This is also one of the ways to maximize space in a small bathroom. You can keep the shelving plain or do something unique for an interesting addition to your bathroom decor.

You can also choose between floating corner shelves attached directly to the wall or a free-standing set of corner shelving for something that can be moved more easily. You can even use a storage ladder for a unique look. Corner shelves are a great use of space in your bathroom, and you can put them to use in the shower too. Adding corner shelves to your shower is one of the popular and useful shower storage solutions.

open walk-in shower with half-wall, dual showerheads, and custom tile6. Build Storage Niches Into the Shower

Corner shelves are a relatively easy way to add storage inside a shower, but they are not the only option you have. Built-in seating, built-in shelves, and built-in shower niches are all options for adding storage to the design of a shower. If you’re opting for a larger vertical niche, one of the useful shower niche ideas is to add some shelves in it to combine different bathroom storage solutions into one convenient design feature.

You still have the option of using suction-based or tension caddies for temporary and movable hooks and racks. But, when you build storage into the shower design, you can get convenient, sturdy storage where you want it and can use other options to supplement extra storage when and where you want it.

7. Create a Storage Tower

In place of, or in addition to, the standard linen closet, you can create a storage tower in a narrow alcove with open shelves. It doesn’t take up a lot of space, but it can make a big difference when it comes to adding extra storage to your bathroom. Not having enough storage is a common bathroom design mistake, and it’s also a guest bathroom design mistake to avoid.

Storage towers can be useful bathroom storage solutions for guest bathrooms to add convenient storage without committing to more permanent structural elements. You can also store things in baskets or buckets to add extra design flair to the space. This can be a good option for open-concept bathrooms where items may be more visible, and it also works well to enhance a variety of other styles.

wicker basket on back of toilet in bathroom with olive green walls and white trim8. Put Elegant Shelves Above the Toilet

Toilets don’t usually come to mind when you think about bathroom storage, which is a missed opportunity. There usually isn’t much above a toilet aside from empty wall space.

You could put a picture there, you could install floating shelves, or put an elegant storage system above the toilet. Not only does this add more storage space to your bathroom, but it can also become a complementary accent or a bold statement piece in your bathroom design. These are ways to decorate your bathroom walls that can make the most of this space and subtly elevate your bathroom design, while adding a little more storage and organization.

9. Incorporate a Bathroom Island

Kitchen islands have long been a way to add more functional space and storage to a kitchen. With larger, spacious, spa-like bathrooms continuing to be popular bathroom design trends, bathroom islands are popping up more often.

A bathroom island, or vanity island, is a versatile design feature. It can provide seating and extra counter space for a vanity, it can be purely for extra storage, and more. There are tons of different bathroom island ideas to help you get the look you want and the function you need.

In addition to adding practical functionality, bathroom islands can also become a focal point in a bathroom design or break up space in a large bathroom in a useful way. This can be a good option for creating a spa-like atmosphere in the bathroom and for creating a bathroom lounge look and feel.

Design and Build Your Custom Home With CHG

Ignoring storage or not including enough is one of the common bathroom design mistakes to avoid. Planning ahead is your best weapon in the battle for enough storage. By thinking about your current and future storage, you can make sure you include plenty of bathroom storage solutions in the design to accommodate them.

If your current home is feeling a bit too cramped and just doesn’t feel like home sweet home anymore, it may be time to consider a custom home to get the home you’ve always dreamed of. If you’re ready to make your dream home a reality, contact Custom Home Group at 717-284-4090!

Graphic created by Modern Bathroom.