16 Essentials to Organize Even the Smallest Bathroom

Small bathroom with a shelf for storage — Ekaterina Sidonskaya / EyeEm / Getty Images

Small bathrooms leave plenty of room for one thing: creativity. When navigating the layout of a tiny bathroom, there is a surplus of ideas and options for making the most of what space is available. Regardless, when anyone is first faced with the small square footage of a bathroom, it's not the most exciting feeling. How do all of those necessary bathroom items all find a permanent home without spilling out of cupboards or messily filling up shower ledges?

It often comes down to the storage items you choose. Without a good wall-mounted shelf or a supportive shower caddy, small bathrooms become cluttered and feel far more cramped than they need to. The right layout and selection of fixtures makes all the difference. Up ahead is a list of essentials that make organizing a pint-sized bathroom less of an intimidating feat.

A set of two floating shelves for the bathroom

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Compact bathrooms don't always have the floor space required for standard racks and shelving units. Instead, opt for floating shelves that hang on the wall to keep accessories, cleaning supplies, and personal products organized.

Wayfair

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The toilet area is often (understandably) under-utilized for storage. But you can put this section of the bathroom to good use with a shelf that goes over the top and around. Deodorizers, extra toilet paper, and cleaning products are great items to store here.

AllModern

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In one fell swoop, get a mirror and extra storage with a wall-mounted option that provides both. This modern mirror has hidden storage behind its reflective surface, which leads to smaller spaces appearing far more clean and tidy.

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Leave the power tools in their drawers, these wall-mounted boxes have adhesive backs and keep countertop essentials right where you need them. The pastel-colored containers can stick to a variety of surfaces, including wood, mirror, plastic, or tile.

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Doors may seem good for privacy and not much else, but with the right racks and hangers, they provide a great foundation for additional storage. This three-rack can hold towels for multiple people or simply serve as a place to store additional bathroom soft goods in homes that don't have a specified closet.

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Showers and baths with few ledges and shelves need a good caddy to organize everything from soap to shampoo. I personally own this version and it's allowed me to keep bottles all in one place and take stock of what needs a refill.

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Any sink that has space underneath can instantly become a storage area with the right tools, such as this stack of sliding drawers. The wire frame makes it easy to see what's kept inside and it has rubber feet—ideal for resisting slips on the damp surfaces of a bathroom.

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Work with vertical dimensions to take advantage of upwards space. Narrow shelving units like this toilet paper and supplies holder won't cramp your space but hold much-needed items. The shelf is also equipped with a door to protect items from typical bathroom conditions and hide away unsightly products.

The Container Store

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These baskets are stackable, so when they're not full of items they can be nested together to clear up space. They're available in multiple sizes for all different uses. The large one, in particular, can serve as a mini laundry hamper in bathrooms that just don't have the space to house a full-size one.

The Container Store

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When space is limited, drawers may have to host several different types of items. To keep it from turning into one big pit of cotton swabs, toothpaste tubes, and other bathroom staples, line drawers with acrylic organizing trays. This creates an organized solution in bathrooms tight on space.

The Container Store

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Even if there isn't space directly beneath the sink for storage, the sink cabinet door can come in handy, just like the bathroom door. An over-the-door caddy is a fabulous way to store products discreetly and keep countertops and floors in the clear.

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Rather than just hanging or rolling towels on your door, you can benefit from an over-the-door storage rack that can hold even more bathroom goods. This one is great for cradling personal care products, backup soap, and cleaning solutions on top of towels.

Jack Cube Design Blow Dryer Holder, Organizer for Hair Care Products + Styling Tools

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Anyone who owns styling tools knows that the bulky nature of a hair dryer or curling wand doesn't lead to streamlined storage. If there isn't room in drawers or shelves, try keeping hot tools or other bathroom accessories in a helpful countertop tray such as this one.

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Narrow in width, a ladder shelf is a useful way to bring in storage that doesn't take up the same kind of space that a bulky shelf or cabinet would. This option is perfect for holding towels at the ready and even robes and clothes for post-shower.

Urban Outfitters

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For a free-standing option, a small wire frame storage stand can be immensely helpful. It's unobtrusive in small-scale bathrooms but still provides a place for your bathroom necessities, especially near sinks or showers without built-in storage or counter space.

Wayfair

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You can outfit the odd corners often present in small bathrooms with a fitting shelf to make the most of weird dimensions. This specific unit is only 12.4 inches deep and hugs the space, creating extra storage that's protected behind doors.

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