Housekeeping Storage & Organization Bathroom Organization 25 Bathroom Shelf Ideas to Keep Your Toiletries Organized Store your bathroom supplies in style using these practical shelving ideas. By Mary Cornetta Mary Cornetta Mary Cornetta has been in the professional organizing industry for over 5 years. She knew she had a passion for decluttering and organization upon graduating Marist College in 2007, however, pursued it as a hobby instead of a career. All of that changed when Mary founded Sort and Sweet Inc on Long Island in 2017. Since then, she has worked hands-on and virtually with hundreds of clients to clear their clutter and create functional systems in their homes and offices. Mary runs the Sort and Sweet social media accounts, creating content and writing captions with organizing tips and inspiration for more than 12,000 followers. Recently relocated to Savannah, she continues to own and operate the business with the help of a talented team. Mary has been a weekly contributing writer for House Digest and has been interviewed as an expert by Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, and Health magazines. She is the owner of the blog, Organized Overall, in which she details how she creates organization in her home. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on June 28, 2024 Close Photo: Alisa Bovino Bathrooms are notorious for lacking proper storage, so you'll often have to get creative with DIY bathroom shelf ideas to tidy your toiletries. Installing or utilizing existing shelves is the easiest way to maximize storage space without crowding a room, and there are easy ways to blend them with the decor scheme. Depending on the bathroom size you're currently working with, you can dedicate an entire wall to storage or place a single small shelf in just the right spot. Bathroom shelves can hold everything from daily essentials like skincare serums and washcloths to decorative items like fresh flowers or framed artwork. We share our best bathroom shelf ideas to inspire your creative storage solutions. 35 Smart Bathroom Storage Ideas to Get Your Space Organized 01 of 25 Install Built-In Shelves Annie Schlecther A framed walk-in shower with a bit of free wall space next to it is the ideal spot for a tall built-in shelving unit. Matching hyacinth baskets is a bathroom shelf idea that provides storage while hiding soaps and hair accessories and giving the bathroom an overall luxe look. Using white towels continues the simple color scheme of the bathroom and keeps the shelves from looking cluttered. 20 Smart Ways to Organize with Baskets for a Less Cluttered Home 02 of 25 Keep It Simple and Functional ADAM ALBRIGHT For a more minimalistic style, try hanging a set of plain wood floating shelves. A metal accent gives a slight edge while providing space to hang hand towels to dry. An apothecary jar filled with cotton balls, a pretty soap dish, and folded towels are now within reach without cluttering the countertops. There's even room for fresh flowers in a vase to add some color to the bathroom. How to Safely Hang Floating Shelves That Won't Budge 03 of 25 Carve Out a Niche Marty Baldwin If you're designing a new bathroom or remodeling, use a section of the framing to create a spot for towels. This tucked-away bathroom shelf idea adds storage without sacrificing any square footage. A couple of small shelves are all you need to stack extra towels and washcloths for guests. The colorful designs add flair to the simple white-tiled wall. 04 of 25 Get Rolling Ann VanderWiel Wilde A tiered cart on wheels provides ample space to place all your toiletries, from a jar of soap bars to a basket of toilet paper. Since it's mobile, this storage solution can be moved to various bathroom corners if needed. This bathroom shelf idea works well for rentals where storage is limited, but adding built-in cabinets or shelves isn't possible. 15 Clever Ways to Use a Rolling Cart for Extra Storage 05 of 25 Keep Toiletries Hidden Werner Segarra Photography If you’re not a fan of visual clutter, try hiding shelves behind a door. A cabinet embedded into the bathroom wall camouflages bath time essentials while keeping them within reach when you’re stepping out of the tub. As a bonus, this textured cabinet door adds visual interest to the wall rather than a standard option. 06 of 25 Take Advantage of Every Inch Kim Cornelison A sliver of empty wall space next to the bathroom sink can become a beautiful built-in bathroom shelf idea and an opportunity to add decor. Here, the narrow open shelves display blue and white beach decor and tightly folded bath towels. Use narrow spaces like these thoughtfully to maximize the limited space while keeping it attractive. 07 of 25 Employ Furniture for Storage Julie Soefer Make a statement bathroom shelf idea by bringing in an oversized vintage cabinet and placing it on a wall near the bathtub. Keep matching towels on the shelves with glass front doors, and tuck away miscellaneous items in the bottom cabinets. If you can't find a vintage piece that fits your space, use a newer one and distress it to look like an antique. 19 Vintage Bathroom Ideas for Retro Style 08 of 25 Hang Farmhouse-Style Open Shelving Jay Wilde Install a pair of short shelves just above the toilet to add extra storage to a small bathroom. Stick to a rustic theme by including earthy elements and neutral folded towels. Bring nature into the room with an easy-care plant. When shopping for shelves over the toilet, ensure they don't extend out too far so people will bump their heads. 20 Farmhouse Bathroom Ideas We're Swooning For 09 of 25 Hide the Hamper Cameron Sadeghpour If you don't have space for it in your closet, store your hamper in the bathroom where it can collect dirty clothes. A tall built-in shelving unit in the bathroom is the ideal space to slide in a hamper that would otherwise be in the way. If you have the room, use separate hampers for towels and clothes to make laundry day easier. 10 of 25 Maximize Vanity Space Christina Schmidhofer Photography Similar to your bedroom, your bathroom should be a sanctuary of sorts. Make it a place to pamper yourself by installing a vanity with built-in storage. Organize makeup and skincare products within the drawers and arrange towels and pretty storage containers on the open shelves. Use the lower cabinets to store toilet paper, tissues, personal care items, and other daily necessities. 11 of 25 Incorporate Over-the-Sink Shelving Stacy Zarin Goldberg Photography Elevate your space with a ledge that lines a bathroom wall. This bathroom shelf idea is especially helpful if you have a pedestal or wall-mounted sink that leaves you with minimal counter or vanity storage. In this powder room, the shelf holds a mirror so guests can check their hair and makeup. 12 of 25 Create a Purposeful Niche Lisa Romerein Photography If you have a small empty nook in the bathroom, don't let the storage space go to waste. Provide it with a purpose by utilizing a floating shelf for both decorative and storage items in lieu of cluttering up the countertops. A bathroom is a great place to get creative and show off personality, as seen with this bug-themed wallpaper. 37 Bathroom Wallpaper Ideas to Add Updated Pattern and Color 13 of 25 Use Every Bit of Wall Space PANICHGUL STUDIOS Hang a multi-level shelving unit above the toilet for a simple yet stylish solution. Assign a use to each level and shoot for storage containers in cohesive colors, sizes, and shapes. Use every bit of space in a bathroom, including empty wall space, to get as much storage as possible. 14 of 25 Annex Space Under the Slope Robert Peterson Add substantial storage in a bathroom corner by way of built-in shelves, even if it's under a sloped ceiling. Place shelf heights at different distances to make space for anything you'd like to keep out of the way. Keep heavier items lower down so they aren't too cumbersome to move. 15 of 25 Update Beadboard with a Shelf John Gruen While a beadboard wall just behind a clawfoot bathtub is primarily a design statement, you can give an extra edge by attaching a shelf to the top of the wainscoting. Corral a few candles and a vase of fresh flowers to turn bath nights into a true spa experience. 16 of 25 Frame Shelves for Detail Alisa Bovino An upgraded bathroom shelf idea is to install frame molding on a blank wall. Within the frame, include a couple of shelves held up by elegant gold brackets to store a basket of extra hand towels and charming decor pieces. These petite pieces add just enough details to make an otherwise blank space a design feature. 20 Picture Frame Molding Ideas That Add Instant Character 17 of 25 Sneak in Slim Storage PANICHGUL STUDIOS An inexpensive and versatile fix for small spaces is to bring in a narrow rolling cart organizer. It can slide out from the thin gap between the sink and toilet while keeping your hair tools and beauty products within arm's reach. Simply slide it back in place when you're done using what you need. 18 of 25 Lean Into Ladder Shelving ADAM ALBRIGHT A wood ladder bookcase is a bathroom shelf idea that provides ample storage space without taking up much floor space. Due to its frame, you can keep a variety of items on it. Store oversized bath sheets on the largest bottom shelf, while small jars of cotton balls are best kept toward the top. The open slats keep the shelving from looking too clunky in this light and bright bathroom. 19 of 25 Keep a Modern Look Adam Albright A set of sleek black and gold shelves floating on an empty bathroom wall adds a contemporary look as well as a functional benefit. Prop a few framed pieces of minimalist art on top, plus a single jar containing your everyday makeup brushes. Whenever you can, take advantage of outdoor light and add greenery to a bathroom. 20 of 25 Inset Shelving for Bath Essentials Anthony-Masterson Decant bath oils and salts in ornate bottles and apothecary jars before arranging them onto shelves within a wall niche above the tub. This saves space in your vanity or bathroom closet, and they’ll be close by when it’s time to wind down with a long, hot soak. What to Know About Bathtubs, from Types to the Best Tub Materials 21 of 25 Stock Your Shower with Shelving Stacey Brandford Similarly, you can include a niche inside a walk-in shower instead of on the bathroom wall. These small bathroom shelf ideas are inexpensive to install and provide much-needed storage for shampoo, conditioner, and body wash that are otherwise cumbersome to keep orderly. Measure your favorite bottles of products to plan the height you need for the shelves, and add two smaller ones instead of one large one for extra storage. 22 of 25 Accent a Wall with Storage EDMUND BARR The corner of this bathroom has a Mediterranean feel, thanks to the patterned wallpaper and artisan vases. On the middle shelf, a neat towel stack with an accompanying dry brush encourages self-care no matter where you are in the world. 23 of 25 Use Glass Shelves for an Open Look Edmund Barr Open glass shelving in this bathroom closet only adds to the space's sophistication. To keep storage simple, neatly fold coordinating towels onto them and then place a high-quality hamper at the bottom. 24 of 25 Combine Wall and Countertop Storage Edmund Barr All surface space is valuable, especially in a bathroom. Have floating shelves installed above a countertop and create the ultimate oasis. Keep towels rolled like you would see at the day spa, and use vintage clear jars to organize sponges and soaps. The 14 Best Bath Towels of 2024, According to Testing 25 of 25 Look Down for More Storage Jared Kuzia Don’t disregard a lower vanity shelf as wasted space. Use the open area to your advantage and line up matching baskets stuffed with extra toilet paper rolls, towels, or hair tools so they’re always readily available. Container storage is an excellent way to stash more items without overloading the bathroom with products. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit