17 Genius (and Stylish!) Ways to Organize Your Bathroom

• 1) Add a Roomy Basket
• 2) Build Design Solutions That Do Double Duty
• 3) Add a Freestanding Furnishing
• 4) Install Hooks
• 5) Make the Most of a Snug Space
• 6) Mix Style With Function
• 7) Take Inspiration From the Rest of Your Home
• 8) Built-in Sink Niche
• 9) Try An Etagere
• 10) Hide Your Clutter With a Skirt
• 11) Lean a Ladder
• 12) Work in a Vintage Find
• 13) Roll in a Cart
• 14) Fake a Linen “Closet”
• 15) Style Some Open Shelving
• 16) Add Convenient Cubbies
• 17) Think Outside the Box

Let’s face it—bathrooms can come with a lot of stuff. From extra linens and your favorite cozy bathrobe to cleaning solutions and self-care products, there can be a lot you need to corral in a sometimes-snug space. And, to make things even tougher, not all bathrooms come equipped with storage and organizational solutions that will help you keep the mess at bay. If you’re looking to calm the chaos in your current space (and maybe score a more zen retreat in the process), try out one of the smart, designer-approved solutions below.

1) Add a Roomy Basket

Freestanding sinks can pose a particular problem when it comes to bathroom organization because, well, they don’t offer any. To make up for the lack of cabinetry, take a hint from this bathroom designed by Shari Francis and pop a basket beneath your vessel. It will be an easy place to stash extra toilet paper, hand towels, and more.

2) Build Design Solutions That Do Double Duty

When space is at a premium (as it often is in bathrooms!), it’s a good idea to opt for storage and organizational solutions that do double duty. In this sleek space, the design team behind Studio Shamshiri opted to create a line of teak storage cabinets that double as a bench to perch pre-bath.

3) Add a Freestanding Furnishing

If you have the room, adding an oversized armoire to your bathroom can be a great way to up the design quotient in the space. In this bathroom by designer Caroline Rafferty, a custom vibrant green piece offers plenty of room to stash linens, cleaning products, beauty supplies, and more.

4) Install Hooks

Wall hooks will be your best friend in a small bathroom. Not only will towels dry quicker if they’re hanging than crumpled up on the floor, but it also makes it easier to stay clean and organized when there’s a designated place to hang them up. In this bathroom by Philip Mitchell, they’re on the wall next to the sink, but installing hooks for larger towels on the back of the door works, too.

5) Make the Most of a Snug Space

When it comes to squeezing storage into a small bathroom, don’t be afraid to rethink your layout. A curved corner vanity—like the one in this bathroom by Anne Hepfer—still offers up a bit of tucked-away organization without crowding the room too much.

6) Mix Style With Function

Tucked behind a freestanding tub, the built-in shelves in this bathroom by Philip Mitchel offer up a spot for organization and style, corralling an assortment of stylish vases and plush towels that will make climbing out of the tub a bit cozier.

7) Take Inspiration From the Rest of Your Home

Part spa-like bathroom, part reading room, this luxe retreat by Corey Damen Jenkins combines a formal yet functional self-care space with storage inspired by custom built-ins. While these mostly house books and artwork, you could easily work in other bathtime essentials (like towels or bespoke bath salts) with just as much aesthetic appeal.

8) Built-in Sink Niche

In this bathroom designed by Osklo Studio, a niche is conveniently built into the wall by the sink. It’s framed in an eye-catching natural stone that matches the countertops and makes room for hand soap and lotion so that the countertops remain clear and organized. Hardware-free drawers and cabinets ensure a clean look.

9) Try An Etagere

For an organized relaxation zone that feels like a stylish extension of the rest of your home, focus on incorporating storage solutions that meld function with a design-forward ethos. Take this space by Elizabeth Roberts as an example: While an etagere is more typically seen in a living room or other formal space, here it’s a chic (and renter-friendly!) solution to adding a bit of extra organization to a bathroom.

10) Hide Your Clutter With a Skirt

How’s this for a genius idea? Instead of resigning to a bathroom without storage, drape a skirt around a pedestal sink to add out-of-sight organization to the snug space. In this vibrant powder room, designer Ariene Bethea used the smart solution to add an additional pop of color and personality to the already joyful space.

11) Lean a Ladder

Easily display your Turkish towel collection—and keep a warm embrace close by—by leaning a vintage wooden ladder nearby your tub or shower, as seen in this retreat designed by Peti Lau.

12) Work in a Vintage Find

To add some much-needed charm to a utilitarian space like a bathroom, skip the traditional bathroom built-ins and opt for unexpected organization solutions instead. In this dramatic bath designed by Arent & Pyke, a vintage armoire adds some quirk (and plenty of spare space for bathroom necessities) to the sophisticated space.

13) Roll in a Cart

For renters (or DIY-phobes) who are wary about installing any permanent organizational solutions in their bathroom, a bar cart is a flexible (and smart) option. Here, a small rattan version can be easily rolled around the bathroom, taking up residence wherever you need it most, like alongside the tub, next to the shower, or tucked by your vanity.

14) Fake a Linen “Closet”

No formal linen closet to house your towels and washcloths? No problem! Instead, opt for a vanity with a bonus open shelf at the base where you can stash all the cozy essentials you need. Here, designer Natalie Chong styled hers with rattan baskets for an added layer of organization.

15) Style Some Open Shelving

If you tend to favor a minimalistic approach to design, forgo additional furniture and make the most of open-air organizational solutions, like a floating shelf. In this home designed by Lucy Harris, a barely-there white ledge corrals artwork and ceramic vessels, but can also be a spot to stash bubble bath, soap, and more.

16) Add Convenient Cubbies

Take an organizational note from your favorite chic spa or boutique gym and outfit your bathroom with custom cubbies, like in this Robson Rak-designed space. If you boast a big family, each member can have their own designated spot to house their wash clothes, hygiene products, and more.

17) Think Outside the Box

In this bathroom designed by Avery Cox, a small upholstered stool slash ottoman doubles as an extra storage bin to corral extra linens, but it also provides an extra surface spot to rest items while relaxing in a bubble bath.