25 Small Bathroom Shelving Ideas to Maximize Storage
Floating shelves, wall-mounted racks and beautiful built-ins to help you get organized.
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If you're working with limited square footage, you have to get creative when it comes to bathroom storage. Once the vanity, closet and medicine cabinet are packed with essentials, bring in shelving as reinforcements. Whether it's floating wood shelves over the toilet, small glass shelves tucked into an alcove or wall shelf unit adorning an otherwise empty wall, we've got beautiful bathroom shelving ideas that'll revamp your space and introduce tons of extra storage.
Beyond the expected, we've included over-the-door solutions, creative built-ins and under-the-sink storage ideas that'll transform any bathroom into an organized, clutter-free space. We've even thought about bringing in a bookcase, installing ledges over your bathtub and repurposing a bar cart. As for filling your bathroom shelves, you can showcase decor and art, but also your skincare collection, folded towels and toiletries (preferably in apothecary jars). The best part? Most of these trendy bathroom ideas work even in very small bathrooms.
Convert a Medicine Cabinet
Swap a built-in medicine cabinet for a pair of small wooden shelves that are cut perfectly to size. It's the perfect place to display a mix of daily essentials (think toothbrushes and tissues) and decor, like houseplants.
Display Decor on Glass Shelves
Fill a tiny alcove with small glass (or acrylic) shelves, then fill them with decor like faux plants, vases, woven bins and candles. To maximize floor space below, design firm Outline Interiors brings in a wicker hamper as to not skimp on style.
Float Wood Shelves Above the Tub
Not only do wood shelves add warm and texture to this serene bathroom, they're an ideal place to store extra towels — plus a few houseplants and glass jars filled with toiletries.
Bring in a Bookshelf
Rather than drill into these beautiful blue tile walls, opt for a lightweight bookshelf — like this arched wicker one. The four spacious shelves are great for storing folded towels, plus baskets for concealed storage.
Tuck Decorative Bins Below the Vanity
Here, Outline Interiors opts for a vanity with an open bottom shelf. Stylish bins and baskets house bathroom essentials, from extra rolls of toilet paper to haircare tools and toiletries.
RELATED: Genius Under-the-Sink Storage Ideas to Organize Your Cabinets
Go Simple With White Shelving
Sleek floating shelves blend seamlessly with the white bathroom walls in this minimal space. Stack toilet paper rolls in a pyramid to make spare rolls look intentional, then store toiletries in apothecary jars.
Opt for Over-the-Toilet Storage
Turn the boring space above a toilet into a stylish display by mounting two floating shelves. Take note from Living With Lolo and fill the surfaces with houseplants, artwork and playful knick-knacks.
Install Shower Shelves
This green tile walk-in shower by Outline Interiors is more useful with the addition of four marble shelves. Now, there's no need to soak the bathroom floor reaching for extra haircare products or a new towel.
RELATED: Stunning Walk-In Shower Ideas to Inspire Your Bathroom's Design
Suspend Modern 3-Tier Shelves
Hang a modern shelving system, not only for extra storage, but as wall decor. It's also the perfect opportunity to pop a wicker hamper beneath to toss dirty clothes as you step into the shower.
Go Big With Built-Ins
On both sides of this clawfoot tub are oversized built-in shelves. You'll find baskets full of toiletries as well as plants for visual appeal. These shelves will maximize space in your linen closet, while also acting as a focal point.
Roll in a Bar Cart
Forget the booze: Stock a bar cart with baskets full of your bathroom necessities, especially your growing bath bomb collection.
Maximize Under-the-Sink Storage
Just because you go for a free-standing sink doesn't mean you have to compromise storage space. This rustic beauty offers ample room to store spare linens, beauty products or anything else pretty enough to be left on display.
RELATED: Creative Bathroom Storage Ideas to Make the Most of a Small Layout
Make the Most of Bath Trays
Bath trays can provide space for your must-haves, all while doubling as decor. When you're not soaking in the tub, use the caddy to display plants, books and any other small items you usually leave at the edge of the tub.
Carve Out a Tub Alcove
When remodeling your bathroom, ask your contractor to install an alcove shelf. The ledge is a functional area for storing bath essentials. And since it's already built-in, it won't take up any extra space.
RELATED: 45 Modern Bathroom Ideas to Help You Design a Personal Oasis
Install Built-in Wall Shelves
This inviting blue bathroom in Sulphur Springs, Texas, features built-in shelves near the sink for easy access to hand towels and other odds and ends. The shelves boast wooden bases to match the rustic elements of the space. Plus, they're covered in the same wallpaper as the rest of the space for a cohesive look.
Tuck Shelves Into a Small Space
Open shelves beside the toilet encourage you to keep towels and toiletries tidy. Instead of wasting precious floor space, the built-in keeps everything tucked away and off the floor.
Opt for a Single Ledge
This summery bath features a single floating ledge on the wall beside the tub. It's a functional way to display any paintings or small trinkets, like the driftwood boat and framed shell prints, seen here.
Hang an Above-the-Door Rack
Here's a friendly remember that step stools exist for a reason. Add a rack above your door to store items that you don't reach for daily, like extra linens.
Weave in a Vintage Element
In the Colorado bathroom of Margaret and Chris Shutze, you'll find a vintage element that's as practical as it is unique: a repurposed open display cabinet. The antique dresser also features glass shelves for storage.
Embrace a Victorian Design
A Victorian-style bath gets a rustic upgrade with a wood and metal wall-mounted shelving unit. In this case, the shelves were used to store plates, teapots and teacups.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
Mariah Thomas (she/her) is an assistant editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home and lifestyle content. Mariah has more than four years of editorial experience, having written for TLC, Apartment Therapy, Women's Health and Avocado Magazine. She received her master's degree in journalism at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and published her first book, Heart and Soul: Poems of Thoughts and Emotions, in 2019. She's also the founder of RTF Community, a platform for creatives of color to connect, learn and showcase their work.
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