5 IKEA Shelving Hacks For Optimal Bathroom Storage Space

Although most decor trends add new things to a space, styling your bathroom can be as simple as decluttering your counters and keeping your favorite items together. And one of the easiest ways to create a clean, chic bathroom is by adding more storage so there are fewer things in sight and more room for your unique design to shine. IKEA is your best friend when it comes to bathroom storage: There are plenty of affordable shelving hacks that will optimize your washroom storage in no time. 

The company has dozens of bathroom shelving units for various uses that all range between $12 and $600. Below, we've identified five great hacks for using IKEA's affordable shelves in your own bathroom, from over-the-toilet storage stations to new towel racks to medicine cabinets that will fit even in small spaces. This way, you can keep your toiletries and bathroom necessities in their right places, making the space feel more open and clean. 

IKEA bathroom hacks aren't limited to products that the store sells in its "bathroom" section. In fact, the popular TRONES shoe rack and storage cabinet — $39.99 for a two-pack that stacks together — is the perfect way to add some extra shelving for overflowing toiletries without taking up too much walking space. YouTube creator Rosa Crevecoeur installed a TRONES model to her small bathroom (above), but she added her own DIY twist that made it look more built-in and cohesive with the rest of the space. 

To replicate Rosa's elevated storage unit, install the slim shoe rack into your wall per IKEA's instructions, and then line it with long wood panels from your local hardware store. This will hide the signature plastic look that's a telltale sign of the brand. You can then adhere a metal fencing along the top of the rack to create a makeshift shelf. That way, you have exposed shelving that you can style as you like, as well as enclosed spaces to store things you'd rather keep out of sight. You can also paint the side paneling to match other fixtures in your bathroom for an even more cohesive feel. 

Lazy Susans are a kitchen's best friend, but this handy storage solution doesn't have to be reserved for only one area of your home. You can use a swivel shelf — like the ENHET unit available for $15 at IKEA — to store things in your bathroom that you need to easily access. This way, you can stack your shelving with daily-use items like jewelry and eyewear and grab each one whenever you need it simply by twirling the shelf. Not to mention, the EHNET units add chic dimension to plain shelving systems, making for a more interesting look in your bathroom. 

The only downside of the ENHET shelf is that it's made with the rest of the collection in mind, so it is not guaranteed to fit with other shelving you might already have in your bathroom. Some reviewers online said that they were able to make the swivel piece work with their own models but noted that they wished IKEA had allowed for more alterations. Your best bet for an easy installation is to use some ENHET wall frames, which come in black and white just like the swivel shelves and are super simple to hang in any room. Once you've installed them, you can secure the swivel unit and load it with whatever you like. 

If you want to add some extra storage without detracting from your bathroom's aesthetic, adding a simple base can make a cheap IKEA cabinet system seem like an expensive, built-in fixture. YouTube creator At Home With Ashley used the 90-inch-tall SEKTION cabinets from IKEA — priced at $118 — as a space to store cleaning supplies in her bathroom. However, she wasn't pleased with how they looked sitting directly on the floor and felt like they didn't match the polished look of the rest of the water closet. 

She remedied this issue by building a base — and you can, too! Simply use thick, solid wood and cut it to the size of whatever cabinet unit you're planning to install. Using screws and wood glue, make a simple rectangle and stick it to the wall(s) so that the container structure won't slide around. Drill the piece onto the fastened base with some screws and you've got a new, elevated piece of furniture that looks like it truly belongs there. You can also paint the base to match the cabinets and even add embellishments to make it more ornate so that it adds a superior look to whatever part of your bathroom needs some extra storage room. 

If your bathroom has a floating sink or you need to replace your vanity and want a cheaper solution, this hack will be your new best friend. It can be difficult to add your own under-sink shelving because you can't simply opt for a random cabinet. You have to be mindful that nothing gets in the way of the plumbing, and not everyone has time to measure out pipes or cut holes in furniture. However, you can get around this problem by using triangular shelving that has its own natural opening for your sink's pipes to run through untouched. 

As shown in the photo above, you can place two of IKEA's bamboo RÅGRUND corner shelves (which retail for $39.99 each) side by side, with the tips of the triangles touching so that there's a large, triangular space on the inside. Once installed, you have an under-$100 shelving unit that allows for extra storage space by optimizing a part of your bathroom that you wouldn't be using much anyway. Plus, it'll cover the exposed plumbing so you don't have to stare at your sink's pipes. You can adorn the shelves with simple baskets so that they don't look crowded and use this under-sink space for extra soaps, skincare products, towels, and more. 

The cheapest hack, which optimizes the smallest amount of space, involves using just a single sidepiece of IKEA's $15 IVAR side unit. Paint the piece whatever color you like or keep it as-is for a rustic, light wood accent in your home. Afterward, stand it up against a wall in your bathroom for a slim and simple towel rack. You can hang hand rags, wash cloths, and other folded fabrics on the shelves so you aren't taking up space elsewhere.

From here, you can install knobs or hooks so that you can easily hang other things from the unit. In the video above, YouTube creator Make It Liveable drilled simple drawer knobs into the front, top rung of the unit so that she could loop a washcloth around it. You can also use slim S-hooks in the side of the paneling, slipping them into the pre-installed holes so that you have more places to hang things from. They can be used as necklace holders, tie storage hooks, and more so that you're optimizing the slim storage piece as much as possible.