The DIY Toilet Paper Holder That Gives Any Bathroom An Affordable Refresh

Should you bring your phone to the bathroom? You may not agree, but most people like to catch up on stuff during those quiet moments. Plus, it's not a new thing. Or something off the charts. Change the date to 1950, and replace a phone with a copy of Reader's Digest — or National Geographic — and you'll admit this habit is not new or a sign of the apocalypse. The problem is cobbling up a placeholder for your phone while inside there, especially at the critical time when you now have to use both hands. Fortunately, there are plenty of DIY bathroom storage ideas that will not only hold your toilet paper, but your phone, too. One DIY in particular transforms a lidded plastic basket and a wooden dowel into a cute toilet paper holder that's perfect for your space.

This Tinksky Stackable Plastic Storage Box, which you can get at Walmart for $5.64, will serve as the main component of your DIY. You'll remove the lid, glue it on top, and insert the wood dowel to use as the actual holder for the toilet paper roll. Here is a closer look at this easy and budget-friendly DIY.

For this creative bathroom DIY, get your basket, remove the lid, flip it upside down, and drill two holes on either side of the base. The holes should be about ⅓ of the base width and about 1 or 2 inches from the left and right edges. After this, squeeze some drops of glue to the top side of the basket — especially on the edges — and firmly press the basket's cover onto it. Note that the plastic storage basket is made of polypropylene, a type of plastic with low surface energy and, hence, a bit difficult to bond. However, the J-B Weld 50139 Plastic Bonder Body Panel Adhesive should work well. 

Next, cut your dowel to fit in the lower space of your plastic basket from one side to the other — the spaces initially designed as the basket's handles. Remember the two holes you drilled at the start? Now use them to screw your basket to the wall. And just like that, you have a toilet paper holder with a convenient shelf to put a scented candle, air freshener, and that slick iPhone for catching up on funny memes when doing the job.