The Hidden Spaces In Your Small Bathroom You're Forgetting To Maximize

Size matters when it comes to your bathroom — a tiny space often leaves you wanting for more storage, especially if you have an older home with only one bathroom. You can find many small bathroom ideas that will make your space seem bigger, but that still doesn't solve the storage issue. The good news is that you likely have hidden spaces in your tiny bathroom that you're forgetting about. Upgrades to your vanity and mirror give you little pockets of storage without any noticeable changes to the space. You can also place items or organizers on existing features like the windowsills and backs of doors to give everything in your bathroom its own space.

Maximizing the space in your bathroom involves customizing the storage solutions to fit the room's layout and your needs. In a small bathroom, you often don't have room for bulky freestanding cabinets or shelves. Having too many items in your bathroom can make it cluttered, which can give the feeling of a smaller, cramped space. Instead, find ways to hide storage within the features that are already in the bathroom to keep items accessible and organized. Reviewing the furniture and items you have in your bathroom and eliminating the ones that you don't use or need helps reduce clutter. Then, you can decide how to modify what's left or add storage solutions to organize the remaining items.

Think about all of the wasted space in a bathroom. Vanities have toe kicks hiding empty space and false drawers under the sinks. Bathroom mirrors take up wall space without any extra storage. Upgrading those features provides more hidden storage in your small bathroom without taking up any extra floor or wall space. One easy option is to replace a plain bathroom mirror with a medicine cabinet that has a mirror on the front. It might seem like an outdated notion with many new builds featuring decorative mirrors instead, but a medicine cabinet provides a little extra storage without taking up more space. You can find a wide range of stylish medicine cabinet options that keep your bathroom from looking outdated.

To upgrade your vanity, you can install a toe-kick drawer that fills the empty space at the bottom. It's common in the kitchen, but you can use it to add extra storage for toiletries and other items in your bathroom. These drawers are typically about 4 inches high, so they're best for smaller items. They sit back about 3 inches from the front of the vanity, similar to the plain toe kick you have now. This type of drawer operates by pushing it with your toe to make it slide out.

Another vanity upgrade is a tip-out tray to replace the false drawer front that usually sits below the sink. You can buy a tip-out tray kit that lets you easily add storage behind that drawer front. While small, the drawer is an ideal spot for small grooming tools or cosmetics that you use frequently.

An easy option for bathrooms with windows is using the windowsill for storage. Display apothecary jars holding bathroom essentials or use a decorative tray to organize smaller items. If you like natural light for your makeup routine, set up a mirror and a brush organizer on the windowsill. It is, however, best to store cosmetics and skincare products away from the window. UV rays can break down the active ingredients, change the texture, and alter the scent. You can also add a shelf across the window, but make sure it's easily removable so the window still serves as an escape route in case of an emergency.

The insides of your cabinet doors provide the ideal spot for installing items you can use to organize the bathroom. Attach baskets or plastic bins inside the doors to hold small items. You can also buy specialty organizers designed to hold hair styling tools like curling irons. If you don't want to affix organizers to cabinet doors, look for over-the-door hangers for cabinets and the main bathroom door.

If you have an older home with a radiator, you might be tempted to use it for storage, but there are some potential safety concerns to consider. If the radiator is no longer in use, consider using it as a vintage-looking display space. However, if the device is still used for heating your home, reconsider putting items on it. Placing items directly on a radiator while it's running could damage those items. Instead, install a radiator cover or add a floating shelf to store your bathroom essentials on top of it safely.