If there’s one thing that transforms a bathroom from sleek, luxurious space to a claustrophobic mess, it’s clutter. Small and large bathrooms alike can suffer from this if bathroom storage has not been carefully planned at design stage. We look at different sizes of room and what you should be planning to store in a bathroom. Then we’ll look at the best ways to integrate storage in your bathroom design. If you’re looking to add storage to an existing bathroom, we’ll highlight the best ways to achieve this without it looking like an afterthought.
How much storage?
Firstly, think about how much storage you will need in your bathroom. Then add a bit extra! In general you’ll always need more storage than you think you do. This is why it’s a great idea to maximise any opportunity for storage in your initial bathroom layout. Remember that storage comes in many different forms, from cabinets to shelving to rails. So draw up an inventory of everything that needs to have a home in your bathroom and whether you want it hidden from view.
Small Bathrooms
When space is tight, storage needs to be more clever. The key is to use every inch of space. This might mean optimising the height of the room with high cupboards or shelves. Or utilising natural cubbies or recesses for additional shelving. A floating basin vanity unit provides incredibly useful storage without dominating the room. This is because the space underneath gives a sense of airiness. Think about areas that can benefit from a multi-functional solution. For example, a mirrored wall cabinet instead of a straight mirror.
Large Bathrooms
In a larger bathroom, you may have the luxury of fitting dedicated storage for towels or linens. If you extend a basin vanity unit to become a full worktop surround that stretches from wall to wall, you’ll benefit from substantial additional storage here, too. If a large bathroom is shared by multiple family members, there is potentially a lot of bathroom paraphernalia to be stored, so make sure your storage allocation is up to the challenge!
Bathroom cupboards
Depending on your bathroom design concept, you may prefer to keep your cupboards and drawers hidden. Choose handleless designs and keep the colour finish in line with your walls or basin surround for the most minimalist look. Alternatively, you may prefer to use bathroom storage to add depth to your bathroom design. Warm wood finishes look great for this, and provide a wonderful contrast to a tiled stone backsplash or shower enclosure.
Bathroom shelving
It’s true that bathroom shelving can become cluttered. Avoid this by ensuring that alternative storage is planned for less frequent use items of consumables. The most seamless way to include shelving in your bathroom is through recessed designs. These are practical and elegant. Indeed, with added under lighting LEDs, these features can really elevate the style factor of a bathroom. Consider also open shelving under a basin vanity unit. A low slatted shelf here is practical for linens, and ideal for storage baskets.
Rails and hooks
While it’s tempting to try to keep as much as you can under wraps, there is a real place for rails and hooks in a bathroom. Heated towel rails are pretty standard features nowadays. However, think about other places that might work for integrated railing. As part of a basin surround, for example, or where boxing in is being used to build recessed storage. For some designs, vintage or upcycled additions can work really well. A painted leaning ladder is a cute and eye catching addition if the space and design concept allow.
Additional storage
If you’re looking to add storage to an existing bathroom, there are ways to avoid the room being cluttered by boxes and baskets. If you have space on a basin surround or bathroom worktop, use a feature tray to make sure that skincare bottles remain in one area. You might find that you can better utilise the storage you have by installing sliding baskets in cupboards and organisers in drawers. This will maximise what you can keep in your existing storage and make using it that bit easier. If you have the floor space, use upcycled furniture such as a rolling trolley or display cabinet to add freestanding storage.
Making sure that there is sufficient storage is a key part of planning any bathroom design. To have a conversation about the solutions that would work for your bathroom, just get in touch!