Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate

With limited space available, it’s hard to find a place for everything you need in the bathroom. Here are some ideas to create built-in solutions. 

^{Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens®}

You can actually add incredible amounts of space to an incredibly tight bathroom. You don’t need to think big, but you can look up. Creating storage space with vertical cabinetry and shelves can bring you what you want in your bathroom. From a built-in vanity to hutch-like drawers, you can find space and even add beauty to the bath.

The Big Picture: Lots of Cabinets

Building a floor-to-ceiling storage and sink unit gives you more space, creating a home for items you formerly kept in a hall linen closet or on visually confining shelves above the toilet or in the corner. Check kitchen cabinet catalogs for stock pieces you can combine and arrange into the bathroom storage unit you've always dreamed of.
 
 

Think ergonomics when you design your floor-to-ceiling storage. Allocate drawers just above the countertop for small essentials you use every day. Designate shelves installed between your head and waist height for hair care and other grooming products. A cushioned bench, handy for applying after-bath lotion, adds potential underseat storage.
 
  

Glass-door upper cabinets let you control what to display and what to disguise. In this example, folds of sheer fabric behind the glass hide clutter. For more camouflage, hang opaque fabric panels on small interior curtain rods. To showcase fine fragrances or treasured collectibles, uncover glass for the effect of a bathroom curio.
  

The Hard-Working Details

Lower shelves can be back-friendly if they contain lightweight paper supplies or infrequently used grooming aids. Storing items in baskets makes it easy to grab and put on the counter for easy retrieval.
 
 

This small drawer is ideal for storing perfumes away from potentially damaging sunlight and the risk of accidental spills.
 
 
Just below the ceiling, these cabinets store lesser-used items, such as guest towels or extra makeup bags.

The Splurge: A Show-Stopping Tub

This bathroom's leaded-glass window is a focal point that welcomes needed light while it maintains privacy. The custom paneled tub skirting matches the floor-to-ceiling vanity, and the polished stone surface matches the countertops. The tub's wide deck offers plenty of space for soap, towels, and other bathing necessities.